 Brunswick finished second on the southern ladder but would defeat Heidelberg United, South Melbourne and Preston in the southern conference play-offs before eventually defeating Sydney City over two legs in the national grand final.In 1986 Brunswick finished first on the southern conference table, but consecutive losses to Adelaide City and Footscray JUST in the conference play-offs ended their season and was the last season in which they were to be finals competitive at national league level.Finishing eighth and thirteenth respectively in the 1987 and 1988 seasons saw Brunswick be relegated back to the Victorian state system.