CASTLEMAINE finally proved it was back as a force in the BFL after downing Kyneton by 30 points in Round 12, 1972.

By the completion of 12 rounds 40 years ago, everyone had played each other twice and all had enjoyed two byes.
There was a seven-club structure in place.

The Magpies had started 1972 in disastrous fashion, losing their first five matches. Then a hat trick from Rounds 10 to 12 tumbled the Tigers into the cellar.

But Kyneton was still well in the race, Advertiser scribe Tim Habel asserted.

"Their home ground advantage is so strong that with coach Peter Wood back in the team soon, the Tigers will be very hard to down," he wrote.

The Maine had star full-forward Peter Lovell on the sidelines with an ankle injury so regular wingman-back pocket Lionel Learmonth filled in.

He booted just one major as Rod Printz, Ron Auchettl and Geoff Baxter chipped in with three apiece.

In other games, Eaglehawk downed South Bendigo by 14 points while Sandhurst accounted for Echuca by nine. Top team Square had the bye.

In his Monday Advertiser lead article, Habel pinned South's decline on one simple factor.

After losing its third game in four, Habel said the Bloods' trouble was simply that its star players had "suddenly all stopped glittering."

"Defender Barry Mulcair is in doubt for the rest of the season following a recurrence of his knee injury during the first quarter against Eaglehawk.

"That blow is bad enough. Add the form depreciation of coach Bernie McCarthy, assistant coach Jeff McCubbery, wingman Russell Evans and rover Ivan Dedini and South's problems are obvious," said Habel.

WHEN Top Fours were all the vogue in regional and rural leagues --- not to mention the then VFL --- only the top two finishers received the finals double chance.

Habel said Sandhurst was after South's second spot. The Maroons were one game, and percentage, adrift of South in third place.

The Hurst had unveiled a new star forward. Nineteen-year-old Joe Valli booted eight goals in his senior debut against Echuca.

He didn't get the three votes in the Conroy award in the Addy, though. Ruckman John Turner snared three with Echuca's Miller taking the two. Valli had to settle for one vote.

It was Magpies all the way in the Maine-Kyneton game. Centreman Charlie Oliver was awarded the three votes, the two went to centre half-back Kevin Shuttleworth while rover Frank Allen was awarded the one vote.

Castlemaine trailed by four points at the first change but had a narrow five-point lead by half-time: 7.6 to 6.7.
Then the Pies added 11 goals to six after the long break. Habel noted in the Advertiser the Maine's teamwork was capable of making short work of lumbering defences.

The Tigers wasted a lot of chances in the third term. A return of 2.7 left them eight points adrift of the Maine at three-quarter time.

But they levelled the scores early in the last term and his third goal from Richard Buckley helped Kyneton to a six-point led.

Then at the 15-minute point of the last term Castlemaine came alive. Four goals scored in eight minutes as rovers Frank Allen and Ken Patton ran riot handed the Maine the four, premiership points: 18.11 (119) to Kyneton's 12.17 (89).

EAGLEHAWK invented its own brand of football suicide at Canterbury Park against South Bendigo.

The goal-shy Hawks squandered what should have been a comfortable win with eight, successive behinds during the third quarter.

Instead of a four or five-goal advantage at three-quarter time, the home side held a mere four-point break.

Then the Hawks' charity ended. Four goals to two in the last term made the game safe for Eaglehawk: 13.18 (96) to South's 12.10 (82).

With key defender Russell Petherbridge unavailable until deep into the third term, Sandhurst led narrowly all day against Echuca.

Valli was dominant in attack and Turner, Kevin Sheehan and Brendan Keane were on top around the packs.

The Murray Bombers were within touch at each change. Eleven points was the margin at the long break and then 15 points at three quarter-time.

Dunne booted five goals for Echuca but Sandhurst prevailed: 13.17 (95) to Echuca's 12.14 (86).

THE ladder: Golden Square 44 premiership points, South Bendigo 40, Sandhurst 36, Eaglehawk 32.
Outside the Four: Echuca 24 (82.5 per cent), Castlemaine 24 (78.4%) and Kyneton 24 (78.1%).

AROUND the traps 40 years back, and White Hills was undefeated on 52 points atop the Golden City League ladder.

Maldon was three games behind (40 premiership points) in second spot. Then there was a big drop down to North Bendigo and Northern United, both on seven wins each from 13 games.

Outside the four came Flat, YCW, Provincial and Kennington.
The Hillies had beaten Kangaroo Flat by 11 goals while Provincial had accounted for Kennington by 15 points with Neville "Wrecker" Massina contributing five goals for Pros.
United got home over North by 26 points in a low-scorer where only 12 goals were kicked.

Roulston snared eight goals for Maldon as the Dons beat YCW: 12.11 (83) to 10.3 (63).

IN THE Loddon Valley League, Yarrawalla was on top courtesy of a two-point win over Inglewood: 7.16 (58) to 8.8 (56).
Newbridge went down to Calivil so lost a place in the four to Korong Vale which defeated Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
In the other game Bridgewater lost to Mitiamo by 6 points: 10.3 (63) to Miti's 10.9 (69).

AND just as happened in BFNL circles last month, Sandhurst was preparing for a big player reunion.

Flagless since 1949 the Maroons had a committee which included Bruce Reid, Ted Millard, Trevor Kennedy and Bob Lawrence. They were rounding up past stars.

It wasn't going to be as grand an occasion as the 150th gala reunion on the Queen's Birthday weekend this year, though. The 1972 reunion was set down for the Kel Pell Pavilion at the Barnard Street grass courts. Cost was just $3 per person.

Information accessed at research and history section, Goldfields Library, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo.
From stories in the Bendigo Advertisers of Thursday July 15, Saturday July 22 and Monday July 24th, 1972.

Richard's tips for Round 12: South Bendigo by 13 points, Gisborne by 45, Eaglehawk by 9, Kangaroo Flat by 30 and Golden Square by 51.
Progress tally: 43.

By Richard Jones