The Unforgettable 1986 AFL State of Origin Clash
When Gary Buckenara's late snap sailed through the posts in the 1986 State of Origin game, the thunderous roar from nearly 40,000 fans at Subiaco Oval threatened to collapse the aging concrete stadium. Western Australia had just snatched victory from Victoria in what remains one of the greatest interstate football matches ever played.
A Colosseum of Chaos and Passion
The atmosphere that Tuesday afternoon in July was electric, with thousands of sugar-fueled school children and enthusiastic Sandgropers creating a frenzy unlike anything witnessed before or since. The game represented a pivotal moment as West Coast prepared to join the expanded VFL competition the following year, with both state teams sensing this was their Rumble in the Jungle moment.
WA coach Ron Alexander made a bold strategic move by playing midfielder Brian Peake at full forward, despite his woeful WAFL form. Victoria coach Kevin Sheedy countered by refusing to deploy his best defenders against Peake, a decision that would prove costly as the 1977 Sandover medallist finished with seven goals.
The Dramatic Final Quarter
The game's defining moments unfolded in a blistering final quarter featuring seven lead changes and fourteen goals. When Andrew Bews put Victoria nine points ahead in the dying stages, a sudden sombreness descended upon Subiaco Oval. The momentum shifted dramatically when Andrew MacNish received a controversial free kick in the goal square, bringing WA within striking distance.
Buckenara's brilliant over-the-shoulder snap put the Sandgropers three points ahead, and when the siren sounded moments later, the eruption of joy literally shook the stadium's foundations. The contest ended fittingly with Wayne Blackwell's heroic smother of Brian Royal's shot on goal in the final minutes.
A Peak Never Reached Again
Ross Glendinning, WA champion, reflected at the time: "I don't know what a perfect game of footy is, but that was pretty close." This match represented the high-water mark for Origin football, with the series eventually fading in the 1990s despite continuing for several more years.
This weekend's rebooted Origin concept in Perth marks the first Victoria versus WA clash since 1992. While the game has sold out, former players have criticized it as a bruise-free exhibition. Modern AFL clubs treat their prized players with extreme caution, ensuring today's friendlies lack the explosive energy and raw passion of that legendary 1986 encounter.
The theatrical elements and manufactured rivalries of contemporary matches cannot replicate the genuine intensity that made the 1986 State of Origin clash truly timeless. As the AFL celebrates sold-out stadiums and marketing successes, the reality remains that some peaks in sporting history are never reached again.
