The end of a drought: How Keddie's Zebras became the Kings of the VFA once again

24/07/2025

The Zebras ended a 23-year Premiership drought when they broke through to win the flag in 1985!

With style from head to toe, one could be forgiven for thinking Bob Keddie was some sort of fashion icon in the mid-1980’s. Before the days when football coaches conformed to wear standard team apparel - such as club polos or raincoats - Keddie was unafraid of expressing himself.

But behind the tinted glasses, turtlenecks and bomber jackets stood the architect who helped put to rest the 23-year Premiership drought of the Sandringham Football Club. 

Following the Club’s second ever Premiership in 1962 - a miraculous come from behind win that saw the Zebs overcome a 44-point three-quarter time deficit to defeat Moorabbin by one - Sandringham locals had been starved of success in the VFA’s First Division. Moorabbin would get their revenge on the Zebs the following year, setting in motion a rough period in the Club’s history, which included close calls with relegation to the Second Division in 1975 and 1976.

1977 saw the Zebras quickly bounce back up the ladder, only to be brought back down to earth in that year’s Grand Final by VFA powerhouse Port Melbourne, losing by 100 points. As was the case for many teams in that era of the VFA, the Boroughs quickly became the nemesis of the Zebras. 

Winning three straight flags from 1980-1982, Port Melbourne became the gold standard for the rest of the competition. Even as their dynasty started to wane in 1983, they were still able to bury the hopes and dreams of Zebras fans in that year’s semi-final, winning convincingly by 46 points. 

With the weight of a two-decade Premiership drought growing heavier each year, it was clear change was necessary if the Zebs were ever going to reclaim their place as kings of the VFA.

As Darrell MacKenzie vacated his spot as coach at the end of the 1983 season, it was Bob Keddie who would assume the role, and be the agent of change down at Beach Oval.

Keddie brought more than just flair and style with him to Bayside - a VFL premiership player with Hawthorn in 1971, Keddie had built a great appreciation for coaching, playing under the legendary John Kennedy Sr. 

After giving up VFL football in 1972, Keddie would immediately immerse himself in coaching, taking the head job at West Adelaide in 1973. After one year at the helm, some time would pass before his next senior coaching gig, as he returned to playing in South Australia before working as a Development Officer. But by the time 1984 rolled around, he was ready to impose himself at Sandringham and turn over a new leaf in the Club’s history.

A familiar cast of players returned to the Zebras for the 1984 season, including Ian Morrison, Neil MacLeod, Marty Lyons, Ken Mansfield, Alf Beus, Geoff Hayes, Peter Mannix and more, but the Club as they knew it would operate far differently to how they once remembered. 

The arrival of Keddie brought a change in attitude to the Club, with it being well-known that a new sense of professionalism had taken over the residents of the Beach Oval. Keddie didn’t put up with on-field violence or abusive language, and made it clear that anyone who engaged in such behaviour would not be welcomed in his team. He had zero tolerance for ill-disciplined players, with a new club policy automatically imposing a one-match suspension for anyone reported, unless Keddie believed it was “trivial or unjust”.

Ruckman Kevin Sims learnt this the hard way, being forced out of action by the Club after being reported in a game against Geelong West, despite getting off at the tribunal.

Keddie’s radical approach was almost unheard of at the time, and Ken Mansfield might have struggled with the change more than anyone else at the Club.

“Keddie was so strong on discipline that I wasn’t allowed to swear during a practice game.”

- Ken Mansfield (1985)

Even more bizarre was the Club’s total media ban for all its players, in an effort to align with Keddie’s “low key approach.”

“We have a lot of young players and we don’t want them answering questions from newspaper people,” Club President John Mennie said at the time.

To some, the methods of Keddie and the Zebras were madness, but early into 1984, you could hardly argue with the results.

The Zebras won their first three games of the season, including a vengeful 62-point drubbing of Port Melbourne in round two. Keddie had the Zebras humming all over the ground, but particularly in attack. 

