LADDER leader Gisborne and second-placed Castlemaine warmed up for the 2005 BFL finals with wins in the 18th and final round that year.It wasn’t easy going for the Camp Reserve Pies, though. They just edged out bottom club Kangaroo Flat by eight points in a thriller at Dower Park.
For the Graveyard Dogs who went into the finals series four years ago with only one home-and-away loss the 18th round was an easier affair.
Gisborne accounted for sixth-placed Kyneton by 99 points. Jordan Barham booted eight of the Bulldogs’ 24 goals while Darren Farrugia bobbed up with a couple.
For South Bendigo the 2005 season was a watershed one. The Bloods made the finals in the senior grade for the first time since 2002 with a 62-point victory over Maryborough.
Luke Beattie nailed six goals to give him second spot on the Bart N Print senior goalkicking table with 69. Castlemaine’s Steven Oliver took off top spot on 77 majors, slotting his 1000th BFL career goal in the process.
Led by ruckman John Hardinge the Bloods’ on-ballers Josh Dawson, coach Danny O’Bree, Jared Keely and Brendan Jennings were the matchwinners.
Michael Leech played his first senior game for South in round 18, 2005.
With the final five settled at Gisborne, Castlemaine, Eaglehawk, Square and South the other big feature of August four seasons ago was Eaglehawk’s 125th anniversary celebrations.
The Two Blues held a gala dinner at the All Seasons Quality Resort on the Saturday evening of Round 17.
Wearing their special 125th anniversary guernseys the Hawks had defeated arch-rivals Sandhurst by 44 points that day.
Travis Rankin and Scott Tuddenham each booted four goals with midfielders Kurt McGlynn and Brad Rogerson and skipper Ben Hynes among the best players.
It was a gritty win by Eaglehawk. Inspired by stalwart Matt Sexton who was playing his 304th and final game the Dragons booted five third quarter goals, held the Hawks to four points and took a one-point lead into the final term.
With the induction of the Team of the Century just a few hours away, the 2005 Eaglehawk players rallied. They nailed 7.4 in the last term to score a memorable victory.
At the Team of the Century celebrations John Ledwidge was named as the Two Blues’ Coach of the Century, brilliant key defender Robert ‘Ninga’ O’Connell was named captain and club stalwart Basil Ashman was installed as vice-captain.
A feature of the eventual team structure was the naming of early 20th century star George McWilliams, and pre-World War 1 forward Alf Baud in the club’s best.
McWilliams played in the Two Blues’ 1903, 1906 and 1908 premiership teams and was club captain between 1905-07. He also played 15 games for Fitzroy between 1907 and 1909, turning out in Eaglehawk colours on Wednesday afternoons and in the Fitzroy strip on Saturdays.
Baud was Eaglehawk club champion in 1911-13, played for Carlton and Victoria in 1913 and was named in the best six in the Navy Blues’ 1914 premiership side.
Baud was just 22 when he captained Carlton to their 1915 flag.
In the next decade – the 1920s --- Eddie ‘Moots’ Esposito was a star. He played with the Borough between 1924 and 1928, and then from 1929 to 1931 Eddie was a member of Ivor Warne-Smith’s Melbourne club in the VFL.
Moots returned to Eaglehawk in 1931 and remained at Canterbury Park until 1939, the year World War 2 started. He had two seasons as Two Blues’ captain-coach.
ON TO Round 18 four seasons ago after the busy weekend of the Eaglehawk celebrations.
The Hawks stitched up third spot, and the finals double chance, with an 18.10 to 10.17 victory over Golden Square at Country Vet oval.
Jumping away to a five-goal lead at the first break Eaglehawk was never headed. Injuries had taken their toll on the Square line-up and the home side never looked settled.
Daniel Rankin, Nick Heath, Brad Rogerson and Brady Herdman were top players for the Hawks. Phil Lobb booted three goals.
On a wet day at the QEO South led second bottom club Maryborough by seven goals at half-time. Matt Aston was out of the Magpies’ side (influenza) and only Adam Hurse, Dylan Clarkson and Reed Wills could boot more than a single goal.
Apart from Beattie’s six goals Neville Clark snared four and coach O’Bree finished with three.
Solid centreman Jason Wescott was a key Bloods’ player in 2005 and along with another midfielder in Jennings was one of South’s workhorses.
Final scores: South Bendigo 20.12 (132) def. Maryborough 10.10 (70). That left the final ladder looking like this --- Gisborne 68 points; Castlemaine 60; Eaglehawk 52; Golden Square 48; South Bendigo 40.
Then followed: Kyneton 32; Sandhurst 28; Maryborough 20; Kangaroo Flat 12.
Each club enjoyed two byes during the season so the Roos’ only win in 2005 came in round 16, early August. It was a stunning 38.17 (245) to 8.6 (54) thumping of Maryborough.
Coach Damien Brown booted 12 of the Flat’s 38 majors.
The elimination final had Square and South matched up with the qualifying final a Castlemaine-Eaglehawk showdown.
AND as the finals loomed in 2005, the BFL was preparing to welcome a 10th club into the fold.
General manager Tony Pierce had informed all clubs North Ballarat Junior Football Club had lodged an official application to join the All Seasons BFL for the 2006 season.
Representatives of the club had presented their proposal to a meeting of club presidents, Mr Pierce said.
The new club would be known as North City and would wear the traditional North Ballarat black jumper with a white yolk.
Richard’s tips for round 18: Eaglehawk, Gisborne, South Bendigo, Golden Square and Kangaroo Flat.
Progress tally for 2009: 70.
By Richard Jones
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