It was the 87th grand final of the South Australian National Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1985 SANFL season.

Glenelg's Stephen Kernahan won the Jack Oatey Medal as the player judged best on ground.

Mick Redden (v/c) Coach: Michael Nunan Retiring champion Malcolm Blight was given the honour of tossing the coin.

North skipper David Tiller called correctly and elected to kick to the Lake End.

Midway through the second quarter, the Roosters had opened up a 29-point lead after restricting the Tigers to just two goals.

Years later, when reflecting on the sudden change in momentum in the second quarter that swung the result in Glenelg's favour, Graham Cornes remarked: ”It was as if someone flicked the switch and it all turned.”[1]