Omnia   

benflNORTHERN United and Eaglehawk scored massive wins in the second week of the BFL finals in early September, 1984.

In fact, so comfortable was the Swallows' second semi-final victory over Sandhurst they firmed to red-hot flag favoritism.
And Eaglehawk crushed a placid South Bendigo in the Saturday first semi-final to book a berth in the preliminary final 30 years back.

In my back page lead story of September 10th '84 I wrote United had swept aside a lacklustre Sandhurst outfit to grab a grand final spot.

"The Swallows turned in an even performance with a number of players top contributors to the team effort. They completely swamped the haphazard Dragons.

"The Hurst had no one up forward apart from David Collins who could kick goals --- and at three-quarter time the Dragons had posted only five, anyway."

At the opposite end of the QEO United had Ron Best as their focal point and he booted 6.7 for the day.

Northern United proved without doubt it had the players, the motivation, the will-to-win and that vital commodity on the QEO: the pace to win.

Gate takings were a very handy $3267 (not counting 258 family tickets). That's a great total considering we're talking three decades ago.

There were surprises before the ball was bounced. United captain-coach Tony Southcombe did not play, while John McGrath was one of the two United interchange players.
The Dragons were without Phil Pickering (groin) and Paul Johnston (ill). Noel Belsar, generally considered a doubtful starter, took his place in the Hurst 20 once it was known Pickering was a late 'out'.

UNITED did all the early attacking but took until the 10-minute mark of the first term to score a major. Scott Niemann found Best for the Swallows' first but Tim Ledwidge replied with a left-foot snap for the Hurst.

Two goals each to United's Garry Mountjoy and Best and also to Collins left the Swallows three goals clear at the first break.
David Muir blanketed Frank Coghlan although Dragon follower Bernie Sloan took full toll of Southcombe's absence with great around-the-ground marking.

Two more goals to Collins narrowed the margin to three points mid-second stanza. Southcombe switched David Ludeman to centre half-back and Trevor Ludeman to centre half-forward.
Swallows' majors to Mick Hogan and Leon Holt blew out United's lead and when Dragon midfielder Mark McErvale was pinged for holding the ball Best drove home an after-the-siren major to hand Northern United a 21-point half-time lead.

Peter Fyffe had been the sticking point for the Dragons. His anticipation across the United defence broke up many Hurst attacks and he mopped up across the full-back line repeatedly.
United really claimed their grand final spot with a withering third term burst of 7.6. Fyffe, Muir and Demeo restricted Sandhurst to a miserable three points in the third quarter as the Swallows took an unassailable 68-point lead into the final change.

Of the Swallows' seven majors Muir's was the pick. He hammered home a glorious long shot but Brett Sheldon, Trevor Ludeman, Scott Niemann and Mountjoy all joined in the goal-kicking spree.

The Dragons did add some respectability to their scoreline in the last term, posting 7.5 to United's 3.5.

Although the Swallows had many fine players, full-back Fyffe was the standout. He came out to meet the ball when that move was needed, continually punched the ball clear in marking contests and swept the ball away from the goalmouth with sureness and aplomb.

EAGLEHAWK bounced back from a five-goal loss to the Hurst in the first week of the 1984 finals with an 11-goal thumping of South.
Just as importantly the Two Blues had important players in key defender Robert "Ninga" O'Connell and versatile Peter "Roggo" Rogerson play important roles in the win.

Both had recovered from injuries to take their places in the Hawks line-up.

Early on the Bloods led by three points at half-time in a low-scoring and tight first semi-final and then by a point 10 minutes into the third term.

The Bloods had pegged back a three-goal deficit to snatch that one-point lead. Malcolm Balnaves (2) and Terry Noden nailed South majors with Balnaves left unmarked in a pocket to mark and goal for the first of a pair.

But then the flood gates opened. Eaglehawk nailed seven majors as the third term wound down to give them 10 for the quarter.

Interchange player Ron Pangrazio had come on for his first run as the third term started and bagged three goals for the game, including one after the three-quarter time siren.