Star forward Ian Morrison had a new friend inside the forward 50, in former Melbourne, Collingwood and Richmond player Ross Brewer. The pair would each bag 10 goals in a round one win over Springvale, before helping the Zebs kick a club record score of 284 against Dandenong in round five, with Brewer kicking 15 goals and Morrison not far behind with 12. 

After nine rounds the Zebras had dropped just two games, and looked certain to make a push for a Premiership. As they had in years past, Sandy fans had allowed themselves to wonder if 1984 might just be the year their Premiership hoodoo would finally be broken.

But while the fans dreamt of a fairytale ending, critics were conversely looking for cracks in the fabric of the Zebras, particularly questioning their ability to win big games after losing to Preston and Geelong West earlier in the season - the previous year’s grand finalists. The Zebs unfortunately didn’t have the answers, going 4-5 over their final nine games to sensationally drop out of the top four in the final round.

A 48-point loss to none other than Port Melbourne in round 13 would be the beginning of the downward spiral. It was the mammoth 150-point loss to Preston in round 17 that foreshadowed the ugly scenes in the final game of the season a week later, as a finals appearance fell through the clutches of the Zebs, with an 80-point defeat at home to Williamstown seeing the players walk off the ground to a chorus of boos. 

Local journalist Zeb Growler pulled no punches in the press at season’s end, labelling the team as an “undisciplined rabble,” and describing the final defeat to Williamstown as a “blessing in disguise as the club may have only made a fool of itself in the finals.”

It was a tough pill to swallow for a group that had prided itself on its discipline. But the heartbreaking end to 1984 did not lower expectations for the following year in the eyes of Bob Keddie. The Sandringham Coach instead made it very clear at the beginning of the year that anything but a Premiership would be a disappointment.

“It has to be this year, there is no question of that. Too many people have done so much hard work for it to be wasted. We cannot afford to run second, it is the grand final we have to win.”

- Bob Keddie (start of 1985)

The Zebs brought in some strong reinforcements to bolster their Premiership push, including former St. Kilda and Footscray player, the ‘Golden Greek’ Con Gorozidis, Mark Eaves from Fitzroy, Andrew Collins from Hawthorn, and ruckman Greg Beilby. 

After reportedly nearly retiring at the end of 1984, Ross Brewer returned as Captain, and adjusted to a new role as a centre-half forward that would provide relief in the ruck. The move opened up the full forward position for Ian Morrison, who kicked 19 goals through the first three games, spearheading the attack for the Zebs.

The Zebs flexed their muscles early again in 1985, becoming the last undefeated team in the competition. Morrison and Brewer were still a dynamic duo inside forward-50, while being supported by Gorozidis and Murray Bingham. Greg Beilby had a sixth sense for where his on-ballers would be at the ruck contest, constantly tapping it down to his revolving door of superstar rovers, including Neil MacLeod, Ross Gallagher and Andy Collins. Meanwhile, the defence was working well to keep opposing teams off the scoreboard, with terrific synergy between players such as Gary Hetherington, Marty Lyons and Mark Eaves.

The Zebras wouldn't lose a game until round 10, a narrow nine-point loss to Williamstown that nearly saw them come from behind for a magnificent win after trailing by seven goals at halftime. Determined to not suffer the same fate in the second half of the season as the year before, Sandringham responded by winning another five, before suffering their only other loss for the season in round 16 against Coburg, a two-point defeat that saw the Burgers steal the game at the death thanks to a last-minute snap from Gary Halbert.

Still, after finishing the season at 16-2, and on top of the ladder for the first time since 1960, there was a different feeling about this group of Zebras. Stars of the side would get their recognition, as Neil MacLeod took home the J.J. Liston Trophy (the VFA’s best-and-fairest award), with his teammate Ross Gallagher finishing not far behind in second place. Meanwhile, Ian Morrison was the epitome of consistency, terrorising opposition defences on an almost-weekly basis as he stormed home to 100 goals in the final round of the season, putting 11 past Camberwell. His final tally of 105 saw him lead the VFA’s goalkicking race for the year.

