Jon Dorotich, as many would remember, was a key position player adept at both ends of the ground. Coming over in 1986 at the same time as Kernahan, Motley and Bradley, “Dorra” tasted Premiership Glory in only his second year of football when the Blues won their 15th flag in 1987. By the time his next chance at a Grand Final was coming around, Dorotich appeared on the outer, as he recently explained to the Blueseum:
“Like many stages in life, we were going through a transition period. We had a fair older bridge but maybe some of us had to make way for others coming through. My performance was up and down in 1993 – Seko (Michael Sexton) was coming through, Ang Christou, SOS (Stephen Silvagni) and Peter Dean were still in the back half, doing well. I was 31, and had become more of a utility – sometime forward, and sometime backman. I suppose at that stage I had to be playing at my absolute best to be playing for the seniors. I must admit I didn’t have a good year, but I felt I was getting a bit hard done by with selection and injuries. I may also have opened my big mouth which made it permanent!
But then I made a fatal mistake … I was playing in the seconds and I got suspended for 4 weeks – it cost me my chance in 1993. Who would have picked me going into the finals, when I hadn’t been playing?”
On this basis, at the time he was destined to miss the finals – our Reserves finished 6th and lost their final - leaving Dorotich with still with one reserve game to serve before he could return to the seniors. At this point in time such players couldn't be selected in the seniors. Readers might recall this rule was changed such that impacted players could serve their time at both senior and lower grade levels (e.g. Gary Moorcroft in 2001).
However, Dorotich himself was reluctant to suggest he could have made a difference. “I didn’t have a great year – 8-10 games or so, but then we were beaten by the Baby Bombers. Some people have said “You might have made a difference”, but, you know it comes and goes in life.”
Dorotich would not play senior AFL football again. “At year’s end, David Parkin and Colin Kinnear had to assess the list, and I was told I was going to be de-listed to give James Cook and Andrew Cavedon a go. I was told 15 minutes before the lists was lodged! Both boys had a bit of talent, but probably didn’t make a fist of it. You could in hindsight have said that I might have been more value in 1993 to 1994, but it didn’t happen that way.”
After leaving Princes Park, Dorotich then went back to South Fremantle and kicked a century of goals in three successive seasons. He remains a life member of both football clubs and is very proud of that fact.
“Look you live and you learn. What more could I have asked for? I played in the 1986 and 1987 Grand Finals, winning 1987, I was part of a Premiership team – it was every boy’s dream! I’m a Life Member of the Carlton Football Club. When I came back to the West I rejoined South Fremantle and I’m a Life member there as well. So dual Life Membership, 300 games, State of Origin representatives, 2 Premierships!”
As for this particular Footy Folklore question – the answer from both the player and our Tribunal review would be that No, Dorra wouldn’t, and couldn’t have made a difference in the 1993 Grand Final. History demonstrates that Essendon swept the Blues aside, winning their 15th flag. Only two years later, Carlton again moved ahead by winning their 16th, before Essendon again caught up in 2000. It’s part of the ebb and flow that supports one of the greatest rivalries in our great game.