CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB - HOME OF THE SEAGULLS

CHELSEA GRIT

1981 - SEASON REVIEW

Well it had been twelve years without a collect for the Chelsea team and the committee and followers were becoming a little edgy to say the least, but the unexpected recruitment of former Collingwood legend, John Greening, had suddenly raised spirits to such an extent that it became universally agreed the time had come—a flag was finally achievable.

The enthusiasm was supported by a sudden interest from new players keen to play with the great man, and the club leadership were not about to let this opportunity pass. After a handful of games in 1980, Greening was appointed Captain/Coach for the coming season.
Chelsea suddenly found itself with the opportunity to access a range of players, all with excellent credentials, who were keen to play under JG. The cheque-book came out and the leadership did everything within its power to strengthen the playing group. This was to be the year!

At this stage, desire overcame financial frugality with  expenditure outpacing  an income that was largely generated by the bar and canteen receipts. But sometimes you’ve just got to take your chances whenever they arise, so the commitments were made and honoured. 
The money started flowing—but mostly out.

1981 was a season of great expectation, but even the best laid plans can go amiss! Even though star centreman Phil Thurgood was struggling with a crippling knee injury, Chelsea came into this final series in great form and gave themselves every chance of capturing that coveted flag. They had a team that was bristling with talent and eager to break the thirteen year premiership drought that had beset the club.

A thumping twelve goal victory over top team Edi/Asp in the second semi-final had the Seagulls feeling very confident as they lined up against Seaford in the premier match. After an even opening, the Tigers suddenly gained the ascendancy in the second term and rattled the Gulls with a withering burst in which they kicked eleven goals to put a stranglehold on the match. Despite their best efforts, the Chelsea team were never able to get back in the match and suffered a morale sapping loss. What was a rout quickly became a slaughter as the Tigers dined out on the Seagull carcass. A match that they had believed was eminently winnable became an embarrassment as the Seaford team ran rampant.

This was Chelsea’s worst ever Grand Final result and proved to be a demoralising loss for everyone associated with the club. Ugly as it was, the scoreboard result was only part of the sorry tale. Off field damage was also significant as many players left and a noticeable drop in enthusiasm occurred throughout the club over the summer months. Everyone was gutted by the loss., there is no other way of putting it. With hopes having been raised to such high levels, the sudden realization that the dream was gone was devastating. It would take several years to recover.


KEY PERSONNEL

PRESIDENT
Tommy Williams

VICE PRESIDENT

Quentin Hildebrand, P Benny, Vic Bickers

SECRETARY
Allan Smith

ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Ray Stuart

TREASURER
Mike Weissenfeld

ASSISTANT TREASURER
Rob Prideaux

COMMITTEE
E Riordan, L Ryan, T Rogan, Peter Coghlan, Mick Trotter, Kevin Corcoran, Dot Young, Dale Mighell, P Maloney, L Scarlet

COACH

John Greening

CAPTAIN
John Greening

BEST & FAIREST
 
Phil Thurgood

GOAL KICKING
Luke De Munk - 110 Goals

TRAINERS
"Wagga" McDonald,  William Doyle,Tom Kneebone, Kevin Corcoran, J McAlister, Andy Oppie

SEASON OVERVIEW

SENIORS

Team W L D Points %
Edi/Asp 14 4 56 116 Chelsea 13 5 52 147 Seaford 13 5 52 145
Frankston 13 5 52 121
Rye 12 6 48 132 Hastings 9 11 36 101 Sorrento 7 11 28 93 Mornington 5 13 20 75 Mt Eliza 2 16 8 67 Carrum 2 16 8 54
GRAND FINAL
Seaford 26 - 20 - 176 def  Chelsea 9 - 17 - 71

M. P. N. F. L.
BEST & FAIREST

Phil Thurgood Chelsea 22
G Wade Rye 18
K Ansell Seaford 15
S Clarke Frankston 14
B Wright Edi/Asp 12


 





1ST XV111
2ND SEMI FINAL

CHELSEA       25.25 175 pts
EDI/ASP       15.11 101 pts

BEST PLAYERS

CHELSEA:De Munk, McDonald, Osborne, Bull, Kelly, Greening.
EDI/ASP:Kane, Hickey, Little, A Diggle, G Diggle.

