GOLDEN Square proved it would be formidable opposition for the other two 1962 finalists with a convincing six-goal defeat of Castlemaine in the first semi-final.

Advertiser footy scribe John Rice reported the Square astounded most critics by not only winning, but by almost doubling the Magpies' score.

"It was thought the Square's ruckmen would be a deciding factor yet in the end when the chips were down, it was the mosquito fleet who showed their side the way to victory," he wrote in the Monday edition.

Rice listed these players as Kevin Duke, John Brereton, Don Mathews and Ron Monro.

The Bulldogs were headed just once during the cut-throat first semi-final. It came in the second quarter when Castlemaine added 4.8 to Square's two goals.

"The Bulldogs proved they had the all-round ability to match either Kyneton or Rochester later in September," Rice claimed.
The Kyneton Tigers and Demons were set to clash in the second semi of the '62 season.
The first semi loss must have been galling for the Maine's players and their supporters. In the three other clashes with the Square during 1962 Castlemaine had won on each occasion.
Rice named Kevin Shearn as "the instigator" of Square's dominating second half.
"Shearn, who had promised to be a match-winner in a forward position, was shifted to the centre against Graham Dickson.
"Dickson had been a driving force for Castlemaine. Shearn immediately became a counter for Dickson and the Bulldogs went to a four-goal lead at the three-quarter change," Rice noted.

GOING INTO the first semi, Square had lost its two final round matches. The Bulldogs went down to top teams Rochester and Kyneton leading into the finals series.
Despite these defeats, the Friday Addy reported that Square selectors had kept their confidence in their players. Carl Carboon came into the side but only to replace Waycott, who was named as 19th man.
Castlemaine strengthened their forward line with the addition of Ian Burnside on a half-forward flank, allowing Kevin McConnell to return to his regular wing position.
Other "ins" for the Magpies were ruckman Matt Cox along with defenders Mick Dolan and Robin Hilson.
Admission prices to the 1962 finals series had been raised. To get into the QEO patrons had to pay four shillings for the outer (48 cents) and 6 shillings and 10 pence (82 cents) for reserved seats in the grandstand.
The extra ten pence on the 6/10 charge was listed as tax.
Children were charged sixpence (five cents) for admission to both the outer and grandstand enclosure, but had to pay the same price as adults for reserved grandstand seats.
Legacy children were issued with free tickets for all areas.
The Football Guide price had been raised from sixpence to a shilling (10 cents) for the finals issues. High production costs were cited as the reason for the price rise.

JIM Elvey, the Advetiser's special comments writer, also heaped praise on Bulldog forward Shearn in his Monday story.
"With brilliant marking and grand positional play Shearn started many Square moves and capped off a great third quarter by kicking two, quick goals," the former South full-back wrote.
"On the other hand the Magpies were sluggish and lacked a will to win," Elvey wrote.
Hard to believe that a finals side would lack the will to win. But, hey, Elvey was at the game!
"From the outset of the semi-final, the Bulldogs played with some purpose.
"They had special players picked to tag the Magpie stars and it worked to perfection," noted Elvey.
Although chief footy scribe Rice said Maine centreman Graham Dickson was nullified by Kevin Shearn after half-time, Elvey heaped praised on the inspirational Magpie.
"One player who tried desperately to keep Castlemaine in the game was Dickson," wrote Elvey.
"Dickson was outstanding in the pivot position all day with his high marking and great, long kicking."
Both scribes concurred that Square's third term surge which yielded 4.7 was the eventual match-winning quarter.

Golden Square 3.6 5.6 9.13 14.15 (99)
Castlemaine 1.2 5.10 5.13 8.15 (63)
GOALS - Golden Square: K. Shearn 4, J. Brereton 4, K. Duke 3, R. Monro 2, J. Ledwidge. Castlemaine: K. Stevens 3, C. Wybar 2, I. Burnside, M. Cox, W. Schultz.
BEST - Golden Square: K. Shearn, W. Bonney. G. Ward, J. Brereton, D. Mathews, R. Monro, K. Duke. Castlemaine: G. Dickson, M. Stevens, R. Brown, J. Roth, C. Wybar, K. Delmenico, I. Burnside.
Replacements - Golden Square: B. Waycott replaced C. Carboon, last quarter. Castlemaine: P. Robins for R. Hilson, last term

SIDEBARS from the 1962 first semi-final weekend included the presentation of the '62 Michelsen medal to Rochester's Ray Willett.
Donor of the medal Mr. Cyril J. Michelsen, the Advertiser's editor, presented Willett with his fairest and best award.
Mr Michelsen said Willett, whose parents were in the crowd, should be extremely pleased to have won the equivalent of the time-honoured Brownlow Medal in the year when Bendigo was crowned the champion country league in all Victoria.
Willett ran a lap of honour of the QEO before the first semi-final teams ran out and was cheered heartily during his circuit, the Advertiser recorded.
Central umpire for the first semi-final was Bill Ervine. He had last umpired a BFL finals clash when he was in charge of the 1960 play-off.
NILDO Munari had just won the Sandy McPherson memorial Award as Sandhurst's fairest and best player for 1962.
Munari sneaked home by one vote. He polled 46 votes with runner-up Brian Sutton on 45.
Munari was the Maroons' only representative in Bendigo's winning 1962 VCFL championship side.
The BFL Seconds first semi-final between Sandhurst and Castlemaine was played at Eaglehawk. Start time at Canterbury Park was 12.45 pm.
Only the Thirds match, the '62 grand final between Square and South Bendigo, was played as a QEO curtain-raiser. It started at 12.15 pm.

IN THE VFL's second semi-final an inaccurate Essendon accounted for an equally wasteful Geelong by 46 points.
The MCG crowd of 95,393 set a record for a VFL second semi.
At half-time the Pivotonians led the Dons by a point: 6.13 (49) to 7.6 (48).
A dominant Essendon booted 7.15 to Geelong's 1.4 in the closing two quarters to win easily.
Finals scores: Essendon 14.21 (105) def. Geelong 7.17 (59).
Payne booted four goals for Essendon and Miller and Colin Rice (the Advertiser footy writer's brother) two apiece for Geelong.
Geelong was set to clash with Carlton in the following Saturday's VFL preliminary final.
MOUNT Pleasant won its first premiership in the Heathcote District League by accounting for Heathcote Rovers by 22 points.
HDFL grand final scores: Mount Pleasant 9.11 (65) def. Heathcote Rovers 6.7 (43).

From the Bendigo Advertisers of Friday, September 7th, Saturday, September 8th and Monday, September 10th, 1962.

Richard's tips for first weekend of BFNL finals: South Bendigo by 25 points (elim. final on Sunday); Golden Square by 17 points (qualifying final, on Saturday night).
Season total for 2012: 71.

By Richard Jones