to Duckworth for being judged the best player afield. Watson, Baker, Mark Harvey, Shane Heard and Neil Clarke were also prominent for the Bombers, while Richard Loveridge, Gary Ayres, Peter Schwab, Terry Wallace and Chris Mew were the best for Hawthorn. Essendon's win ended an 18-year streak during which only Hawthorn, Richmond, Carlton and North Melbourne had won the premiership. The attendance of 92,685 was the smallest at an MCG grand final for 29 years. The match was the first grand final played in the aftermath of the off-field dispute between the League, which wanted to stage the grand final at VFL Park, and the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Cain state government, which wanted to stage the grand final at the MCG. Under the terms agreed to in early 1984, an area in the Members' and Olympic Stands was set aside for 44,000 MCC and VFL Park members, but only 31,000 attended, leaving a large vacant area at the top of the Olympic Stand. Uncertainty about the new arrangements, accusations that the demand for members tickets had been overestimated, and breezy and cool conditions in the wake of a heavy overnight hailstorm were all considered to have discouraged many spectators from attending. Ten players from this game later went on to become senior VFL/AFL coaches. Teams Scorecard Statistics NOTE: Disps = Total disposals (kicks + handpasses) See also 1984 VFL season References Bibliography External links VFL/AFL Grand Finals Grand Essendon Football Club Hawthorn Football Club