Gisborne, the heartland for many BFNL stars
Since joining the BFNL in 2000, the Sydney Olympics year, the Gisborne Bulldogs have produced many outstanding players, in both footy and netball.
They’ve set visiting clubs a daunting task to win at the Gardiner Reserve, know familiarly by scribes and commentators as the “Graveyard”, making the Gisborne trip a nightmare for opposing footballer and netballers.
And of course they’ve won senior or A grade premierships in both sports: football in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and in last year’s pouring rain the 2022 flag: 5.20 (50) to Strath Storm’s 2.10 (22).
The A grade netball flag was won in 2013.
You can read the complete list of the Dogs’ individual trophy winners at the end of this article.
When I look back at all those seasons since 2000, the club has produced some outstanding footballers.
Quite a few I’ll never forget: tough dual Michelsen Medallist Matt Fitzgerald, the “Rolls Royce” Luke Saunders who was a wizard inside 50, long kicking and hard-running half-back Rodney Sharp, goal sneak Darren Farrugia, and consistent, tough ball-winner Olli Messaoudi.
I shouldn’t forget key position player Anthony Belcher, at home at either centre half-forward or centre half-back, consistent forward 50 ball-winner and goalkicker Shane Davis, and the Barham brothers Marcus and Jordan.
Then there’s Gareth Bowes, who was pipped by one vote in the 2006 Michelsen Medal vote count, and another mobile key position player in Simon Elsum who had actually won the medal a couple of years earlier.
Among the big men Tom Waters and Jason Duff-Tyler were impressive all over the ground, while key backman Tim Walsh made the 2010-2019 BFNL Team of the century along with Waters and his brother, Michelsen Medallist Scott Walsh (2012).
When we go back to the Mick McGuane seasons – he coached Gissy to BFNL flags in 2002-2003 – there were some ex-AFL players in the ranks.
Ex-Western Bulldogs key forward Aaron James was an important member of the 2002 premiership team, Michael Werner who had played with Essendon and the Sydney Swans along with Damien Houlihan from Collingwood/North Melbourne both pulled on the Gissy guernsey.
Houlihan went on to play with North Bendigo in 2010 while Werner booted 173 goals in one season in the Riddell DFNL.
Going back to Malthouse, during Gisborne’s dominant run from 2002 to 2004 he coached the side to 50 wins and just five losses in the regular seasons and the finals.
A magnificent record by anyone’s estimation.
And I mustn’t forget to mention BFNL Hall of Famer, the ‘Action Attraction’: Steven “Revenue” Reaper.
In the red, white and blue Gisborne colours the full-forward won the Ron Best medal three of his five times, with a BFNL total of 732 goals: 429 for Gisborne and 303 with Kyneton
In the early Gisborne premiership years he nailed 78 majors (2002) and 102 (2003).
The 2002 end of home-and-away matches saw ‘Bundy’ on 70 majors so he nailed another eight in the finals while in 2003 after 18 rounds he was on 86 and added another 16 in that season’s finals.
“The Big Show” was a six-time member of BFNL interleague teams and was named in the Gardiner Reserve Dogs’ Team of the Century at full-forward
He was inducted into the BFNL Hall of Fame in November, 2019.
Among their netty trophies the Graveyard Dogs have the 2013 A grade pennant along with that season’s best-on-court grand final award winner, Melissa Harris.
Gisborne beat Kangaroo Flat in that grannie by the narrowest of margins. One point: 39-38.
They were runners-up 53-47 to Sandhurst in the big one --- in 2018.
Medal winners -- footy, Michelsen Medal: Matt Fitzgerald (2003 and 2007), Simon Elsum (2004), Luke Saunders (2005), Scott Walsh (2012).
Netball, Betty Thompson Medal: Tiana Newman (2009), Maddy Stewart (2018, 2022).
And in case you’re wondering how the Dogs went in their very first game in the BFNL in 2000 they scored a win.
Final scores: Gisborne 22.15 (147) def. Kyneton 10.9 (69). It was April 15th, 2000.
