Omnia   

Bendigo FLECHUCA players and officials were applauded as they disembarked from their team train and cheered as they ran onto Kennington ground for their Round 2 match in 1924.


Making their first appearance in the BFL, the Echuca team went down to Sandhurst in the big match. Nonetheless, the Advertiser report noted that "the latter half was brimful of good football."

Wrapping up the Round 2 action in the Monday May 5th issue Advertiser scribes noted that BFL president, Councillor Jack Michelsen, was delighted with the Kennington ground receipts of £95.

"At the council meeting on the Thursday before the game Cr Michelsen and the Mayor, Cr. M.G. Giudice "were not agreed on the important question of public patronage.

"Had the Mayor been at Kennington on Saturday afternoon and heard the applause which greeted Echuca's appearance on a Bendigo field he might have been convinced that the public of Bendigo and district is anxious to have good football this season."

Noting that Rochester had a "big home win over Bendigo East" the lead article wound up by saying the public was clearly behind the league and its officials in the fight over sporting grounds.

Cr. Michelsen, after whom the BFL senior football medal is named, led the fight in the 1920s to embrace teams from district towns, to have ground admission prices lowered and for council staff to maintain city grounds in tip-top condition.

The league president and his officials entertained the Echuca players and officials at a special dinner after the Kennington match. Cr Michelsen proposed the toast: 'To the Echuca Football Club'.

After two rounds had been played 90 years ago undefeated Rochester headed the ladder on eight premiership points.
Inside the four on four premiership points were Sandhurst, South Bendigo and Eaglehawk although the Bloods and Two Blues had each played just the one fixture.

The Maroons were on a one win-one loss record.

At the tail-end of the six club-ladder were Bendigo East and Echuca both of whom had yet to open their accounts: 0-2.

That season, 1924, was the end of Bendigo East's short, six-year span in the BFL. The other black and whites --- Castlemaine -– replaced East for the 1925 season.

FAST forward 40 years now to Round 2 in 1964. And just as they'd done in the opening round in 1954, 10 years on Rochester and Echuca again played a fantastic match.
This time it was in April, '64.

Defending premiers Rochy won by less that two kicks, but in an extremely even round it was the biggest margin of the day.

Advertiser chief footy scribe John Rice declared the Demons the team to beat for the 1964 BFL flag.
"After two rounds the Demons have dismissed any thought of their being displaced as a power combine
tion or as the one to beat for the title," he wrote.

"On Saturday they beat Echuca by 11 points in a game which produced a standard such as would be expected in a finals match."

Rice added Echuca put up formidable opposition, with Bill Serong starring, and the match was classed as one of the best seen in the BFL for many seasons. Gate takings were £553.

In other matches South Bendigo downed Eaglehawk by one, straight kick at Canterbury Park, at the QEO Square came from behind to beat Sandhurst by four points as Kevin Shearn snared three final quarter goals while Castlemaine held on to an early lead at the Kyneton Showgrounds to pip the Tigers by nine points.

PLAYING coach Les 'Killer' Kaine booted three of his five goals for the Maine against Kyneton in the opening term and the Magpies were never headed after establishing a 24-point lead by the first break.

With Greg Sewell and Ian Burt providing the drive, the Tigers did fight back. They trailed by 14 points at half-time and by 19 at the last change.

Poor kicking was Kyneton's undoing. The Tigers managed just six majors from 22 scoring shots as Castlemaine defenders held them goalless until 20 minutes into the second term.

Buckley scored the Tigers' first major close to time-on. They added two more just before the long break.

There was an incident in the opening quarter at Eaglehawk. South's young ruckman Ken O'Connor was hit on the face and had his cheekbone fractured.

He was able to take his free kick, before collapsing. He was taken to hospital. John Rice covered this game for the Addy and he reported that the South 'mosquito fleet' was too pacy for the Hawks.

"The Two Blues lacked a yard in pace and although they led 8.4 to 4.7 at half-time did not add another goal to their tally in the concluding two quarters.