Skipper Rogerson put on a virtuoso performance mid-term as Eaglehawk stormed to the lead. He left-footed a fine 40m snapped goal and soon after took a pass from Dan Slater to boot a right foot set shot.

With two goals each from spearhead Daryl Gilmore and Slater and another from on-baller Steve McDougall (who changed with Rogerson on the ball) Eaglehawk was out to a big lead.
O'Connell was too big and too experienced for Shane Ryan. The Eaglehawk defence featuring Bert McIvor, Andrew McDougall and Tony Pierce shut down South's attack, although Brett Moore was busy, as three-quarter time approached.
At the last change the Two Blues led by more than six goals, and added another seven in a devastating last quarter.
Amazingly, the two clubs had drawn in the final home-and-away round of 1984. That amazing draw had cost South the finals' double chance.

Details: First semi-final
Eaglehawk 3.3 5.7 15.13 22.15 (147)
South Bendigo 3.5 5.10 9.11 11.13 (79)
Goals – Eaglehawk: D. Gilmore 4, P. Rogerson 4, R. Pangrazio 3, D. Slater 2, G. Christie 2, A. Evely 2, S. McDougall 2, R. Cartledge 2, N. Monro. South Bendigo: M. Balnaves 3, P. Boyd 2, D. Charles 2, T. Noden 2, P. McCaw, W. Hoiles.
Best – Eaglehawk: R. O'Connell (best on ground), A. Evely, P. Rogerson, S. McDougall, B. Keane, S. Dole, J. Fehring, D. Gilmore, D. Slater. South Bendigo: M. Balnaves, B. Moore, G. Wright, M. Graham, W. Hoiles, T. Noden.
Umpires: J. Fletcher, Ron Threlfall.

Second semi-final
Northern United 6.4 9.6 16.14 19.19 (133)
Sandhurst 3.4 5.9 5.12 12.17 (89)
Goals – Northern United: R. Best 6, G. Mountjoy 3, B. Sheldon 2, L. Holt, M. Hogan, D. Trickey, D. Muir, J. McGrath, T. Ludeman, S. Niemann, R. Lea. Sandhurst: D. Collins 6, T. Ledwidge 3, R. Blackmore, L. Moore, I. Garland.
Best – Northern United: P. Fyffe, L. Demeo, B. Sheldon, G. Mountjoy, D. Wharton, R. Best, S. Niemann, G. Evans. Sandhurst: B. Sloan (best on ground), D. Collins, M. O'Farrell, N. Belsar, D. O'Connor.
Umpires: M. Anderson, M. Furness.

AROUND the traps and footy finals were in full swing right across north-central and central Victoria.

Interesting to note before the big move of young people to large regional cities such as Albury, Ballarat and Bendigo --- and even Mildura in the Sunraysia --- for work and study, many footy leagues hadn't been consolidated and amalgamated.

In the first of 1984's grand finals Mathoura took out the Echuca Footy League big dance while Bridgewater was the premier in the Loddon Valley.

Grand finals: Mathoura 18.18 (126) def. Echuca South 10.10 (70) and Bridgewater 21.10 (136) def. Inglewood 13.12 (90).
There was just one week to go in the North Central, Kerang, Mid Murray and Northern District leagues.
In the preliminary finals scores were – North Central: Birchip 19.13 (127) def. Donald 15.10 (100). Kerang: Quambatook 19.10 (124) def. Rovers 8.11 (59). Mid Murray (replay): Tyntynder 18.13 (121) def. Woorinen 18.11 (119). Northern District: Union 12.7 (79) def. Cohuna 8.16 (64).

It was semi-final time in the Maryborough Castlemaine DFL. First semi-final: Royal Park 28.20 (188) def. Newstead 12.10 (82). Second semi-final: Primrose 27.19 (181) def. Maldon 11.16 (82).

Richard's tips for Week 2, 2014 BFNL finals – First semi-final: Gisborne by 17 points.
Second semi-final: Strath Storm by 29 points.
Season total: 77.

By Richard Jones