Eaglehawk

EAGLEHAWK and Golden Square were victorious in the weekend’s start to the footy finals in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The Hawks stayed in the premiership race by beating South Bendigo in Sunday’s elimination final at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

In the home-and-away series Eaglehawk had beaten South Bendigo both times.

Despite its wayward kicking at goal, Eaglehawk was too strong as it ended the Bloods’ run in ’23.

The Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk led 45-31 at half-time and then scored 4.9 to 2.2 in the third quarter.

Key forward Darcy Richards made a welcome return for the Borough and finished with a match-high four goals in a 14.20 (104) to 10.11 (71) victory.

Other multiple goalkickers for the Hawks were co-captains Billy Evans and Cameron McGlashan on two and Jack O’Shannessy also booted two majors.

The Bloods were kept in check by a tight-knit Borough defence.

The skilful Brock Harvey was South Bendigo’s only multiple goalkicker on two.

Eaglehawk’s best were Billy Evans, Clayton Holmes, Joel Mullen, Dylan Hanley, Oscar Madden and Dillon Williams.

Best for the Bloods were Mac Cameron, Oscar White, Brody Haddow, Braydan Torpey, Will Keck and coach Nathan Horbury.

Eaglehawk will now meet Strathfieldsaye in next Sunday’s first semi-final.

Storm will be desperate to minimise the skill errors following a 26-point loss to Golden Square in Saturday’s qualifying final.

Whether it was real or perceived pressure, Strathfieldsaye made a lot of mistakes on which Golden Square capitalised.

It was a brilliant start to the contest by the Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs as they scored 6.3 to 2.4 in the first term.

Storm worked hard to be within 16 points at the 22-minute of the second term, but a hat-trick of goals gave Golden Square a 35-point by the long break.

With wingman Tom Strauch, Jack Hickman and backman Jon Coe winning plenty of the footy, Golden Square won the third term, 15-14.

Storm did lift to outscore the Dogs in the last, 21-11, but it was Golden Square which marked an 87-61 victory and moved to a second semi-final showdown with Sandhurst.

Joel Brett led the Dogs’ attack on fur goals as Tom Toma kicked two.

Multiple goalkickers for Strathfieldsaye were Jed Brereton and co-captains Jake Moorhead and Lachlan Sharp with two.

The Bulldogs’ best included ruckman Matt Compston, Ryan Hartley and Jack Threlfall.

Mitch Hallinan, Matt Harvey, Callum McCarty, Jake Moorhead, Daniel Clohesy and Tim Hosking were Strathfieldsaye’s best.

In the Harmac Homes reserves competition it was big wins for Sandhurst in the qualifying final, and Strathfieldsaye in the elimination final.

On Saturday, Sandhurst took on Golden Square.

The Dragons dominated the opening half.

Sandhurst led 19-1 at quarter-time and then scored 4.3 to just two behinds in the second for a 46-3 lead by the long break.

The next two quarters were evenly fought, but went Sandhurst’s way, 20-12 and 15-13.

Connor Sexton kicked three goals and nine team-mates chipped in with a goal as Sandhurst won 12.9 (81) to 4.4 (28).

Best for the Dragons were Harrison Monk, Lachlan Zimmer, Brodie Montague, Harrison Free, Martin Leyden and Campbell Rowland.

Dale Lowry, Liam Thomas, Tanner Rayner, Mitch Knox, Mitch Treacy and Jack Vinnicombe were Golden Square’s best.

The Dragons take on Eaglehawk in next Saturday’s second semi-final.

Strathfieldsaye faced Gisborne in Sunday’s elimination final.

Storm led 27-9 at half-time and the pressure did not let up as it won the next two quarters, 21-8 and 27-12.

Jordan Wilson kicked three goals as Lachlan Bonney, Ethan Featherby and Edward Hayes added two each in an 11.9 (75) to 4.5 (29) result.

Gisborne’s attack was led by Hayden Doricic on two.

Best for Storm were Joseph Mayes, Darcy Mulquiny, Lachlan Bonney, Ed Hayes, Carson James and Charles Dole.

Jarrad Lynch, Leon Thiner, Matthew Jinkins, Boyd Nalder, Sean Merrett and Harry Manders worked hard for Gisborne.

In the SportsPower-backed under-18s competition, Maryborough won the elimination final against Strathfieldsaye by 25 points.

The Magpies led 21-15 at half-time and 35-22 at a quarter to play.