GOAL KICKERS

CHELSEA:De Munk 8, Rennick 7, McDonald 4, Osborne 2, Hamilton 2, Chapple, Lucas.
EDI/ASP:Little 6, Clohesy 2, A Diggle 2, Kat 2, McCormach, Kane, Hickey.


GRAND FINAL

CHELSEA       9.17 71 pts
SEAFORD       26.20 176 pts

BEST PLAYERS

CHELSEA:Bull, De Munk, McDonald, Greening, Kelly.
SEAFORD:Beynon, Freyer, Hawkes, Kennedy, Jones.

GOAL KICKERS

CHELSEA:De Munk 4, Rennick, Sinclair, Bull, Osborne, McDonald.
SEAFORD:Jones 9, Longham 5, Campbell 4, Bartley 2, Kennedy 2, Ansell, Forbes, James, Freyer.

SEASON OVERVIEW

SECONDS

Team W L D Points %
Rye 17 1 68 163 Mornington 14 4 56 141
Edi/Asp 13 5 52 127
Chelsea 12 6 48 133 Seaford 8 10 32 112 Frankston 8 10 32 93 Carrum 7 11 28 90 Hastings 6 12 24 78 Sorrento 3 15 12 70 Mt Eliza 2 16 8 51
GRAND FINAL
Rye 15 - 18 - 108 def  Edi/Asp 7 - 17 - 59

M. P. N. F. L.
BEST & FAIREST

 D Giltrap Hastings  

 
 
   

2ND XV111
1ST SEMI FINAL

CHELSEA       14.8 92 pts
EDI/ASP       17.15 117 pts

BEST PLAYERS

CHELSEA:Rochford, Russell, Porter, Murray, Milne, Walsh.
EDI/ASP:Bourne, Newman, King, Zovic, Lee.

GOAL KICKERS

CHELSEA:Porter 6, Milne 2, Rochford, Jackson, Cutler.
EDI/ASP:Jamieson 4, Jones 2, Gott 2, Muchalli 2, Zovic, Bourne, Brown, King, Philpot, Ogier, Scales.

SEASON OVERVIEW

THIRDS

Team W L B D Points %
Edi/Asp 16 0 2 68 254 Hastings 14 2 2 64 187 Mornington 13 2 2 1 54 145
Balcolme 10 6 2 48 105
Chelsea 9 7 2 44 135 Rye 8 8 2 40 125 Seaford 7 9 2 36 118 Mt Eliza 4 12 2 24 65 Frankston 3 12 2 1 22 66 Carrum 2 14 2 16 66 Sorrento 1 15 2 12 12
GRAND FINAL   
Mornington 21 - 9 - 135 def  Edi/Asp 13 - 12 - 90

M. P. N. F. L.
BEST & FAIREST

C Vernon Rye 19
R Gazzard Seaford 19


  

 

SEASON OVERVIEW

FOURTH'S

Team W L D Points %
Edi/Asp 18 1 72 521 Chelsea 14 4 56 131 Seaford 13 5 52 149
Mornington 13 5 52 145
Hastings 6 12 24 52 Rye 5 15 20 63 Carrum 2 16 8 35 Frankston 1 17 4 15
GRAND FINAL
Edi/Asp 24 - 22 - 166 def  Mornington 10 - 10 - 70

M. P. N. F. L.
BEST & FAIREST

W Duff Chelsea 28

 


4TH XV111
2ND SEMI FINAL

CHELSEA       4.7 37 pts
EDI/ASP       30.18 198 pts

BEST PLAYERS

CHELSEA:Duncan, Rhodes, Hogan, Baxter, Hart.
EDI/ASP:No details.

GOAL KICKERS

CHELSEA:Hart 2, Lesouf, Conway.
EDI/ASP:Moulton 4, Burke 4, Thomas 4, Funston 4, Wilson 3, Turner 3, Cruckshank 2, King, Boccari, Beynon.


PRELIMINARY FINAL

CHELSEA       9.11 65 pts
MORNINGTON       19.21 135 pts

BEST PLAYERS

CHELSEA:Duncan, Hogan, Ryan, Duff, Foster.
MORNINGTON:Dixon, Barbour, Breen, Hayes.

GOAL KICKERS

CHELSEA:Hart 2, Savage 2, Foster, Duff, Mills, Conway.
MORNINGTON:Dixon 5, Dakovic 4, Hayes 4, Brennan 4, Breen, Brady.




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