FIFTY years ago Golden Square won BFL premierships in the seniors, reserves and thirds grades.

Today as the 2014 Bulldogs clash with the powerful Strathfieldsaye Storm at MyJet Oval, the old-timers will hold a very special reunion in the Square clubrooms.

In 1964 inspired by coach Bert Rowe, a member of Golden Square's previous senior premiership-winning team in 1945, the Dogs won a tough, low-scoring grand final by nine points over Rochester: 10.10 (70) to 9.7 (61).

Key forward Kevin Shearn was best afield. He amassed 21 kicks, clunked 11 marks and booted a match-high three goals as the Square fought back from a 10-point three-quarter time deficit.

The Demons led 8.6 (54) to 6.8 (44) at the last change.
Inspired by Shearn, Donnie Matthews and Val Ignatenko the Square booted four goals to one in the pulsating last term to claim the premiership.
Wingman Trevor Hyland sealed the victory when he snapped the match-winning goal from a forward pocket. Reporter John Rice noted in Monday's paper: "Hyland was about 100 yards out of position."

Rowe wasn't complaining, though. It had taken Square 19 years to taste senior grand final success and he was happy to get the goals from any source he could.

He had taken on the coaching job when skipper John Ledwidge said during the summer of 1963-64 he wanted to concentrate on playing and wished to relinquish the coaching side of things.
Rowe won the non-playing position from a field of three candidates. Rice wrote that Rowe had "coached the side for a paltry fee but after the grand final win a bonus would be coming his way."

THE grand final livened up after the long break following a first half of uninspiring football.
Writer Jim Elvey noted Square's defence led by Derek Bonney, Neville Strauch, Joe Chant and Peter Hayward were always in the play and stemmed many Demon attacks.

Nonetheless Elvey felt Ray Willett and coach Trevor Randall were top big men for Rochy. "John Ledwidge had stern opposition all day from Willett and Randall, but performed his task admirably," Elvey wrote.

Steady rain fell for a fair portion of the first half. And with Square persisting in playing to what Elvey called "the non-scoring pocket" they trailed by four points at the first change.
The second term wasn't much better, standard-wise. Rochy managed just two behinds --- Golden Square did find the big sticks to add 1.2 and take a two-point advantage into the long break: 3.6 to 3.4.

Rice said the biggest margin separating the two clubs was 15 points in Square's favour by midway through the third quarter.
"But within seconds that deficit was reduced by Rochester and the difference never exceeded 10 points for the remainder of the grand final," he wrote.

"When Willett was switched into the ruck he gave Rochy more drive. He was needed there as Randall had been hit hard in the second quarter and was very groggy.

"John McMahon, Darryl Hooper and Graham Balch all defended strongly for the Demons."

RICE affirmed that Rowe's winning tactical move had been to move Bob Anderson into the centre and place Bob Wenn on a half-forward flank.

Anderson matched Rochester's pivot player Bob Knight who had been a winner for his side. Square wiped off its three-quarter time deficit in the opening minutes of the last quarter.
But Rochy came again when Malcolm Darrock goaled from a free kick after he had been "floored" in a contest on the Square backline.

Shearn kicked a Square reply and then Hyland sneaked home the sealer from his forward pocket snap.

Best players --- Golden Square: Kevin Shearn (best afield), Don Mathews (30 kicks, 4 marks), Bob Anderson (22 kicks, 8 marks), Val Ignatenko (18 kicks, three marks), Barry 'Spatchy' Waycott (14 kicks, 7 marks), Joe Chant (12 kicks, 5 marks) and Derek Bonney (12 kicks, 4 marks).

Rochester: Ray Willett (10 kicks, 4 marks), Trevor Randall (10 kicks, 3 marks), Kevin Waters (25 kicks, three marks), Darryl Hooper (16 kicks, three marks), John McMahon (12 kicks, 2 marks) and Noel 'Chooka' Howe (10 kicks, 2 marks).

THE central umpire was a real personality of the Sixties in Jeff Crouch.

He received a great ovation as he ran out for the first bounce. Not long after that, he seemed to upset large pockets of Square supporters. In the first term he'd moved coach Bertie Rowe and several officials back from their seats right on the boundary line to the fence.

It was early on when Crouch issued his orders just before boundary umpire Kel Pell tossed the ball back in. And copped concerted boo-ing.

Golden Square also won the seconds flag with a 22-point victory over Rochy.

Final scores: Square 6.10 (46) to Rochester 3.6 (24).
The Square got away to a flier and by three-quarter time held a match-winning 5.9 to 1.4 lead.

The Demons did not kick their first goal until the final few seconds of the second quarter.

The Addy match report stated that Square received "match-winning drive from their rucks and rovers who dominated field play."

Square coach Denis Pinch and his teammate Ashley Donaldson with two apiece were the only multiple goal-kickers in the seconds grand final.

It was a big couple of days for Twos centre half-back Barry Little.
On Friday he'd graduated from the Victoria Police training academy as a constable. And then on the Saturday morning just before the Magoos grand final he announced his engagement to Bernadette Evans.

AND in the Thirds Square beat South Bendigo in another low-scoring grand final: 6.8 (44) to the Bloods' 2.6 (18).
Coach was legendary BFL figure Richie Lee, vice-captain of the Square's first-ever BFL team in 1935 and a premiership player in 1938 and 1939. He'd also coached Square's flag-winning 1942 premiership under-21s, a competition which was a forerunner of the seconds and thirds.

Up and coming Thirds players in '64 were Peter Moroni, Keith Rayner and Peter Sly. Keith Sutherland of real estate and Bendigo IPTV fame was also in the Square under-18s.
Bill Yates had won the BFL Thirds best and fairest award in 1964.

Golden Square became the first club in 11 years to win all three BFL flags in the one season. "Scooping the pool" as the Advertiser of Monday, October 5th 1964 described it.

AROUND the traps and Echuca East won their ninth Echuca F.L. premiership when they finished too strongly for Echuca South to win by 11 points.

Final scores: East 10.13 (73) def. South 8.14 (62).
South Adelaide won their first SANFL flag since 1933 with a brilliant win over Port. Final scores: South 9.15 (69) def. Port Adelaide 5.12 (42).

As is the case right now in BFNL circles, a club from a neighbouring area was being courted to join the BFL.

Shepparton F.C. president Mr. F.J. Anderson was a guest of the league at the 1964 BFL grand final. Shepparton had won its second, consecutive Goulburn Valley F.L. flag in '64 and Mr. Anderson told reporters if Bendigo made an approach to it his club "would be interested in appraising the approach."

Mr. Anderson was speaking in tandem with BFL supremo Mr. Noel Murphy who said every effort should be made to expand the BFL to 10 clubs.
Shepparton Football Club's Mr. Anderson said the BFL should consider approaching Maryborough, as well.

Richard's tips for split round 10 – June 14th: Storm over Square by 33 points, Kyneton against Eaglehawk by 8.
June 21st: Sandhurst against South by 62, Maryborough over Flat by 11 and Gisborne against the Maine by 40.
Season total for 2014: 38.

By Richard Jones