In the last, Maryborough scored 4.1 to 2.1 to complete a 60-35 victory.

Taj Bond and Kaian Constable kicked three goals for the Magpies.

Storm’s attack was led by Jaidi Jackson-Leahy with two goals.

Best for Maryborough were Lachlan Bursill, Kaian Constable, Lucas Hurse, Damon Nitschke, Tom Myers and Tyson Hoban.

Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Lincoln McKern, Hugh Behrens, Zac Grieve, Declan Lowther and Evan Cole played well for Strathfieldsaye.

The Magpies will now tackle Sandhurst in the first semi.

First-up this finals series were Gisborne and Sandhurst in Saturday’s under-18s qualifying final.

Despite its inaccurate kicking, Gisborne was well in control as it led 3.10 (28) to 1.3 (9) at half-time.

The Bulldogs won the third, 19-7, and then added 3.5 to a goal in the last for a 70-22 victory.

Ed Williams kicked three goals and Jarrod Ainsworth added two majors for Gisborne.

Dragons’ captain Alex Carr kicked two goals.

Best for Gisborne were Jarrod Ainsworth, Ed Williams, Frankie Ellis, Lachlan Evans, Jack Long and Kane Minns.

Jack English, Wil Pinniger, Deakin Andrews, Declan Delaney, Daniel Noden and Declan Stevenson were Sandhurst’s best.

The win put Gisborne into a second semi-final clash with Golden Square.

Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals:

Under-18s at 10.15am: Golden Square v Gisborne.

Reserves at 12.15pm: Eaglehawk v Sandhurst.

Seniors at 2.20pm: Sandhurst v Golden Square.

Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals:

Under-18s at 10.15am: Sandhurst v Maryborough.

Reserves at 12.15pm: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.

Seniors at 2.20pm: Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk.

The Two Blues won two more Bendigo Football League premierships either side of World War 2, in 1941 and 1946.

The BFL had shrunk in size as World War 2’s requirements for fit, young men escalated with Kyneton withdrawing in June 1940.

The Tigers’ exit was followed soon after by Maryborough and Rochester and after the Japanese aerial attack on Pearl Harbour (Hawaii) in December 1941 the entire league went into recess from the proposed start of the 1942 season to 1944.

Kyneton eventually re-joined in 1947, two years after the peace treaties had been signed.

But in the 1946 season to top up the club numbers Elmore had joined for one year.

That was it for present day Heathcote DFNL club Elmore --- just the ’46 season.

In late 1941 the Two Blues marked eventual Team of the Century big man Fred Trewarne’s final game for Eaglehawk.

Fred had started out in footy with the Sailor’s Gully club, before first donning the Hawks’ guernsey in 1923.

Eighteen seasons later, in 1941, Fred’s great career ended with Eaglehawk a comfortable 38-point grand final winner over South Bendigo: 17.16 to 11.14.

He played 350-plus games for the Borough with three premierships to his name and playing in, and captaining, many representative BFL sides.

And amazingly enough Fred was a great exponent of a lost footy art.

That’s the place kick, when the ball is placed on a small, grassy mound and tilted forwards slightly so the boot can slide underneath and roost it goalwards.

He was what the Bendigo Addy of the day called “a crowd favourite” when folks could see Fred preparing his little mound before the kick.

And then after the war the late, great Harold “Wicky” Toma led the somewhat deflated Eaglehawk contingent from eight goals down at the last change to sneak home by four points in the 1946 Big Dance.

‘Wicky’ was a great player himself rotating between the centreman position and the half-forward flank depending on which club the Hawks were up against and which opponents he had to line-up on.

He could also play as a rebounding half-back flanker.

The 1946 flag was Harold’s third. He’d played in the successful 1935 and 1941 premiership-winning Eaglehawk teams and he took over as captain-coach the year after WW2 ended.

He lived until he was 104. I remember interviewing him at his Eaglehawk house on the occasion of his ‘ton’ --- his 100^th birthday.

Harold proudly showed me the congratulatory letter from Queen Elizabeth II and other mementoes relating to his extraordinary long life.

It was a very emotional time for me. After shaking hands with ‘Wicky’ and wishing him all the best I sat in the car for a while reflecting on what an extraordinary event it had been.

Interviewing a centenarian on the day just after his 100^th birthday.

