After enduring financial difficulties consistently since the early 1980s, the future of the Brunswick Football Club was uncertain at the end of the 1989 season.
The club was built entirely around its aspirations to play in the Association, and had made an unsuccessful bid to join for the 1988 season.
[7] After having withdrawn is senior and reserves teams midway through the 1989 season, Sunshine intended to regroup and return to the Association in 1990.
[8] The club continued preparations for the 1990 season in the hope that it could convince the Association to change its mind,[11] but this did not happen, bringing an end to Sunshine's 31-year stint in the competition.
[17] Springvale was unhappy with the schedule change, because it meant that it now faced a three-week break between its Second Semi-Final victory on 9 September and the grand final on 30 September, which risking upsetting its form;[17] to try to overcome the handicap, Springvale played a practice match on 23 September against the Carlton reserves – which was also forced to endure a three-week break following adjustments made to the AFL reserves finals fixture on account of the draw in the seniors.
[20] Springvale coach Phil Maylin said after the game that he thought the three-week break had contributed to his team's slow finish.
[21] The game is considered one of the most memorable in VFA history; and in 2008, it was named as one of Australian rules football's 150 greatest moments, selected to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport.