South Bendigo

We’ve all read about and seen on TV the debates and outcomes at lengthy Tribunal hearings.

Especially at AFL level, as to players’ credit there seem to be fewer and fewer charges laid in our region’s major league and district level footy.

But there were some absolute beauties in the penalty area 100 years ago.

Ponder a moment the result of a May, 1920 BFL hearing chaired by the league president Mr. M.E. O’Brien.

Up on a charge was South Bendigo’s P. Cooney with the affected player Sandhurst’s N. Vance.

So what was the charge? Striking, head-butting, punching behind the ear while attempting to clear the ball in a marking contest?

Nope. None of the above. The charge, would you believe, was bribery.

Sandhurst secretary W. Byrne laid the bribery charge against Cooney who, he said, was charged with an offence considered by BFL officials to be “the most serious one in the calendar of football: trying to influence an opposing player against his own club by means of monetary consideration.”

And Mr Byrne wasn’t finished. “If such a thing was allowed, or becomes common, football in our city would soon die out.

“The league has been entrusted with carrying on the affairs of football and its officers are supposed to keep the game clean in every way.”

Addressing the committee separately Vance and Cooney both stated that off the field they were “friendly” towards each other.

Cooney did not deny that a conversation took place between him and Vance.

Another witness, apparently a teammate of Vance, said a disturbance had arisen during the conversation and “it looked as if something was going on that was not in the interests of our Sandhurst club.”

During questions to other on-field players some admitted they’d heard the term “squaring’ being used.

Chairman O’Brien said it seemed player Vance “had been lending a willing ear to the betrayer.

“It would have been much better had Vance resented completely Cooney’s remarks about “squaring.”

The chairman permitted further questioning of Cooney and Vance and when summing up emphasised how serious the charge was.

“I do not think that any sane man could have found any other verdict than the one I’m about to hand down,” he said.

“South’s representative Mr Gambetta has been clear of what Cooney actually said to him and it is also clear the South Bendigo club was in no way connected to the case.

“But Mr Gambetta thought that Cooney’s statement might have been passed off as bravado,” Mr O’Brien wound up.

So after all this to-ing and fro-ing what suspension did Mr O’Brien’s panel hand out?

Three years. Yep, not three weeks or three months. Three, complete years which meant Cooney wasn’t eligible to lace up his boots again until the middle of the 1923 season.

In a lengthy footy reporting and broadcasting career covering 45 seasons, I’ve never, ever read about or heard of a suspension of such length.

But there it is all set out in a May 1920 story in the Addy.

The chairman did ask Cooney if he wanted to say anything by way of an apology.

Cooney declined, but made it clear he wished to appeal against the decision.

Chairman O’Brien praised Hurst delegate Byrne.

“He has shown a degree of courage and I am pleased with the way Mr. Byrne has given his evidence and his questioning of the two players.”

Bendigo East F.C. delegate T. Gearon supported the chairman’s remarks regarding Mr. Byrne’s actions.

East joined the BFL in 1919, wearing Collingwood colours, but lasted just six seasons.

In conclusion Sandhurst’s Byrne explained that when the bribery matter was mentioned to him he thought it was his duty, not only as secretary of a club, but also with the welfare of the League at heart to take action about the allegations.

“It was a disgraceful thing to attempt to bribe a player when men had to go out and play in all kinds of weather,” he said as the hearing wound up.

But now, on to other matters.

With the Cooney-Vance matter out of the way BFL delegates addressed other issues, weather conditions prominent in their discussions.

Considering the bleak conditions in central Victoria last September weather in the Twenties seemed to be a harbinger for what was to follow a century later.

Eaglehawk delegate T.R. Davies (later a BFL president) referred to “the inclement weather that prevailed for matches in early and mid-May and I move the league pass a motion to protect players.”

“The matches were played in rain and several players, not just from our club but others as well, had caught colds.

“Footballers should not play under such conditions and the league should study the health of players.

“Several men have threatened to take direct action,” Mr Davies warned.”

During the discussion which followed it was pointed out the league’s rules provided for adverse weather committee meetings at 2 pm on match days.

The rain on the day in question did not commence to fall until just before the matches commenced.

Another delegate Mr McKellar gave notice he would move at a special meeting a further clause.

“If in the future the weather conditions are such as to make play unfit, the adverse weather committee be empowered to take action any time during the afternoon,” he said.

And before the lengthy meeting wound up a letter from the Bendigo Umpires Association was opened and discussed.

The umpies wanted the BFL to re-consider the fees paid to boundary umpires.

On the recommendation of the permits and umpires sub-committee the fees were increased from 10/- (ten shillings, $1.00 today) to 12/6 (12 shillings and sixpence -- $1.25 today).

And the umpire appointments for the following weekend were made.