Apart from ‘Wicky’, Eaglehawk kept alive its tradition of producing strong footy families with the Daly brothers --- Alan, Keith, Roy and Harold --- and the Crawford brothers --- Jack, Ted, Peter, Bill, Frank and Charlie.

The senior Crawford, Dad Bill, is still acknowledged as Eaglehawk’s longest serving president. A revered personality he was club boss from 1946 to 1961.

He didn’t stand down in ’61, though, before at the official ceremony he’d opened the clubrooms which used to grace Canterbury Park until fairly recent years.

Another outstanding club administrator was Frank Davies, Two Blues’ secretary for 18 years: 1935 to 1953.

Ernie “Soda” Munday was club treasurer for 18 years, succeeded by the late Jack Taylor who painstakingly watched over the club’s finances for an amazing 25 years between 1947 to 1972.

Jack also served on the Borough Town Council for 27 years and was Mayor five times.

I worked with Jack in 2005 on the Eaglehawk Team of the 20^th Century selection committee. His knowledge of players’ abilities from just prior to WW2 right down to the present era was outstanding.

He was 97 when he passed away and importantly had a flag to his name. Jack had played in the 1941 premiership-winning team.

Going back to the 1946 premiership team and there’s some great names there apart from ‘Wicky’.

Jack and Ted Crawford were in the 18 along with George Ennor, Russell Robertson, ‘Snowy’ Chinn, Eric Paynter and Clive Evely.

The Two Blues were actually trounced in the 1948 grannie in an uncharacteristic poor forward line display.

The Hurst won by a tad more than 10 goals --- 16.24 to 8.9.

Leaving that poor form behind them it was onwards to the Fifties, especially to 1951 when one of the greatest grand finals in BFNL history was played.

It was when a total of 44 goals were kicked and even though gun full-forward Harry Morgan nailed nine of the Borough’s 20 majors South Bendigo still won: 24.12 (156) to Eaglehawk’s 20.8 (128).

And only a couple of seasons later Harry equalled the BFL record for the most goals landed in a single game.

He drilled 24 majors in three quarters.

Before sitting out the final term on the bench so he’d be ready for the finals the following Saturday.

That tally of 24 goals equalled Dave Mahoney’s 24 majors which he’d nailed for Bendigo City back in 1913.

So following on from the disappointment of ’51 the Hawks broke through again in 1953 with former Carlton full-back Ollie Grieve leading the side to a three-goal win over the Maroons.

Sandhurst wasn’t able to tally much of a score as the Borough ran out reasonably comfortable victors: 12.13 to 9.12.

And so onto my great old Sports Star of the Year committee colleague, the late Basil Ashman, who made history twice in the 1950s.

He was the first Borough player to win two best and fairest awards (1953, 1954) and then in 1957 Baz became the youngest-ever BFL player to captain-coach a premiership side.

Eaglehawk downed Kyneton in a fast-paced, long kicking 1957 grand final and won 14.17 (101) tyo Kyneton 10.11 (71).

There was a famous framed black and white photograph of Basil being chaired off the QEO by his ecstatic teammates.

It used to hang right above the fireplace in the BFL’s old headquarters --- the QEO building behind the city end goals.

That building, until recent seasons the HQ of the BFL, had once been the home for the head QEO and Rosalind Park caretaker and his family.

The Fifties were a great decade for the Two Blues.

The club produced a heap of star players for the then VFL including Jack Slattery and Kevin Smith to Footscray: now the Western Bulldogs.

But look at the list of gun footballers who joined Geelong: Doug Palmer, Clive Brown, Bruce Peake, Hugh Routley, Max Hetherington and of course one of the then VFL’s top rovers: Peter Pianto.

Pianto had won Eaglehawk’s club fairest and best award in 1948 before signing on with Geelong and he played in the Cats’ back-to-back premiership sides in 1951-1952.

He then went on to win Geelong’s fairest and best award in 1953 (C’wood def. Geelong in that grannie), represented Victoria six times and was named as an All-Australian in 1956.

As a coach he led Geelong to the 1967 VFL grand final and he also coached Victoria in 1967.

And I can say as an avid Cats fan I’ve actually seen Pianto in action, and on the MCG no less.

As a tiny primary schoolboy in 1951 I was there for the ‘51 Big Dance when we beat Essendon: 11.15 (81) to 10.10 (70).

As I’ve mentioned before Essendon coach and three-time Brownlow Medallist Dick Reynolds was supposed to be in retirement mode.

