Three flags for the Bulldogs in final year of BFNL
Gisborne's 2026 season will be remembered for many reasons. The Bulldogs won three premierships: senior football, B Grade netball and B Reserve netball.
2026 also marks the last season of Gisborne FNC in the Bendigo Football Netball League.
After finishing the home & away season in fourth position at 11–5, the Bulldogs went on a dream run, winning four finals in a row. They easily handled South Bendigo by 52 points in the elimination final, then battled Strathfieldsaye tightly for three quarters before winning by 38 in the first semi-final. Preliminary Final day had them playing a fit and firing Eaglehawk and after a tough fight the Bulldogs proved too good, winning the match by 20 points.
A strong, disciplined and well drilled performance on Grand Finals saw them defeat minor premier, Sandhurst 12.12.84 to 7.13.55 to be crowned the Bendigo Bank Senior Premiers for 2026.
The Bulldogs B Grade netball squad completed an undefeated season in 2026, claiming a dominant 53-26 win over Strathfieldsaye in the grand final. Led by veterans Tarryn Rymer and Rylee Connell, the squad finished their perfect season with a premiership trophy and a league best & fairest winner with defender Olivia Fenn claiming the 2026 Bingham Medal.
The B-Grade wasn’t their only netball premiership with B-Reserve also getting the job done over minor premier, Kangaroo Flat, 42-38 in a nail-biting result.
The ever-consistent Gisborne A Grade finished second at 13–3 and reached the preliminary final, before losing to Sandhurst by four goals in an instant classic. A Reserve finished third and also reached the preliminary final.
In football, the Reserves finished seventh and the Under 18s sixth.
Off the field, the Bulldogs were very well-represented at Interleague level with Kirby Elliot, Charli Kemp and Tilly Shepherd representing the League in our Open Netball squad who comfortably defeated the O&M.
While James Gray, Zac Vescovi and Dylan Johnstone represented the Blue & Gold in Senior Football with Johnstone awarded the 2026 Derrick Filo Medal for his Best on Ground performance.
2026 results snapshot
|
Team
|
W–L–D
|
Finish
|
Finals / best result
|
|
Seniors (football)
|
11–5–0
|
4th
|
PREMIERS: d Sandhurst 12.12.84 to 7.13.55
|
|
Reserves (football)
|
4–12–0
|
7th
|
Won 8.14.62 to 8.2.50 v Castlemaine (R14)
|
|
Under 18s (football)
|
5–8–0
|
6th
|
Won by 107 v Kangaroo Flat (R1); 3 forfeits
|
|
A Grade (netball)
|
13–3–0
|
2nd
|
Won QF 55–52 v Sandhurst; lost 2nd semi v Kangaroo Flat; lost PF 43–47 v Sandhurst
|
|
A Reserve (netball)
|
9–5–0
|
3rd
|
Won QF 50–49 v South Bendigo; lost 2nd semi v Kangaroo Flat; lost PF 36–41 v South Bendigo
|
|
B Grade (netball)
|
16–0–0
|
1st
|
PREMIERS (undefeated): d Strathfieldsaye 53–26
|
|
B Reserve (netball)
|
13–2–1
|
2nd
|
PREMIERS: d Kangaroo Flat 42–38
|
|
17 & Under (netball)
|
6–8–2
|
7th
|
Lost 50–51 v Strathfieldsaye (R12)
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