Remembering that the central umpires in days past were provided by the Melbourne-based VFL, only boundary and goal umpies were named.

Upper Reserve (QEO) boundary: Miller and Smith. Goals: Newman and Lober.

Eaglehawk, boundary: Casey and Stewart. Goals: Allen and Montgomery.

The permits committee spokesman mentioned that the secretary of each club should forward a list of all players registered and granted permission to play with junior teams (the Twos) to the secretary of the BFL.

*From the Bendigo Advertisers of early to mid-May, 1920.

[Norman Vance played 30 matches for the Hurst: 1919-1921. I’m still trying to track down Cooney’s playing record with South Bendigo.]

With thanks to Barry Plant Bendigo & Premier Data, let's compare the top 5 performers (ranking points) from last weekend's Elimination Finals

Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo enjoyed markedly different outcomes in the BFNL seasons between 2010 and 2019.

South played just three seasons in the finals for a win-loss record of 2-4 while the Storm fronted for finals in eight of those 10 years winning four premierships (in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019) and finished with a 13-8 win-loss record in September action.

They were runners-up in 2013 and 2018. Of course, there were no finals in both 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.

It’s amazing to look back at cold, hard facts half-a-decade after stats for a 10-year period have been compiled, seasons wound up and premierships collected.

The Storm were newcomers to BFNL footy when the decade unrolled but by the end they were the BFNL football powerhouse.

And they started their upwards rise from 2010 (7th), up to 6th a season later and then into 3rd slot by 2012.

Grand finals followed in 2013 and 2014 after that third-placed finish 11 years back: in 2012.

Worst season for the Storm in the mid-2010s was 2016 when they finished fourth. They lost to Eaglehawk in the first semi-final.

In contrast the Bloods also started the Teens pretty well finishing runner-up to Square in 2010 (after losing to Square also in 2009) and were in the Top Five in 2011 and again in 2012.

Ironically the Bloods lost the 2012 elimination final to the Storm and then tumbled to sixth in 2013 with nine wins and a draw --- their first finish outside the finals-bound sides since 2004.

Then came one of South Bendigo’s most impotent seasons as they finished in the 2014 cellar, in 10th spot (2 wins, 16 losses), claiming their first wooden spoon since 1965.

Jut as had been the case in the mid-Sixties the Bloods managed just a pair of wins in 2014 ending up with a 2-16 record.

Just as playing coach Nathan Horbury has been for the Bloods in the early 2020s, South’s top player of the decade was unquestionably Aaron Connaughton.

One of the highlights between 2010 and 2019 was registered in 2017: Rd. 6.

It was Aaron’s 150th senior game and, up against major QEO rivals Sandhurst, South roared home by 30 points.

By registering that victory the Bloods regained the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup for the first time since 2013. Four seasons leaving the prized Cup in the Dragons’ lair.

But it wasn’t the only memorable victory during the 2010-2019 decade.

South Bendigo beat Golden Square by 15 points on the Saturday in July they celebrated their 125th BFL season.

The vital victory was registered in July of 2018. So from foundation year 1893 to 2018 marked 125 years.

Another big milestone, albeit on a personal level in 2018, came when classy key forward Kaiden Antonowicz won the 2018 Ron Best medal by booting 76 majors.

His overall tally for the decade was 174 goals. Joining Kaiden on more than a century of majors were Michael Leech (152) and Steven ‘Stroobie’ Stroobants on 103.

The decade was also memorable for another milestone.

It marked the Bloods’ transition from the QEO to the Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington and they played their first matches there for premiership points in 2014.

Among other personal milestones was the selection by the Adelaide Crows of South’s No. 1 ruckman Kieran Strachan in the 2018 AFL rookie draft.

Strachan had won a South club fairest and best award before the Crows picked him up.

Centre half-forward Justin ‘Harry’ Maddern was South’s sole representative in the Team of the Decade.

He played with South in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, taking out the Ron Best medal in his final season: 2013.

Overall records for the decade --- South Bendigo: won 82, drew 2 and lost 100 in 184 total games. Average scores for and against: 84/85. Winning %: 44.6%.

Storm: won 149, lost 49 and drew 1 in 199 total games. Average scores for and against: 110/69. Winning %: 74.9%.

Another stat. which should remain in the memories of footy followers, but might need brushing-up, is the Storm’s amazing winning streak.

From Rd. 4 in 2014 when they belted Castlemaine Strathfieldsaye won 39 games in a row. Yes, that’s right. Thirty-nine.

They didn’t lose again until Rd. 3 in 2016 when the Wade Street Bulldogs won by four goals.

That’s almost two complete seasons without a loss. The players must have had hoarse throats after singing the club song weekend after weekend from 2014 through until early 2016.