But he came on as the grand final’s 20^th man in a desperate last quarter replacement to try and boost his Red and Black teammates. It didn’t work and Geelong held on.

But looking back we weren’t known as the Cats not long after WW2. Just after WW2 and into the Fifties Geelong was known as the Pivotonians --- the pivot city for huge shipments of wool and wheat from Victoria’s wealthy Western District, bound for Europe and the USA.

Back to those early 1940s BFL grand final scores –

1941: Eaglehawk 17.16 (118) def. Sth. Bendigo 11.14 (80) and

1946, Eaglehawk 14.10 (94) def. Golden Square 13.12 (90).

I’ve heard, and written, about all sorts of footy stories but none after a stolen football was returned to its owner, leading to the formation of an important club.

But that’s the folklore behind the founding of the mighty Eaglehawk Football and Netball Club.

It seems that in early 1880 Jim Steward had bought his son a brand new footy and it was put to solid use on what is now Canterbury Park oval.

But a slight hitch occurred. Young Steward and his mates were interrupted by another group of lads, headed by ‘King’ Williams and Charlie Carter, who headed off with the new pill.

Fences were mended and forces were eventually joined by the Steward, Carter and Williams families and a team was formed.

A match between the newly-born Eaglehawk outfit and established Coachbuilders footy club (1878-1886, disbanded 1887) which was a member club of the Bendigo Football Association --- now the BFNL --- was arranged.

Although the Eaglehawk-based side lost it was decided to call a meeting to officially form a footy club.

At that time Eaglehawk was a thriving goldfields town of around 15,000 and as fortunes were found and lost in the mines footy was starting to find a real role as a recreational pastime.

So the meeting went ahead in the rear of a store on High Street, in what was known as the ‘Cripps room’.

It was there that the distinctive two blues colours were decided upon for the new club, Eaglehawk.

This is how the formation of the Eaglehawk club was reported upon.

“In deciding on the Two Blues the new club set out on the right footing from its very inception.

“No other club can boast of the traditional colours of the two most famous universities in the world – Cambridge and Oxford.

“The dark blue of Oxford and light blue of Cambridge were selected because of the keen rivalry of the originators of the club, each university being equally represented on the goldfields by former students, men of great foresight who had the wisdom to come together and form one grand and happy club.”

Mayor of Eaglehawk Mr George Loudon presided at the foundation meeting, Tom Young was elected as secretary and Jack Shoosmith was appointed the new club’s first captain.

It was decided that the club would be based at Canterbury Park, a proposal which presented a huge problem.

The reserve was then basically a ‘slum’ bank with the overflow from the nearby, highly lucrative Virginia Mine, flowing into it.

But volunteer workers eventually cleared the sludge and made certain that Canterbury Park would be a first-class oval for the new footy club and its opponents.

So the Two Blues prospered and won their first premiership in 1882 with Charlie Leggo as coach, in the days when finishing top-of-the-ladder ensured winning the flag with no finals then in vogue.

Eaglehawk turned into the then Bendigo Footy Association’s ‘trump card’, notching back-to-back premierships in 1882 and 1883 and then again in 1886-1887.

The Hawks’ fifth pennant came in 1889 with Jim Steward, father of the boy who’d had his footy stolen, playing as a sterling full-back in those later 1880s sides.

He was also in the last line of defence when Eaglehawk won in 1894 and was dubbed the ‘Waterbury Invincibles’.

I’ve mentioned this in earlier articles but the Waterbury Watch Company in a 1894 Victorian statewide competition donated 20 gold watches to the club which kicked the greatest number of goals in 18 regular season matches.

A few words about Waterbury. It was a well known late 19th century watch and clock manufacturer, the first one to produce a watch that the average-man-in-the-street could afford.

Up until that time watches were the possessions of the wealthy.

Spokesmen for the watch company announced that every Victorian club was eligible to enter the competition.

But Eaglehawk faced a unique problem after winning the 1894 BFA premiership, undefeated, as they’d played just 16 matches.

The Two Blues needed two more matches to qualify for the watches contest, so officials hurriedly arranged for those games to be played against representative teams from the Maryborough and Echuca leagues.

They won both, added another 17 goals to their tally while conceding just two. They entered the Waterbury competition with the impressive total of 158 goals.

Having clinched the title of the ‘Waterbury Invincibles’ Eaglehawk played an Upper Reserve representative match against a cobbled together Bendigo team and won: 6.8 to 4.5.