The Zebras had everything they needed to break their Premiership drought, but would have to discard of the only two teams that beat them during the home-and-away season if they were to once again reign supreme over the VFA.

After playing in one of the great VFA games in round 16, many expected Sandringham’s semi-final against Coburg to be another classic. The Lions were second to the Zebras only on percentage, and entered the finals series on a 13-game win streak, the longest in the Association.

Making the contest even more enticing was former Zebra Ken Mansfield lining up for the Lions, after being poached from Sandringham by Coburg on the eve of the 1985 season. Mansfield hadn’t spoken fondly of the Zebras to the media during the season, telling the press in June, “I don’t believe they have got what it takes to go all the way to win the premiership.”

The Zebras weren't fazed though, quickly ensuring the semi-final would not be a repeat of their contest a few weeks earlier, building on a 56-point halftime lead to book their place in the Grand Final with an 80-point win. The star midfield duo of Neil MacLeod and Ross Gallagher proved their worth, combining for 10 goals to lead the way for Sandringham.

Despite the big win, coach Keddie was humble in victory. 

“I don’t regard the win as a thrashing and we are not getting carried away by it,” he said post-game.

Coburg would have a second chance to book themselves a spot in the Grand Final, but fell short in the following week’s Preliminary Final to Williamstown, coughing up a lead to lose by three points.

Despite handing the Zebras their first loss of the season, the Seagulls were an unlikely foe for Sandringham in the Grand Final. Williamstown started the season by dropping their first three games, before correcting their form by rolling off eight straight. However, they continued to stumble down the stretch of the season, finding themselves four points and 7.7 per cent back of fourth-placed Port Melbourne heading into the final round of the season.

Amazingly, Port Melbourne lost by 102 points to Coburg, opening the door for Williamstown to take care of business against Geelong West to sneak into the top four.

The stakes of the 1985 Grand Final were arguably even higher for the Seagulls, having not won a premiership since 1959. Still, the Zebras firmed as favourites, although Keddie was determined to not let over-confidence enter the mind of his playing group.

“You can’t expect to win. To win, the players must work as hard as they have throughout the season.”

- Bob Keddie (before 1985 Grand Final)

Former Mayor of Sandringham, Cr Jim Bisset was a little more confident, claiming “we’ll win easily”.

Bisset’s prediction would be true, partly.

The Zebs won, but it was anything but easy.

Leading 79-70 heading into the fourth quarter, Sandringham would extend their lead kicking the opening two goals of the term, through the work of Ian Morrison and Peter Mannix. Williamstown would claw one back, but defender-turned-forward Mark Eaves would have the answer, putting one hand on the Premiership cup for the Zebras as they led 98-81.

However, after a year of doing the impossible, the Seagulls sent the anxiety levels of Sandringham fans through the roof by kicking two straight goals to trail by just six points with only a few minutes remaining. Williamstown continued to control possession, constantly sending the ball inside forward 50.

But, in part due to some desperation by the Zebras backline, the Seagulls were unable to get one more clean possession in goal-kicking range, and the siren rang out around the ground, bringing both relief and excitement to the Sandringham faithful. The Zebs had claimed victory, 100-94.

For his five goals and 12 marks, Mark Eaves etched himself into the history books as he was voted the best afield.

The crowd of 22,341 people had not only witnessed one of the all-time great VFA games, but the end of a 23-year drought for the Zebras. The dream Bob Keddie had set out to accomplish when he first walked through the gates of Beach Oval at the beginning of 1984 was finally a reality. 

Dripped out in his glasses, turtle neck and bomber jacket, Keddie was able to lift the Premiership cup he and the Zebras had desired so much. He was officially a Premiership Coach - a stylish one at that.

Written by Jake Beddard - Sandringham FC