In 2015 Strathfieldsaye didn’t lose a single game. They finished that season 20-0.

The loss to Square in early 2016 was significant for another reason, however. Brilliant forward Lachlan Sharp suffered a season ending knee injury which probably put paid to their grand final hopes seven years ago.

He was back, though, in 2017 when the Storm downed Eaglehawk in the grand final, he won the Michelsen and Ron Best medals --- the latter with 142 goals --- plus the AFL Victoria grand final medal.

Sharp is one of only three players in BFNL history to have won the grand final, the Michelsen Medal and the senior goalkicking award all in the one season.

He joined Rochester’s Ray Willett (1962, 67 goals) and Eaglehawk’s Greg Kennedy (1971, 139 goals).

The 2017 season was notable not just for Sharpy’s incredible accomplishments but also because Strathfieldsaye celebrated the trifecta ---- flags in the seniors, reserves and under-18 grades.

The Storm became the first BFNL club to achieve that since Gisborne in 2002.

And second behind Sharp on the decade’s overall sgoalkicking list was Sam Mildren with 243 while tough half-back or on-baller Kallen Geary polled the most club best player votes for the decade with 248 votes.

Amazingly enough only two Storm players in Sharp and Geary made the Team of the Decade, joined by the 2010-2019 Coach of the Decade Daryl Wilson ---- premiership mentor in 2014, 2015 and again in 2017.

I remember sitting on the seven-strong selection committee in 2019 for the ten Hall of Famers and the inaugural five Legends.

Don’t think I was on the Team of the Decade committee. Maybe my memory is playing up.

Let’s return to year-end results. Strath’s Twos and Threes won a few flags. The Reserves (131 total wins) saluted twice while the under-18s (146 victories) were successful in three grand finals.

The Bloods Twos (98 wins) played in eight finals series of the decade’s 10 seasons but didn’t win a premiership. Neither did the Threes (67 total victories) who contested just two finals series.

Of course in the season just-finished’s major individual awards Storm’s brilliant on-baller Jake Moorhead won the 2022 Michelsen medal with 19 votes.

He ended up four ahead of joint runners-up Nathan Horbury (South’s playing coach) and Gisborne mid Brad Bernacki.

The Bloods’ Chloe Gray with 15 votes finished sixth in the A grade netball’s Betty Thompson medal count, won by Gisborne’s Madeline Stewart who polled an outstanding 29 votes.

The Bendigo Football Netball League would like to announce and congratulate the following BFNL netball players who have been selected in the 2023 BFNL Open Netball representative team:

2023 BFNL Open Netball Team:

Goalers:

• Claudia Mawson (Gisborne)
• Abbey Ryan (Kangaroo Flat)
• Rebecca Smith (Sandhurst)

Mid-court:

• Shae Clifford (Sandhurst)
• Kirby Elliot (Gisborne)
• Ashley Ryan (Kangaroo Flat)
• Meg Williams (Sandhurst)

Defenders:

• Heather Oliver (Sandhurst)
• Alicia McGlashan (South Bendigo)
• Charlotte Sexton (Sandhurst)
• Sophie Shoebridge (Sandhurst)

Coach: Jayden Cowling (Kangaroo Flat)

Assistant Coach: Stephanie Freemantle (Strathfieldsaye Storm)

The BFNL Open team will join the recently qualified BFNL 17 & Under netballers at the Netball Victoria Association Championships Finals, to be held at the State Netball Centre, Parkville on Sunday the 18th of June 2023

Motivated BFNL head coach Jayden Cowling is again thrilled at the prospect of leading the Open team, and buoyed by the quantity and quality of local BFNL talent that were able to make themselves available for selection for the representative program

"I am incredibly excited and proud of the talented squad that we have selected to represent the Bendigo Football Netball League”.

“We have such a star-studded league with numerous players having VNL or state level experience, but also have a range of amazing local talent who will be able to showcase their ability at the Association Championships”.

“We are fortunate to have selected a very versatile side who can cover numerous positions across the court, which will be extremely beneficial at a gruelling full-day tournament against quality opposition”.

“The group has a great mix of youth and significant experience that gives us great balance to hopefully go one step further in 2023 from our Runners-Up result in 2022."

BFNL Manager Cameron Tomlins said, “The Bendigo Football Netball League congratulate and thank all players who have been selected in the 2023 BFNL open netball representative team and will proudly represent the BFNL to showcase their ability and the current significant quality of BFNL netball at State representative level”.

“Whilst a small number of quality players were ruled out of selection consideration due to injury, VNL or personal commitments, the overall investment of all players and volunteers that were able to make themselves available for selection for representative duties has allowed Coach Jayden Cowling and the selection panel to gather an extremely strong and versatile team that we are confident will achieve success, whilst positively representing the current high standard and quality of BFNL netball.”