Thousands of spectators crammed into the Upper Reserve for the big game.

Looking back to the Waterbury competition the Hawk’ total of 158 majors was eight better than Essendon’s 150 goals and Beechworth, in third place.

Remembering that this was 1894 and three years before the VFL was founded. So Essendon was a competition member club of the then Victorian Football Association.

They went on to take home their fourth consecutive VFA premiership in 1894, losing just three matches in those four seasons.

Essendon was then known as the “Same Olds”.

The club played at the East Melbourne oval, but sang the winner’s song ‘The Same Olds’ to remind supporters that they were still the same, old Essendon.

But there’s a sad and poignant ending to the 1894 Waterbury season.

The boat carrying the original gold watches sank on its journey from England to Australia, so the firm’s Victorian representatives instead presented 40 nickel watches --- one for each player and one each for his wife or ‘ladyfriend’.

From that spectacular season, with E. Hummel as the captain, Eaglehawk won the premiership in five, successive years (1894-1898), and by the time the 20th century rolled along had won an amazing 10 BFA flags in total.

Many player awards have come the way of Eaglehawk footballers and netballers.

Footy, Michelsen Medals: Greg Kennedy (1971), Alan ‘Bruiser’ Williams (1974), Des English (1978), Reece Langan (2000), Lucas Mathews (2001), Kain Robins (2006), Shannon Milward (2008), Josh Bowe (2010), Brodie Filo (2015).

Grand final Nalder Medallists – Rhys Healey (2007); Damien Lock (2008); Jonty Neaves (2018).

Goalkicking, later Ron Best Medal: Frank Crapper (1930, ‘32, ’34) Mancel Davies (1935, ’36, ’38), Harry Morgan (1948, ’51, ’52, ’53), Merv Hicks (1961), Greg Kennedy (1970, ’71), Keith Raynor (1972, tied with Peter Hutcheson, South Bendigo), Daryl Gilmore (1982, ’84, 1991), Damien Brown (2007), Matt Gretgrix (2013, ’15).

Gilmore finished on 214 games, 812 majors with 100-plus scored in 1982 (113) and 1984 (120).

Netball, A grade premiers: 1992, 1996, 1998-99, 2012. Betty Thompson A grade medallists: Genevieve Slater (1998), Ashley Ryan (2019).

Still to come: the Two Blues in the 1930s, winning the flag in 1935 to snap Sandhurst’s run of six, consecutive premierships.

In recognition of chairman Zach Harvey and my fellow selectors on the panel which had the responsibility of naming Eaglehawk’s Team of the 20th Century, announced August 2005.

Kangaroos bound into another showdown with Dragons

KANGAROO Flat bounced its way into another showdown with Sandhurst in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball series.

The Kangaroos stayed in the premiership race as it dominated Sunday’s first semi-final with Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The Jayden Cowling-coached Roos bounced back from a four-goal loss to Sandhurst in the first semi-final to end the Hawks’ season.

In a strong four-quarter performance, Kangaroo Flat poured in 66 goals and kept the Two Blues to a tally of 33.

The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk had played well to win the elimination final against Strathfieldsaye by five goals, but had few answers to combat the skill and finals experience of the Kangaroo Flat line-up.

The Roos now take on Sandhurst in Saturday’s preliminary final.

At stake is the chance to meet Gisborne in the September 21 grand final.

The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne is on track to claim consecutive premierships after a 51-38 win against Sandhurst in the second semi-final.

The Bulldogs have beaten the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons in all three matches this season.

It’s three-nil in favour of the Dragons against Kangaroo Flat so far in ’24.

Sandhurst has won its matches with the Roos by margins of seven, five and four goals.

It was a memorable Sunday for Strathfieldsaye on first semi-final day.

The Storm kept premiership hopes alive in A-reserve, B-reserve, and 17-and-under.

Strathfieldsaye ended Maryborough’s run as it charged to a 51-41 victory in A-reserve.

It was a three-goal thriller in B-reserve as Storm held on for a 54-51 win against Kangaroo Flat.

The day’s play began with a two-goal win for Strathfieldsaye in the 17-and-under clash with Maryborough.

Storm led 61-59 at the final siren.

Four goals was the difference in B-grade as Kangaroo Flat bounced its way to a 52-48 win against Strathfieldsaye.

On Saturday it was Gisborne against Sandhurst in four of the five matches played on second semi-final day.

