Reserves Grand Final, 1991
Brisbane vs Melbourne
Saturday, 28 September
Venue: Waverley
Attendance: n/a
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Brisbane | 2.4 | 3.7 | 8.8 | 16.13.109 |
| Melbourne | 2.3 | 5.5 | 9.9 | 11.9.75 |
Brisbane win by 34 points
Goalkickers: Chris Sullivan 2, George Gorozidis 2, Stephen Wearne 2, John Howat 2, Andy Lovell 1, Wayne Lamb 1, Rod Keogh 1
In a game that fluctuated wildly throughout the day, the Demons had eked out a seven point lead at the last change. It was the Bears, though, who came home strongly with 8.5 to 2.0 in the last quarter to win. With most of the 75,000 strong crowd - there almost entirely for the main event - cheering for the underdog Bears the side responded in kind and claimed the first VFL/AFL premiership in any grade to be taken outside Victoria.
Melbourne had beaten them by 112 points in the second last round of the Home and Away season, but with a side boosted by senior players the Bears were irresistable in the final term. Bears coach Rodney Eade went on to coach Sydney and the Western Bulldogs and it was one of his tactical masterstrokes that helped deliver victory. He threw out of form midfielder Brad Rowe to full-forward and instructed his other forwards to play outside the 50m arc. They almost doubled their score with the new setup.
It was the only premiership their club would ever win.
Best were Lovell (22 touches), Keogh (21) and Heaver (27). Stephen Wearne was strong too, playing against his brother David.
Video
Media
Canberra Times - 29/09/1991
Links
1991 Reserves Premiership - lions.com.au