"Pivot man Colin Tully kicked two goals for South and was one of their best and when the Two Blues went into attack the ball would bounce back from the boots of Bob Doble, Robin Pearce, Ken Mills or Ken Murley.

"Coach Bob Gazzard was Eaglehawk's best."

ROCHESTER follower Graeme Cox received his clearance from Drouin on the Saturday morning, only barely qualifying to play against Echuca.

Cox had won both the 1963 LaTrobe Valley and the Drouin club's best and fairest awards and was a handy Round 2 player for the Demons.

Leading by seven points at the long break, the Murray Bombers (coached by former Richmond player Ron Serich) clung to a two-point advantage at three-quarter time.

But Rochy booted 5.4 to 3.3 in the closing term to win a thriller by 11 points. John Williams booted four goals for the Demons and Taylor three with Jacobs snaring three for Echuca.

The Demons still had star half-back John McMahon to fit into the side and were expected to play him in Round 3.
Jim Elvey was at the QEO for the Square-Hurst match where he noted the Maroons went in "with much more determination than they had a week earlier."

"But nothing can be taken away from Golden Square. They fought the game right out to the final siren and deserved their narrow victory."

Elvey noted it was a day for defenders. Joe Chant and Derek Bonney were solid for the Bulldogs while Ron Byrne and Kevin Crawford were excellent for the Maroons. Terry Nolen booted four goals for the Hurst.

Final scores, Round 2 1964: -
South Bendigo 8.15 (63) def. Eaglehawk 8.9 (57)
Golden Square 9.14 (68) def. Sandhurst 9.10 (64)
Rochester 15.12 (102) def. Echuca 13.13 (91)
Castlemaine 9.7 (61) def. Kyneton 6.16 (52)

Advertiser best afield awards:-
SB v Eh – John Rogers (SB): the Bloods' wingman was a constant driving force for his side. He had complete control of one Canterbury Park wing and always tried to make best use of his kicks. Rogers' elusive wing play was a major part in the Southerner's six-point victory.

Roch v Ech – Bill Serong (Echuca): was the dominant player on the field and amazed spectators with the number of kicks he collected all over the field. He played tirelessly and was always doing something creative.

GS v Sh – Don Mathews (GS): clever roving play around the packs and his great passing to teammates stamped him as best player on the ground. Mathews never wasted a kick and was instrumental in many of the Bulldogs' forward moves.

Kyn v Cm – Ian Burt (Kyneton): was very strong for the Tigers either when resting in the back pocket or in the ruck. He gave Kyneton much drive. He was easily the best player afield.

Ladder – Rochester, South Bendigo, Golden Square all on 8 premiership points, Echuca 4 (130.6 percentage).
Then followed: Castlemaine 4 prem. pts. (60.2 percentage); Eaglehawk, Sandhurst, Kyneton all 0 prem. points.

AND FOR those of us who have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours in the Canterbury Park press box here's how it all began.

The Advertiser of Monday April 27th, 1964 reported the facility had opened for the Two Blues' first home match of that season.

"A welcome addition to the Eaglehawk ground is the new press, radio and timekeepers' box," the report said.
"It was built by voluntary labour headed by EFC vice-president Wally Barnes, seconds player Ian Ross and committeemen Ray Aitken and Doug Stevenson jnr.

"Eaglehawk Borough Council supplied the timber which is believed to have cost £300. It is a spacious building with three cubicles – one for press, one for radio and the other for the timekeepers."

Don't know about spacious but considering it's been there for half-a-century it's a welcome spot for your correspondent (and other media people) on a cold, rainy winter afternoon in July!

Material accessed from the Goldfields Research Centre, Bendigo Library, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo.

Richard's Round 2 tips: K. Flat by 11 points, Strath Storm by 27, Gisborne by 29 (at Maryborough, Sat. night), Sandhurst by 45 (Sunday) and Square by 41 (Sunday).
Season total for 2014: 5.

By Richard Jones