First on court were Sandhurst and Golden Square in the 17-and-under match.

Both had identical 15-1 records in the home-and-away series.

Game three between the Dragons and Bulldogs ended in a 60-39 win for Sandhurst.

It was three-one in favour of Gisborne against Sandhurst in other grades.

The teams in red, white and blue advanced to the September 21 grand finals in A-grade, A-reserve and B-reserve.

The B-grade and B-reserve second semi-finals were closely-fought.

The Dragons fired their way to a 50-46 win in B-grade.

In B-reserve it was Gisborne which led 50-45 after the final play.

Gisborne’s unbeaten run in A-reserve kept rolling as it scored a 43-36 win against the maroon and blue.

A 51-38 result for Gisborne in A-grade was the Bulldogs’ 14^th victory of the season.

Bendigo FNL netball first semi-finals scoreboard:

A-grade: Kangaroo Flat 66 d Eaglehawk 33.

A-reserve: Strathfieldsaye 51 d Maryborough 41.

B-grade: Kangaroo Flat 52 d Strathfieldsaye 48.

B-reserve: Strathfieldsaye 54 d Kangaroo Flat 51.

17-and-under: Strathfieldsaye 61 d Maryborough 59.

Bendigo FNL netball second semi-finals scoreboard:

A-grade: Gisborne 51 d Sandhurst 38.

A-reserve: Gisborne 43 d Sandhurst 36.

B-grade: Sandhurst 50 d Gisborne 46.

B-reserve: Gisborne 50 d Sandhurst 45.

17-and-under: Sandhurst 60 d Golden Square 39.

There will be five clubs which feature in the Bendigo FNL’s netball preliminary finals on Saturday at the QEO in View Street.

Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:

17-and-under at 10am: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.

B-reserve at 11.20am: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.

B-grade at 12.40pm: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.

A-reserve at 2pm: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.

A-grade at 3.20pm: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat

Six new coaches were appointed over summer in 2010 as BFNL clubs prepared for the 2011 season.

There were some top names among the appointments, headlined by Maryborough’s Michelsen Medallist Matt Aston and Gisborne’s ‘Rolls Royce’ Luke Saunders.

The other quartet of new faces included Luke Monaghan (Eaglehawk), Derrick ‘Dekka’ Filo (Kyneton), Darryl Wilson (Strathfieldsaye) and Tony Graham (Sandhurst).

Graham wasn’t a brand-new mentor, though. He’d led the Dragons from 1997 to 2000 including a 1998 grand final loss to Maryborough by 47 points.

He took over from Sandhurst stalwart Kieran Nihill who’d served a three-year stint.

Going through the others alphabetically club-wise, Monaghan was at the Canterbury Park helm following Filo’s eight-season era which had resulted in two senior premierships.

Monaghan had previously coached the Hawks under-18s from 2005 to 2007 and he’d then had three years as the Bendigo Pioneers assistant coach.

Four-time premiership player and Michelsen medallist Saunders took over the Graveyard duties from Ty Elliott.

Not only had he played in the Bulldogs’ string of flag wins he’d also captained the successful sides in 2005 and 2006.

Saunders’ Gisborne side went down to Golden Square in the classic 2012 grannie which wasn’t decided until the final kick of the day.

Final scores: Square 16.10 (106) def. Gisborne 14.19 (103).

A Michelsen Medallist just like Saunders, Aston headed into his first coaching role at Princes Park.

He took over from Shane Fisher who’d led the Maryborough Magpies for three, consecutive seasons.

Filo had previously coached the Kyneton Tigers from 1995 to 1997, leading them to their famous flags in 1995 and 1997.

He’d also coached Kangaroo Flat from 2000 to 2002 taking the Roos to the 2000 grand final against Castlemaine where poor kicking let the Roos down.

Final scores: Castlemaine 12.11 (83) def. Kangaroo Flat 9.17 (71).

Filo took over from Paul Houston who’d coached the Tigers for two seasons: 2009-2010.

Although we didn’t know it then, a dozen years back, Strath Storm’s Wilson would become the most successful and prominent coach of the modern era.

He’d been in charge at Dower Park in 2008 and 2009 and had suceeded in leading the Roos to the 2009 preliminary final.

Final scores: South Bendigo 16.11 (107) def. K. Flat 10.15 (75). The Roos had downed Eaglehawk and Gisborne in earlier finals in that 2009 season.

