Journalist Toby Prime has the inside track on grand finals of yesteryear in his new book.
It is 36 years since Blighty and Waaia slugged it out in the 1990 Picola & District Football League (PDL) grand final - but the infamous clash still stirs the emotions on both sides of the battle nearly four decades on.
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The infamous battle between the sides is one of the games featured in sports journalist Toby Prime’s upcoming debut book entitled “Famous Flags: Great Local Grand Finals”, which is due for release in mid-July.
The publication from is a comprehensive collection of stories from grand finals of yesteryear from across Victoria.
One particular chapter is called “You Cost Us a Flag” and recounts the 1990 Picola & District Football League grand final via testimonies from those lucky enough - or unlucky enough - to witness the spectacle in question.
Controversy ensued as Waaia claimed a second successive PDL flag right at the death, defeating Blighty 16.18 (114) to 18.5 (113) following a game awash with moments that have echoed through history.
To this day, the tale of the chaotic closing stages of the clash are enough to inspire partisan reactions - with the Redeyes having surrendered a five-point lead with just seconds to spare.
That reversal in fortunes came as the Bombers were awarded a 50-metre penalty after Blighty’s Grant “Sunny” Wilson was reprimanded for a high tackle, presenting Waaia's Mick Cleeland with the opportunity to win the premiership for his side.
He duly did not disappoint, sending a torpedo punt past the posts just as the siren was sounding to win the title in dramatic style.
Still, the discord did not stop there as confusion ensued on the field, with the scoreboard failing to show the final score - as players and officials remained in the dark over who had actually prevailed on the day.
“I interviewed people from both sides and it became apparent pretty quickly that, even those it’s 36 years ago, emotions are still high and Blighty people still feel aggrieved about the result,” Prime said.
The new book entitled "Famous Flags: Great Local Grand Finals" is due out in July.
“This goes to the purpose of the book - these games mean a lot to people, the emotions attached are as significant as at the highest level.
“During the following week, Mick Cleeland said the umpire had actually told him ‘there's no point taking his kick because you can't win’.
“So I guess he assumed Blighty was the premier regardless of if he was to kick the unlikely goal.
“The coach had told them that no player was to attempt a torpedo - however, Cleeland was one of the players exempt from that torpedo ban, such was his talent.
“He proved it in that moment as he kicked the match-winning goal in controversial circumstances.
“When these stories are retold years and decades later, they age better with time. In fact, the scoreboard was actually replaced with a digital scoreboard only a couple of years ago.
“So it only took 34 years for it to be replaced.”
Describing his interactions with Blighty’s “Sunny” Wilson, Prime revealed that his interviewee was “incredibly open” about the impact the events of that fateful day had on him.
“He was open and honest about the impact that it had on him for a long period of time and perhaps even still impacts him to this day - he took it personally.”
Prime also spoke with the late Blighty life member Stewart Plattfuss, who provided a unique perspective on the drama, as the father of the team’s captain at the time.
“I'm glad I was able to get his recollections on the record before he passed away,” the author said.
“He was quite passionate about his feelings, I think it stirred something inside of him that he hadn't spoken about for a long period of time.“
Discussing the book’s foreword from Western Bulldogs legend Luke Beveridge too, Prime was delighted with the support the AFL coach has given the project since its inception.
“He's been incredibly generous with his time and his words and his support for this project, so I'm very grateful,” he said.
You can contact author Toby Prime via email on tobyprime@live.com to order a copy of "Famous Flags: Great Local Grand Finals".
