BENDIGO'S inter-league representative sides enjoyed mixed results 10 years back in 2005, and then again two seasons later in 2007.

The Blue and Gold won two games out of three in Mount Gambier in 2005 in the shortened format favored by the VCFL in the early to mid-Noughties.

Then in a Tuesday night QEO game in early June 2007 this year's opponents Ballarat led at every change and withstood Bendigo's last quarter challenge to win by 23 points.

There was a big witch-hunt after the players, officials and support staff arrived back from South Australia in 2005.
The 16 players who made themselves unavailable for the '05 inter-league campaign were snail-mailed letters asking to validate their absences. Their replies had to be in by June 8th that season.

BFL general manager Tony Pierce told the Advertiser the league was committed to the cause and even though the Blue and Gold was contesting Division 3 (or Pool C) the league still needed to know the reasons for unavailability.

"We were committed to the cause and when some people don't travel with the team we want to gain validation for the reasons they were unavailable.

"The letters to the players were asking for reasons for their unavailability. Eleven of those 16 players who weren't in Mount Gambier played for their club sides the following week.
"The next step is we will be looking at each of the replies and going from there," Mr. Pierce explained.

DESPITE the absences and two last-minute withdrawals the Blue and Gold team bus left Bendigo on a Friday morning in 2005 bound for Mount Gambier.

South Bendigo forward Neville Clarke (shoulder) and Castlemaine ruckman Luke Walters (work commitments) weren't on the bus. Last minute replacements were both from Castlemaine: Michael 'Apples' Blake and Scott Carson.
Bendigo coach Brett Fitzpatrick (now in charge at Sandhurst) was philosophical. "It would have been nice to have had our best list to pick from, but everyone we're taking and is in the final squad is enthusiastic and genuine about it," he said.
In those days the inter-league round-robin format consisted of three games scattered across the weekend.

They were played over two 25-minute halves, with time-on added.

The 2005 campaign got off to a good start but the team had to survive something of a scare before winning by two points.
Against Central Murray on the Saturday morning the Northerners dominated the first half and skipped away to a four-goal lead at half-time.

The Blue and Golds were wasteful with the breeze in the opening 25 minutes but they played better against the breeze and won: 8.4 (52) to Central Murray's 7.8 (50).

Luke Beattie booted four of Bendigo's eight goals while Danny 'Breezer' O'Bree, who rotated between the centre and the half-forward flank, wingman Brad Rogerson, attacking half-back Darren Chambers and Leigh Rees in the ruck were Bendigo's best.

ONTO the Saturday afternoon fixture and the Blue and Golds were never seriously challenged by host league, Western Border. The Border side had been given plenty of press coverage in the local daily.

Midfielder Brad Comer, Ben Hynes and Kieren Prowse in defence, Mark Lloyd on the wing and Beattie with another four goals were Bendigo's best.

Final scores: Bendigo 9.7 (61) to Western Border 5.5 (35).
So despite all the pre-carnival hype in the local Border Watch newspaper, the host league failed to win a game.

After the Saturday afternoon loss to Bendigo, Western Border F.L. went down to Central Murray and eventual champions Bellarine in the late Sunday clash.

Coach Peter Sims, a South Gambier and WBFL icon, was devastated by the poor performances of his squad.

The match which actually decided the tournament was played at 10 a.m. on the Sunday: the first of three for the final day.
Bellarine and Bendigo were both undefeated yet the Blue and Golds were left to rue wasted opportunities in front of goal.
Bendigo controlled the first 20 minutes and had five shots on goal before the Seasiders posted their first score.

But only one of the five Bendigo shots resulted in a goal ensuring Bellarine remained in the contest.

The sides went to the half-time break with the scores all locked up. And with only one game played on the Saturday, Bellarine finished with fresher legs posting three goals to Bendigo's two to win by 12 points.

Luke Beattie added two goals to give him 10 for the weekend. Castlemaine's Leigh Rees was named the Blue and Gold Player of the carnival.

The win meant Bellarine would take the title and earn promotion to Division 2 for 2006.

Final scores: Bellarine 6.12 (48) def. Bendigo 5.6 (36).
So we members of the Fresh-FM commentary team --- Peter Lenaghan, 'Darts' Bourke and myself --- were able to make an early exit from Mt. Gambier and hit the road back to central Victoria.

