I KNOW it's 27 years ago, but do you remember Denis Higgins taking on the coaching job at Kangaroo Flat and then resigning two-and-a-half months later?
I must confess I don't even though I obviously wrote about it for the Advertiser in 1984.
And Robert O'Connell having his appeal to transfer from Eaglehawk to the Flat as assistant coach refused?
Or even Sandhurst and YCW declaring their intention to amalgamate?
And then pulling out of the deal, leaving YCW to go into recess for the 1984 season. Peter Crossley senior coach of Golden Square?
I remember his coaching tenure at Sandhurst. But the Square?
Okay, so some of these events took place during the summer of 1983-84 --- the off-season, to be precise.
I do happen to remember the opening YCW events. Then again I have no recollection of the Eagles' later negotiations for a merger with South Bendigo.
So let's take a wander down memory lane with then BFL executive officer Greg Hilson and his occasional column in the Bendigo Footballer: The Year So Far. The material comes from 1984's issue No. 8
It's compiled in point form, with barely more than a sentence or two beside each date.

1983, NOVEMBER 7th: YCW announces plans to amalgamate with Sandhurst. Robert O'Connell wins Eaglehawk best player award.
9th: A likely meeting between YCW and Sandhurst announced.
12th: Peter Crossley swaps from Golden Square to coach Kennington-Strathdale on a three-year deal. Darren Kulbars wins Kennington best payer award.
15th: Amalgamation between YCW and Sandhurst hits rocky ground. North Bendigo and White Hills mentioned as possible mergers.
16th: Denis Higgins appointed Kangaroo Flat coach.
18th: Changes to BFL board: John Bourchier, Basil Ashman appointed to board. Greg Hilson appointed executive officer.
Amalgamation between North and White Hills unlikely to proceed. Sandhurst says ‘no' to merger with White Hills.
23rd: White Hills opt out of major league footy and announce plans to join the Loddon Valley League.
24th: Leon Grose appointed coach of South Bendigo.
30th: Ken Cowling (GS), Paul Strang (Kyn), Terry Turner (Sh) and George English (NU) appointed presidents of their respective clubs.

DECEMBER 2nd: BFL threatens to pull out of Winfield Championships unless two divisions are put in place, as agreed at the major leagues seminar in Geelong.
16th: YCW goes into recess for 1984 despite negotiations with South Bendigo reaching a favourable situation.
White Hills decides the club prefers the Heathcote league to the Loddon Valley league.
17th: Two divisional structure for 1984 Winfield Championships announced.
31st: Bendigo to meet Goulburn Valley in Round 1 of the '84 Winfield Championships.

1984 -- JANUARY 11th: Alan McIntosh appointed senior coach of 1983 premiers, Sandhurst.
19th: BFL annual general meeting. Clubs upset with the lowering of the under-18 age limit in the Thirds competition.
26th: Denis Higgins resigns as coach of Kangaroo Flat.
Phil Byrne appointed.
28th: Bob Gartside lands the Castlemaine job.

FEBRUARY 2nd: North Bendigo announces the signing of ex-Melbourne VFL player, Peter Hamilton.
7th: Kyneton sign top player John Fitzgerald and Melbourne under-19 star, Ron Howard.
10th: Castlemaine best and fairest winner Stan Camov leaves to coach Port Melbourne Colts.
BFL reaffirms its intention to contest the Winfield Championships despite rumours to the contrary.
South Bendigo refuses clearance for Des Charles to be assistant coach at Golden Square.
18th: Ron Best appointed inter-league coach, Shane Rodda manager and Colin Rice selector. (Bill Barham of Kyneton later appointed as additional selector.)
23rd: BFL board meets with Carlton in Bendigo. Board presents submission on finance and players.
3BO night series placed in recess.

MARCH 2nd: 3CV announces extensive plans to broadcast BFL games throughout 1984, plus a teams programme on Thursday nights.
10th: Inaugural Winfield championships squad named.
12th: Carlton v Footscray pre-season match draws bumper crowd to the QEO. Footscray romps home easy winners.
14th: Kangaroo Flat appoints Robert O'Connell assistant coach, subject to appeal.
22nd: Carlton appeals for the lifting of the suspension on Peter Dean because of an anomaly in the rules.
24th: Winfield withdraws sponsorship of the Bendigo Advertiser-Winfield Player of the Year award.
26th: Lake View Motor Inn replaces Winfield with a $500, plus trophy, sponsorship deal.
28th: BFL Independent Tribunal decides that Peter Dean's suspension must stand and that it be served in Bendigo.

APRIL 4th: Robert O'Connell refused appeal to transfer from Eaglehawk to Kangaroo Flat. Roos' president resigns in protest. Kangaroo Flat threatens legal action to gain clearance.
5th: George Edwards appointed Kangaroo Flat president.
6th: Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat hold crucial talks to discuss the Robert O'Connell clearance dispute. Nothing resolved.
7th: Daryl Gilmore cleared back from Carlton to Eaglehawk.
9th: Martin Sloan returns to Sandhurst from Hawthorn.
10th: Comet Overnight Transport announced as major sponsor of the league with $10,000 injection. Comet officials come to Bendigo to make the announcement.
13th: Robert O'Connell released from any obligations by Kangaroo Flat and returns to Eaglehawk.
14th: Football begins. 1983 premiers Sandhurst rolled by Eaglehawk on the QEO. Highly fancied Kyneton thrashed at home by South Bendigo. Kennington starts season on sour note, despite a huge crowd at Neale Street watching.
21st: Footscray assistant coach Trevor Fletcher plays for South in a controversial move. South beaten easily by Northern United with Fletcher turning in a disappointing effort.
Square gains revenge for their 1983 grand final loss by downing Sandhurst by 10 points.
Kyneton puts in another bad one. The Maine Magpies open their account at the expense of Kennington.

AND on it goes with more brief wrap-ups of the early round matches. One of the big news items for that year came in early May when the BFL board announced its intentions to launch a full investigation into player payments.
This caused a huge media frenzy. It ended with four leading footballers named as the players at the centre of the probe.

Richard's tips for Round 11: Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne.

Season total for 2011: 34.

By Richard Jones