And then out at Tannery Lane Darryl has moulded the BFNL’s premier side of the modern era as the Storm won flags in 2014-15 and then again in 2017 and 2019.

So that was the list of 2011’s brand new incoming coaches.

But four senior coaches from 2010 had stayed on for the upcoming season.

Premiership mentor Nick Carter would lead Golden Square for another season although he took a couple of weeks after the Wade Street Dogs 2010 flag celebrations had eased off to re-sign with his club.

Paul Eyles was returning for a return stint with Castlemaine and like Carter was going to be back for a second year.

However, Eyles had also enjoyed an earlier crack at coaching in the early Noughties.

He led the Camp Reserve Pies in 2004-2005.

Third returning coach was Murray Collins at Kangaroo Flat who, like Carter and Eyles, was saddling up for a second year.

Longest serving coach to re-sign was South’s Rick Coburn who was going into his fifth season.

He’d taken the Bloods to two second finishes in 2009 and 2010 along with 3^rd and 4^th placings, but sources had told footy writers the Bloods would go into 2011 with a much younger list.

2009 grand final: G Square 16.12 def. S. Bendigo 10.11 and 2010 grand final, G. Square 11.21 def. S. Bendigo 8.10.

So how did this impressive array of coaches end up as September in 2011 wound to a close?

Well, Carter’s Square finished unbeaten on top  of the ladder with an 18 win-0 loss record and cantered home in the grand final over Eaglehawk by 135 points.

They restricted the Two Blues to just five majors for the day.

At the other end of the table Filo’s Tigers didn’t win a game so they finished up with the exact reverse to Square: 0 wins and 18 losses.

So the ladder read at the end of August: Golden Square 18 wins, 0 losses, 72 prem. points, 267.3%; Eaglehawk 13-5, 52, 133.5%; Gisborne 12-6, 48, 142.99%; Sandhurst 11-7, 44, 130.5%; South Bendigo 11-7, 44, 117.4%.

Outside the Five: S’saye Storm 9-9, 36, 124.1%; Maryborough 9-9, 36, 81.8%; Kang. Flat 5-13, 20, 84.8%; C’maine 2-16, 8 prem. points, 55.9% and Kyneton 0-18, 0 points, 27.45%.

So Carter ended 2011 with a brilliant season -- home and away and finals. An unbeaten season for the Square.

And apart from the disastrous grand final Monaghan’s Two Blues did OK. As did Saunders with the Graveyard Dogs reaching the preliminary final.

Graham and Coburn probably rated in the 60-65 per cent mark as both clubs were gone by the end of the second week of the finals.

Wilson’s Storm were pretty new to the BFNL in 2011 so he gets a pass mark and so does Aston with the Princes Park Pies.

Both clubs had a nine win-nine loss record

Eyles and ‘Muzza’ Collins fall short of a pass mark, but at least the Roos under Collins scraped together five wins.

But Filo’s at the bottom of the barrel with the winless Tigers not setting any benchmarks at the Kyneton Showgrounds.

And there were some familiar faces in district coaching ranks for the 2011 season.

In the Heathcote DFNL North Bendigo had appointed Damien Lock, who’d played 18 AFL games for Carlton in 1998 and 1999.

Locky was also an Eaglehawk premiership player and back a little further in his footy career had won the VFL’s Bendigo Diggers fairest and best award.

Ash Wilson was the new coach at HDFL club Huntly. He’d enjoyed a fine career with Kangaroo Flat and had later coached premiership sides at Wandella and in partnership with Barry Pitson took Mitiamo to their 1999 flag.

Matt Pinniger was back in familiar territory at Colbinabbin as he took over from Brent Millar who’d led the Grasshoppers to the 2008 HDFNL flag.

At Mount Pleasant well-travelled local footy personality Denis Grinton had been named as the Mounts coach.

He took over from former Gisborne star Shane Davis who’d handed in his resignation in November 2010.

But it was a late appointment for Mounts as Grinton’s coaching job wasn’t revealed until mid-December.

Jason ‘Jugga’ Stevens was the new man at White Hills having stepped up from assistant coach.

Stevens served under Brent Dyer and for the 2011 season would have ex-South Bendigo outside midfielder Gavin Bowles as his assistant.

Incoming coaches in the LVFL for 2011 included Phil Walsh (YCW) who’d previously coached the Eagles to their 1997 flag.