THE BFL's under-18 team also finished the Mount Gambier carnival in second place, winning two of its three games.
Bendigo started in great style with a comfortable 31-point win over Central Murray. Exciting Maryborough forward Stewart Crameri booted three goals in the 7.8 (50) to 3.1 (19) win.
But the campaign came unstuck on the Saturday afternoon when hosts Western Border snuk home by four points: 7.6 (48) to 7.2 (44).

Crameri was Bendigo's only multiple goalscorer with two. Ruckman Hamish Dahl was again in Bendigo's best, along with Adrian McErvale, Chris Mathieson on a wing, Dylan Clarkson in midfield and Brenton Faulkner in the back half.
Captain Stacey Fiske wasn't as prominent as he'd been against Central Murray.

On the Sunday, Bendigo returned to the winner's list downing Bellarine 6.4 (40) to 3.3 (21). Winger Andrew Collins, key defender Leigh Erwin, Heath Richardson changing on the ball and forward flank, and Dahl again were Bendigo's best.
Dahl won the award as Bendigo's best for the carnival, drawing praise from coach Darryl Billett. "He was dominant, giving us first use of the ball in the middle," the coach said.

The netballers enjoyed just one win in Mount Gambier, beating Western Border White 30-24. Western Border Blue downed Bendigo by two goals while Mid South-West beat Bendigo by the big margin of 16 goals.

Goalkeeper Jessica Scott of Golden Square was named overall best in the carnival for Bendigo

ON A cool and crisp --- but not freezing --- midweek night in 2007 Ballarat was ahead at each break thanks to cleaner ball-handling and more surety with one-touch possessions.

The Navy Blues jumped out to an early lead with vice-captain Shane Hutchinson (three goals on the night), Matthew Dwyer, Ash Baker (two majors) and Jamie Lobb in control of the midfield.

In what was clearly going to be a low-scoring affair, Ballarat had two goals on the board before Mark Vigus snapped Bendigo's first major.

Former South Bendigo spearhead Luke Beattie, who was then on Sunbury's list, steered home Ballarat's third.

Three goals to one by the Navy Blues in the second term ensured the visitors held a 20-point margin by the long break.
Hutchinson, half-forward Aaron Thomas and Baker goaled for Ballarat with Bendigo's sole response a superb over-the-shoulder snap at the city end from Kyneton's Cameron Tate.
Bendigo full-back Brady Herdman held Ballarat danger forward Daniel Jordan in check all match, but the Navy Blues' big men in Pat Karris and Paul Kodorenko consistently gave their running teammates first use of the ball with clever tap-outs.

THE third term was a slog. Ballarat added 1.7 to Bendigo's 1.4.
The Navy Blues bombarded the city end goals and only stout defensive work from Herdman, the agile Adam Pokrovsky and resolute half-back Ryan Webster held the visitors to a manageable total.

As the late evening winter haze crept across the oval, the last quarter turned into a shootout.

Both sides added 5.2 with Kain Robins and Matt 'G-Train' Gretgrix booting two goals apiece for the Blue and Gold.
Will McGregor (2), Hutchinson, Ryan Harris and Ross Sleight kicked the last stanza goals for Ballarat.

Twice Bendigo narrowed the gap to 15 points but that was as close as the Blue and Golds were to get.

Ballarat steadied to run out deserved victors and it was a delighted coach Peter Freeman and skipper Jarrod Edwards who accepted the Goldfields Challenge WorkSafe Cup from VCFL representative, Lance Standfield.

Final scores: Ballarat 12.15 (87) def. Bendigo 9.10 (64).
Under-18s: Bendigo 9.10 (64) def. Ballarat 4.11 (35). Bendigo's 18s co-captains were Corey Jacobs and Matt Johnston.
Coach was Ben Dyett. Brodie Filo won the best afield medal.
17-and-under netball: Ballarat 46 def. Bendigo 41. A grade netball: Bendigo 39 def. Ballarat 38.

Central Victorian inter-league fixtures this weekend, all Saturday --- Ballarat v Bendigo (5th vs. 6th) at Eastern Oval, Ballarat; Central Murray vs. Heathcote DFL (17th vs. 18th) at 4.30 pm QEO, Bendigo (under lights); North Central vs. Geelong DFL (19th vs. 20th) at St. Albans Reserve, East Geelong; Maryborough-Castlemaine DFL v Ellinbank F.L. (23rd vs. 24th) at Princes Park, Maryborough and Loddon Valley vs. Alberton F.L. (25th vs. 26th) the early game, at 1.30 pm, QEO, Bendigo.

By Richard Jones