Bill West
Gisborne footballers won their first Bendigo League senior football premiership since the 2006 season on Saturday, overcoming Strathfieldsaye in a hard, slogging contest in wet and heavy conditions at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Bulldogs also won the Under 18s flag, and two netball premierships.
The first three quarters of the main match yielded just three goals before the Bulldogs eventually drew clear to win by scoring 5.20 (50) to 2.10 (22). It was the lowest winning score since Castlemaine’s 7.2 (44) in the 1925 grand final against South Bendigo.
And in the Maryborough Castlemaine District League, a gallant Harcourt landed its first premiership since 2007, defeating Carisbrook by eight points after a tremendous battle.
The Harcourt Lions lived up to their name, coming from behind at half-time for a 9.4 (58) to 7.8 (50) grand final triumph at Princes Park, Maryborough.
For Gisborne, it was an overdue premiership after finishing on top of the ladder, then losing the second semi-final and fighting back to tip out Golden Square by two points in an epic preliminary final.
Bulldogs’ coach Rob Waters was understandably ecstatic, and earned deserved plaudits from his players and supporters.
Gisborne’s tireless ruckman, Braidon Blake, who was recruited late in 2020, won the Nalder Medal for best afield, and key defender Jack Reaper took out the second best player award, but there were many in the lineup contributing to the victory in the extremely adverse conditions, with quality on-baller Brad Bernacki showing his class and captain Pat McKenna a big influence playing in various positions.
From current president John Wood down, the Bulldogs have been building their netball and football prowess and to come home with four of the six premierships – two football, two netball – may well be an ominous sign to other BFNL clubs that the Bulldogs are set for continual powerhouse status once again.
After winning three football premierships in a row in the Riddell League, the Gisborne club crossed to the major Bendigo League in the 2000 season.
Premierships followed in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 but since that time the Bendigo-based clubs have proved too strong in finals series.
Gisborne celebrations flowed at Gardiner Reserve on Saturday night, and there was a free barbecue and celebration of the 2022 achievements on Sunday afternoon.
