BENDIGO has another huge inter-league assignment this weekend when it tackles Geelong at Skilled Stadium.

The opponent for the sixth-rated Blue and Golds is the Geelong F.L., ranked No. 5 in the state --- not the Geelong and District Football League which is a fair way further down the standings.

With two wins from its last two starts --- over Ballarat at Bacchus Marsh in '09 and against Gippsland at the Queen Elizabeth Oval last year --- the BFL under coach Jeff Brennan has been in great form.

Saturday's task is tough, but not insurmountable.

Five years ago, the Bendigo League proved it wasn't a spent force in inter-league football with a commanding performance at the VCFL championships at Barooga.

Okay, so it was only Pool C we contested back in 2006.
But the three wins in the NSW border town marked the start of the long haul back to prominence for the Blue and Golds.

The BFL won all three of its short format matches against the Murray, Wimmera and Central Murray leagues to claim the title and earn promotion to Division 2 for the 2007 titles.

"It was a very satisfying weekend," the BFL coach of the time, Brett Fitzpatrick, said.

"Full credit to the playing group for coming here to Barooga and getting the job done.

"We're back in Division 2 now and I think with the brand of footy we played this weekend, we proved we could match it with the best leagues in the high divisions."

GISBORNE'S Shane Davis (now at Eaglehawk) was named the BFL's Player of the Carnival. But in reality it could have been any one of half a dozen players, so even was the Blue and Gold team performance.

The BFL march to glory started on the Saturday with a hard-fought 6.10 (46) to 6.4 (40) win over host league, Murray.

The Blue and Golds made life difficult for themselves with poor kicking. That kept Murray in the game.

With all matches played over the shortened two-halves format goals need to be kicked quickly --- and early on.

Bendigo should have had Game 1 safe in its keeping by half-time but wasted opportunities in front of goal.
At the break the BFL led 4.9 to 2.1, with 13 scoring shots to Murray's three.

Murray stormed home in the most exciting half of football for the weekend. The home side added 4.3 to 2.1 but the Blue and Golds had done enough to win by a kick: 46 to 40.
Hard running from Mark Lloyd, Davis and Michael Dillon was the core reason why the Blue and Golds hung on.

Matt Gretgrix kicked two of Bendigo's six goals. Luke Saunders, David Taylor, Seamus Young and Darren Farrugia kicked the others.

The Blue and Golds really flexed their muscles early in their second game after Wimmera had accounted for Central Murray by 20 points.

Skipper Luke Saunders created havoc for the Central Murray defenders. The midfield group, led by Jason Griffin, ran riot as Saunders and Farrugia booted telling majors.

The Blue and Golds kicked 6.6 to 1.2 in the first half.
Central Murray battled hard in the second half but it wasn't enough to stop the BFL from winning comfortably by 45 points: 12.7 (79) to 5.4 (34).

Saunders and Farrugia nailed three goals each. Seamus Young, Kain Robins and Michael Dillon each slotted two.

THE late Saturday victory enabled the Blue and Golds to go into Sunday morning's final game against Wimmera knowing that even a five or six-goal loss would still be enough to clinch the title.

And even without star trio Saunders (back), defender James Flaherty (foot) and key position player Kain Robins (ankle) the BFL finished off the series in emphatic style.

Leading Wimmera seven goals to four at half-time, Bendigo slammed home another eight goals to win, 15.4 (94) to the Light Blues 8.3 (51).

Farrugia and Gretgrix set up the win with outstanding first halves across half-forward. Farrugia kicked three goals himself, while Gretgrix played a hand in five of the BFL's first seven goals.

Fitzpatrick said it was really pleasing to see his players finish off the carnival so well.

"We were without three of our best players, and you take three players of that calibre out of any side and it's going to leave a big hole.

"Everyone stepped up and contributed. Marcus Barham even came down from half-back and kicked a goal," the coach said.

The Blue and Golds appeared to have a distinct edge in skill levels against its three rivals. But perhaps its greatest strength was its chemistry.

"We could not have been happier with the way the team gelled," said Fitzpatrick. "It was as if they'd played footy together for a long time.

"Having that team chemistry made a big difference."

MATCHES were played on two adjacent ovals at the Barooga complex.

The broadcast team set up close to the main pavilion at the No. 1 oval, in a position a long way from the far end goals.

It was a difficult assignment but not impossible and the two Saturday games featuring the Blue and Golds went to air.

However, when the Sunday morning match for Bendigo rolled around, it was scheduled for the No. 2 oval. There was no electric power outlet near that oval so no match broadcast of Bendigo v Wimmera could proceed.

BENDIGO'S under-18 side capped an outstanding weekend for central Victorian football by going through its carnival undefeated.

Coached by Sandhurst mentor Ben Dyett the under-18 Blue and Golds outclassed their rivals winning their three games by an average margin of 33 points.

Dragons ruckman Tom McCarthy was named the BFL's Player of the carnival.

"We put together three, really solid wins," Dyett said. "The most pleasing aspect was that everyone contributed."
"And we created some history by becoming the first BFL under-18 side to win an inter-league carnival."

McCarthy dominated in the ruck and around the ground in all three games for Bendigo, with North City's Billy Barnes exciting in attack.

Skipper Dylan Clarkson and Maryborough teammate Matt Bilton had strong carnivals, while Kangaroo Flat trio Danny Manning, Jarryd Weigard and Tim Brooks were solid.
Maryborough key forward Stewart Crameri (now kicking goals for Essendon in the AFL) had a busy weekend.

Crameri played for the senior side on Saturday before backing up in the under-18s on Sunday to cover for some injured players.

The classy left-footer could well have become the first player to receive a winner's medal for two divisions on the same weekend.

Bendigo league newcomers North City showed it had a range of talent in its junior ranks. All five of its representatives received a pat of the back from Dyett.

"North City has been fantastic," said Dyett. "They have been banging down the door to have even more players in the team.

"We just need a bit more support from the Bendigo-based clubs," said the victorious under-18 coach.

UNDER-18 SCORES: Bendigo 9.6 (60) def. Murray 1.3 (9); Bendigo 7.3 (45) def. Central Murray 1.5(11); Bendigo 5.4 (34) def. Wimmera 3.2 (20).
Barnes kicked five goals during the carnival and Danny Manning three.
Central Murray finished second in the standings with 2 wins, 1 loss. Wimmera recorded one win while Murray lost all three games.

By Richard Jones