Written by Greg Stock

Sources: Doug Butcher and various newspaper reports via Trove

Australia was invited to send a team to compete in the 1984 Merlion Cup in Singapore. The Australian Soccer Federation chose to send an Under 23 team with a view for the future. Drawn in Group A with Indonesia, Holland Amateurs and the home side Singapore the Australians qualified for the knockout phase with two wins and a loss.
Played: Sunday October 14 1984				Venue: National Stadium, Singapore
Indonesia Hermansyah, Peter Tambunan, Hendratmo Budlawan, Marzuki Hyskmad (S.Kamaludin 63), Azhari Rangkuti, Ali Ridwan Mas, Danni Bulung, Abdul Khamid (Agil Alhadsy 46), Sain Irmis, Hosh Mekiem, Frans Sinatra, . Goal: Irmis 21	1	-	2	Australia Tony Franken, Robbie Hooker, Andrew Bernal, Ray Vliestra, Ralph Maier, Howard Tredinnick, John Mihalidis, John Panagis (Andy Koczka 70), Sean Ingham (Alex Bundalo 70), Warren Spink, Frank Farina. Goals: Spink 59 Farina 70
Referees: Abdul Qadir (Iraq) Attendance: 11,029 Coaches: Lacerda Silho (Indonesia), Jim Shoulder (Australia)
Played: Friday October 19 1984				Venue: National Stadium, Singapore
Singapore David Lee, Lim Tang Boon, Razali Saad, Norhalis Shafik, A.R.J.Mani, Heshim Hosni, Thamblayah Pathmanathan, Rajagopal Surlamurthi, Kunluraman Kannan (Razali Rashid), Tay Peng Kee (Darimosuvito Tokjian), Malek Awab. Cautions: Boon, Saad, Shafik, Surlamurthi Red Cards: Surlamurthi 81 Awab 86	0	-	1	Australia Tony Franken, Robbie Hooker, Andrew Bernal, Ray Vliestra, Raplh Maier, Howard Tredinnick, John Mihalidis, John Panagis, Alex Bundalo (David Sharpe 75), Warren Spink (Sean Ingham 75), Frank Farina. Caution: Bernal 42 Goal: Bundalo 6
Referee: Ricardo Calabria (Argentina) Attendance: 8,000 Coaches: Yusoff Ismall (Singapore), Jim Shoulder (Australia)
Played: Sunday October 21 1984				Venue: National Stadium, Singapore
Holland Amateurs Pieter Williamse, Peter de Jongste, Rene Versteeg, Anno de Kleine, Freddie Prins, Nico Hoogwerf (Peter Knoop), Jacques Manuputty, Chusi Regiero, Rob Mechendijks, Johan Neuteboom (Oege Boonstra), Peter Scheepers. Goal: Regiero 17 Scheepers 53 Prins (x2), de Kleine	5	-	2	Australia Paul Johns, John Gregson, Andrew Bernal, Aki Kotzamichalis, Andy Koczska, Theo Stamatelopoulos (Ralph Maier 76), David Sharpe, John Panagis, Alex Bundalo, Sean Ingham, Warren Spink (Frank Farina 76). Goal: Jasim Marhoon 45+3
Referee: Sergio Vasquez (Chile) Attendance: 10,000 Coach: Jim Shoulder (Australia)
The knockout phase of the Merlion Cup began with a semi-final match against Iraq. Sadly the Australians were beaten 9-8 on penalties and finished off the tournament with a 3rd v 4th playoff against Holland Amateurs.
Played: Friday October 26 1984				Venue: National Stadium, Singapore
Iraq Abdul-Fatah Nassif Jassim, Adnan Dirjal Mutar, Khalil Mohammed Allawi, Kadhoun Mtasjar Hamid (Ahmed Radhi Hmalesh Al-Salehi), Kerim Mohammed Aliawi, Karim Saddam Menshld, Hatiq Hashim Abid-Aoun, Jamal Ali Hamza, Wameedh Munir Yacoub, Hussein Saeed Mohammed, Basil Georgies Hanna. Goals: Hussein Saeed Mohammed 116	1 (9)	-	1 (8)	Australia Tony Franken, Robbie Hooker, Andrew Bernal, Ray Vliestra, Howard Tredinnick, David Sharpe (John Gregson 60), John Mihalidis, Ralph Maier, John Panagis, Sean Ingham (Warren Spink 107), Frank Farina.
Referee: Sergio Vasques (Chile) Attendance: 4,000 Coaches: Akram Ahmed Jassim (Iraq), Jim Shoulder (Australia)
Played: Sunday October 28 1984				Venue: National Stadium, Singapore
Holland Amateurs Pieter, Williamse (Jacob Ree 80), Peter de Jongste, Rene Versteeg, Anno de Kleine, Ton Norbert, Fred Prins, Chusi Regiero, Jacques Manuputty, Rob Meulendijks, Oege Boonstra (Marius Methorst 67), Peter Scheepers. Goals: de Kleine 24 Meulendijks 28 Regiero	3	-	0	Australia Tony Franken, Robbie Hooker, Aki Kotzamichalis, Ray Vliestra, Howard Tredinnick, Ralph Maier, John Mihalidis, Theo Stamatelopoulos (John Gregson 65), Andy Koczka (Sean Ingham 74), Warren Spink, Frank Farina.
Referee: Sebastian Yap (Singapore) Attendance: Unknown Coaches: Jim Shoulder (Australia)

Last updated: 10 December 2020.