Jim Angove was taking up the reins at the Marong Panthers, Phil Birchmore was to helm Newbridge while up at Pyramid Hill Leigh Davies was taking over from Shawn Filo whose health issues meant he had to step down.

Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Bendigo Football Netball League will be held on Wednesday 18th January 2023, at The Bendigo Club (22 Park St, Strathdale), commencing at 7.30pm. 

Light refreshments and nibbles will be available following the meeting.

Please find below official notice of the annual general meeting, along with a Board of Management Nomination form for any prospective BFNL Board members.

Please take note of the submission deadline for Board nomination forms, along with any other general business to be considered by the Board.

General Business submission deadline: Wednesday 5th January 2022 at 6.00pm.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Rochester and Collingwood ruckman Ray Willett has his name stamped in BFNL history.

He’s one of just three footballers to have won a BFL premiership, the Michelsen Medal and the top goalkicking award for the season all in the one year.

This happened in 1962 when Rochy downed Golden Square by nine points in the grand final, and Ray was on top of the goalkicking table with 72 majors.

So how did Ray Willett end up at Rochester?

He’d been appointed head teacher at the tiny Strathallan school after 20 VFL games with the Collingwood Magpies.

“The day after I was appointed to the Strathallan school Rochy secretary Jack Green came knocking on the door,” Ray remembers.

“He was on my doorstep in suburban Melbourne to sell me the benefits of signing with the Rochester club.

“He was a brilliant secretary and his timing was perfect.

“I was sick of the stinking mud at Victoria Park and when I visited the oval at Rochy it was like a bowling green,” he recalls.

The footy maestro remembers his decision to play at Rochester was very popular with the Strathallan community.

“The eight children and virtually all of their parents were Rochester supporters,” he said.

Ray recalled his time at Collingwood back in the day.

He’d signed with the Magpies straight out of school and amazingly his fourth, fifth and sixth games with Collingwood were all finals, including the 1960 ‘grannie’.

In a low scoring match, the Magpies lost the 1960 grand final to Melbourne, 8.14 (62) to 2.2 (14).

He played just another eight VFL games in 1961 before heading to the bush.

Ray not only played in Rochester’s 1962 premiership-winning team, but backed up the following season when Rochy downed Kyneton: 16.22 to 10.14.

He fondly remembers his ’62 season when he booted 72 goals and inter-changed in the forward pocket with Noel ‘Chooka’ Howe who hammered home 50 majors.

“It was a ‘Pagan’s paddock’ sort of arrangement and well ahead of its time when Pagan ended up coaching North Melbourne,” Ray recalls.

“Noel and I interchanged between the ruck and the key forward post.”

And he made headlines again in 1964 when, back at Collingwood, Ray nailed six goals against Fitzroy in his first game back.

He played just five more games for the Pies under coach Bobby Rose, but the Collingwood legend approached Ray again, this time when he was coaching Wangaratta.

Willett had been one of the BFL’s best in an interleague win in 1963 so, following Bobby’s approach, Ray ended up in another major league: this time the Goulburn Valley.

Ray also won three Morrison medals in the Goulburn Valley Football League to go with his Michelsen.

Later in his career Ray was posted to Rutherglen to teach and because the family lived beside the Murray in Corowa he played for Corowa in the Ovens and Murray F.L.

He’d ride his bicycle to and from Rutherglen for his school duties, but with Corowa he finished runner-up to Bruce Waite (Myrtleford) by one vote in the 1972 OMFL Morris Medal count.

In another interesting little sidelight anecdote Ray Willett tutored current Sydney Swans coach John Longmire in the art of forward play when ‘Horse’ was playing for the Corowa Thirds.

And the final scores in that BFL grand final, 1962: Rochester 9.17 (71) def. G. Square 7.20 (62).

Oh, and before I forget, the other triple honours winners with a flag, a Michelsen Medal and the goalkicking award all tucked away in the one year are Greg Kennedy (Eaglehawk) in 1971 and Strathfieldsaye Storm’s Lachlan Sharp in 2017.

Kennedy drilled 139 goals and Sharpy 142 in their flag-winning seasons.

And of course Rochy played in four, consecutive BFL grand finals (from ’62 on) in the Sixties. Here’s the results of the other three.

1963: Rochester 16.22 def. Kyneton 10.14; 1964: G. Square 10.10 def. Rochy 9.7 and 1965: G. Square 12.19 def. Rochester 11.11.