BFNL REWIND - A 2011 Season Preview

BY RICHARD JONES

Even though the 2025 season is still more than two months away, it's timely to have a look back at our fabulous history.

In early April 2011 Addy footy writers Adam Bourke and Luke West previewed the coming season. They looked at the league, club by club.

Castlemaine, LW: Surely the Magpies have to be in for a better season than last year. When you don't win a game as was the case with the Pies last season the only way is up for Paul Eyles and his boys.

The Magpies were successful during the pre-season in picking up three blokes who have been on VFL lists in Wayne Schultz, Nick Bone and Harmit Singh.

They should add some class to the side. The Magpies should win some games this year but I see them finishing in the Bottom Three.

AB: ditto.

Eaglehawk, LW: The post-Filo era starts at the Hawks tomorrow with Luke Monaghan now in charge. I like the Hawks' chances of finishing in the top three again with the club having recruited well in the off season to replace their well-documented key losses.

Plenty of new names at Canterbury Park, but it should be nine finals series in a row for the Hawks come September.

AB: On paper the Hawks look stronger than I thought they would be. Pencil in Matt Gretgrix, the G-Train, for 80-plus goals for the season.

 Gisborne, LW: Would expect the Graveyard Dogs to win more than their four games from last year and I think they can push towards the Top Five if they can remain relatively injury-free. Not sure if I would have the Bulldogs equal third on the premiership market as SportsBet has, but they won't be easybeats especially at home .

AB: To be honest I just don't know where to place the Bulldogs. Their finals hopes will hinge largely on how good a ruckman Tom Waters is and how much their young players have improved from last year. They could jump out of the ground and finish Top Three or it could be a footy-free September.

Golden Square, LW: Fairly straightforward here. and that is I can't see Nick Carter's boys losing a game. Probably the best side going around in country Victoria at the moment.

AB: Best side in country Vic. is debatable, but the Wade Street Dogs look to have a mortgage on their third-straight flag

Kangaroo Flat, LW: So much will hinge on how much time Justin Maddern spends with the Bendigo Bombers. (Note: the VFL side was still alive in Bendigo footy 14 years back). If the Roos get more games than not out of 'Harry' then they will be in the mix for the finals, especially if Tigger Downie can stay on the park.

AB: The way (coach) Shannon Grant has been talking I'd expect Maddern to play with the Bombers more often than not. The Roos will certainly be competitive, but I can't see them making the Top Five.

The Roos will be competitive but the Top Five will be a fair way off.

Kyneton, LW: There's a real sense of optimism in the way Dekker (Filo) is talking about the Tigers. Dekker always puts together a good side and I'm sure he would be bitterly disappointed if the Tigers don't improve on their four wins of last season.

Dekker thinks finals this season are not out of the question. I'm not convinced just yet.

AB: Mr. Filo is a glass half-full kind of guy. Unless he has a couple of late quality recruits up his sleeve there won't be any finals footy for the Tigers.

This year will provide the younger players with some valuable experience though.

Maryborough, LW: Tough job for new coach Matty Aston after so many key and important players left over the summer and not too many have come in to replace them. Think it could be a big fall from finalists last year to wooden spooners this season for the Pies.

AB: a couple of weeks ago I had the Magpies pegged as winless for 2011 --- wooden spooners. But after a look at their selected side for Rd. 1 I'm confident they'll win a few games.

Sandhurst, LW: the Dragons have certainly lost some talent over the summer, but they were a handy side last year and I still have them as a side that looms as a potential finalist -- although their forward line could be a bit suspect. Disappointing it didn't work out for Lee Coghlan over in the West, but great to see him running around in the BFL (and on the QEO) once again.

AB: I'm confident the Dragons will make the Five. Top class midfield will help offset a lack of targets in attack.

South Bendigo, LW: the Bloods will slide this year. The question is -- how far? It's such an unfamiliar side selected for today's grand final re-match against the Square. Fifth at best for me.

AB: I've got them in the mix for fourth and fifth with Sandhurst and Gisborne. Look for a big season from young ruckman Ben Allen.

Strathfieldsaye, LW: should be the big improvers of the competition. I like their recruiting and they could be finals bound in just their third season.

AB:

No excuses if the Storm don't make the finals. Recruited strongly over summer and have a very talented list. Top three beckons.

So how did it all pan out five months down the track ? Well the Top Five ended up as  G. Square 18-0; Eaglehawk 13-5; Gisborne 12-6; Sandhurst 11-7, 130.5%; South Bendigo 11-7, 117.4%. (Westy's prediction of Square as the best side in country Victoria proved correct).

Michelsen Medal: Wayne Schultz (Cm); Ron Best Medal: Grant Weeks (GS) 125 goals.

My Final Five tips for 2011 had been: Square, Sandhurst, Eaglehawk, Gisborne, Storm. Storm actually finished sixth with a 9-9 win-loss record the same as Maryborough (7th) but with a superior percentage. Winless Kyneton took home the 2011 wooden spoon.

And even though there's a long way to go before 2025 footy kicks off my tips for the Five: Gisborne, Sandhurst, Castlemaine, South, Storm.

Big Improver: Castlemaine. Big slider: Eaglehawk. Wooden spoon: Kang. Flat.

Credit: Bendigo Advertiser