EVEN though no one knew it at the time, 1980 was to mark the end of the six-club BFL structure with each outfit playing the others at least three times during the season.

The VCFL was soon to step in, disband the Golden City Football League and create a two-tiered structure in Bendigo.

This unwieldy two division league was ultimately called the "Bendigo Golden City Football League", before bouncing back to just the BFL a couple of years down the track.

But in 1980 as the new decade dawned there were all sorts of stresses and strains affecting local footy.

Rumblings were heard of Sandhurst considering a move to the Goulburn Valley league, Kyneton switching to the Riddell District League and even Castlemaine eyeing off greener pastures.

All of which led to then BFL secretary Ken Anderson penning an editorial in a winter issue of the ‘Bendigo Football Guide" headed: Prophets of Doom.

"Gee. This Bendigo Football League has to put up with a lot of *#!+*," he wrote.

"Hardly a week goes by without someone having a knock and being a prophet of doom as far as footy in the BFL is concerned.

"This goes for clubs, officials and even certain members of the media."

MR ANDERSON implored central Victorian football folk to be "positive in our approach to football."
"Find something nice to say about it for a change. Look for the good points. Quit knocking.

"I honestly don't know how these prophets of doom get on during the six, other days of the week when there is no footy to knock."

The BFL secretary said he felt pity for their workmates and families.

"They must have to put up with a lot. Let's knock the knockers and give the BFL a fair go!"

When the BFL secretary penned his editorial only five more home-and-away rounds for the 1980 season remained.

"During these last remaining weeks many people will be wondering what action the VCFL will take in regard to the Bendigo League and the acquisition of more clubs.

"Bendigo has been asked to ‘cool it' in relation to these matters.

"We have adhered to this VCFL request. Naturally we all hope that there will be new blood injected into this league for season 1981," Mr Anderson concluded.

WITH just five rounds to go two players were on target to register a ‘ton' of goals for the season.

Golden Square's Ron Best was on 95, following a 12-goal haul against Kyneton at the Showgrounds, while Eaglehawk's John Price had notched 81.

He'd snared 10 of the Two Blues' 29 against South Bendigo at Canterbury Park.

Behind the leading two came Sandhurst's Steve McKerrow on 43. He'd landed nine in the match against South.

But going into the August 9th round, two weekends out from the finals, the leading bunch read:
Ron Best (Golden Square) ........ 124
John Price (Eaglehawk) ............ 97
Steve McKerrow (Sandhurst).....79
Wayne Crosbie (Castlemaine)....41

PRICE, of course, topped the 100 majors mark as Eaglehawk went on to win the premiership. And McKerrow also took his 1980 total past the magic ‘ton' milestone with handy personal tallies during the finals series.

Three full-forwards registering "tons" is unheard of in the BFL these days.

And big scores were the order of the day three decades ago. We'd label some of these matches today as ‘shootouts'.

No wonder the sharp-shooters featured in double figure tallies on a number of winter weekends!

Take the final totals for the August 9th round, as an example.

Sandhurst downed the Square by 29 points: 23.11 (149) to 18.12 (120).

Ricky Nixon was playing for the Square under-18s back in 1980.

Eaglehawk fell just short of the 200-points mark against Castlemaine, booting 29.22 (196) to the Magpies' paltry 9.5 (59).

In the closest game of the round that August afternoon, Kyneton held on to beat South at the Showgrounds by three points: 16.14 (110) to 16.11 (107).

SANDHURST named Peter Lenaghan (no, not the radio broadcaster but the bearded Maroons' skipper of identical name), full-back Keith Cleeve and fellow defenders Noel Belsar and Brendan Hartney in the best player listing.

Dave Wharton and Brendan Lawlor controlled the rucks with Gary Barber a consistent, four quarter worker and Ross Pearson another in the best six or seven.

Shane Healy, currently at 3AW, was the Hurst under-14 coach.

The Wade Street Dogs had top contributors in key backman Peter Davey, spearhead Ron Best and midfielder Phillip Nicholson.

Garry Mountjoy, Don Sherman and Tony Cowling also rated in their best player list.

For Kyneton, promoted under-19 players Ross Foreman and Kim Strawhorn were named in the best. Barry Turner also received a mention along with Vin Szabo and centre half-back John Watts.

"John is having a great season and will figure prominently in league and newspaper best and fairest awards - and deservedly so," Tigers Tangle read.

Watts, of course, went on to win the 1980 Michelsen Medal.
An ominous warning was sounded in the Tigers Tangle club notes.

"The big debate has started over the future of the club. The present committee is recommending a move to the Riddell District League.

"No matter which way the Bendigo League and the VCFL see things it is the future of the club through the 1980s and far beyond which is being decided.

"People who do not plan for the future do not have one," Tiger secretary Stan Plowman's editorial concluded.

SOUTH'S best in the seniors and reserve grades were listed as Gary Cowling, Peter Hunt, Allan Bennett, Max Gow, Gary Coad and Cameron Barr.

The Bloods had games scheduled at various venues that August day 31 years ago.

The under-16s played at Wade Street and this caused then president Dinny Muldoon some problems. He locked the keys in his car. Fortunately, club stalwart Jim Threlfall managed to extricate the keys, Dinny got the car started and headed back to the QEO to watch the other grades.

Eaglehawk celebrated a 50-game milestone for Leo Demeo and a similar mark for Rod Fehring.

Peter Phillips, Darren Lane and Peter De Salvo were the best for the under-19s (the under-18 comp. came later).
But this side was on the bottom of the table: a game adrift of second last Castlemaine.

Senior trio Ian and Neil McClure and Warren Jarman returned from injury for Castlemaine while John ‘Chicka" Jefferies, Rick Gervasoni, Brett Struhs and Ross Sartori were in the Magpies' best.

Richard's tips for Round 17: Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square, Gisborne, Sandhurst, and South Bendigo.

2011 season total: 60.

By Richard Jones