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BFNL REWIND | Roos start tumbling in late Nineties
News
BFNL REWIND | Roos start tumbling in late Nineties
Published on:
14 October 2025
BY RICHARD JONES
As the 1990s started disappearing over the horizon and the 2000s loomed Kangaroo Flat began a tumble down the BFNL footy ladder.
The netballers had enjoyed an outstanding few years winning the major premierships in 1997, 2001 and 2003-2004, plus reaching the prelim. finals in 1999 and 2000.
In contrast, by the early Noughties and after their runners-up spot in 2000 as the new century dawned, the footballing Roos had plunged right down the senior ladder.
They were cellar dwellers from 2002 to 2006 and in 2003 did not win a single game. The same as last season in 2025 but I'm tipping a big improvement by the Roos in 2026.
More on that in a later article.
Looking back the Flat had improved slightly by the end of the 2004 season winning one game, at least, to go with their 15 losses.
But let's go back to the Nineties in their run-up to 2000's classic grand final against Castlemaine.
In 1997 just 12 months after their great senior flag win the Roos sunk to seventh spot with just 7 wins.
Coupled with nine losses that year they weren't in the hunt for a finals spot even though 'Hollywood' Dave Lancaster topped the Ron Best goal kicking tally with 80 snag rolls.
Plus Chris Giri was a co-winner of that season's Michelsen Medal.
Ron Wicks proved an outstanding on-field leader and was a key player in their two-point win over fellow bottom-of-the-table contender Eaglehawk.
Yes, the mighty Two Blues. Flag winner in September 2005, but battling to avoid 1997's Spoon.
Craig Scoble snagged six majors with that victory over the Two Blues badly needed following the Flat's 134-point mauling over at Maryborough.
The Princes Park Pies proved too good again in Rd. 14 but this time only by a single point. Indeed, the winning total had shrunk by 133 points --- from 134 to one.
So the Roos needed a concerted performance the next week against the Hurst.
Out at a blustery Dower Park the home side trailed for most of the match against Sandhurst. I reported on this game for the Bendigo Addy and I still have memories of the Flat's last term surge.
With Peter Moloney dominating the ruck contests --- especially at the boundary throw-ins --- and with Jamie Barkmeyer on fire up forward Kangaroo Flat got up by five points.
Another close victory --- this time over the BFNL's new club Lockington-Bamawm --- followed by overcoming a 20-point deficit against Golden Square and recording their third win-in-a-row meant the Roos still had a sniff of finals action.
Once again Wicks was in great form against the Square with Chris Treloar unstoppable in the Flat backline: in the air and at ground level.
That season, 1997, involved a great tussle for fifth position and the last spot in the looming finals.
It was a four-club struggle for fifth spot.
In the end the Roos didn't make it and even though they recorded a comfortable victory over Castlemaine in the closing round, heart-breakingly they missed out on percentage alone.
The New Year wasn't a memorable season. for the Dower Park boys. Kangaroo Flat finished eighth with a 3-13 win-loss record even though they'd been confident at the start of April that year about performing well, following a solid off-season recruiting campaign and a terrific summer training schedule.
The Roos lost all four of their opening rounds 28 seasons ago before battling back to down the Maine Magpies by three points to nail their first victory of 1998.
Shannon Milward was outstanding, booting 12 of the Kangaroos' 17 goals and then next game key mid Mark Austin kept pumping the ball into attack as the Roos downed Eaglehawk.
But they'd only win one more game for 1998 --- a 51-point belting of Castlemaine --- inspired by the on-ball work of Wicks, Chris Giri and Grant Leader with Craig Scoble nailing 5.5 for the day.
Kangaroo Flat looked a big chance to down Sandhurst as they had stretched their half-time lead to 30 points.
But the Dragons fired up and completely controlled the second half and sneaked home by five points.
So that was it for the Flat in 1998 --- with just the three victories. But they entertained big hopes for the 1999 season.
Glenn Nugent had replaced Brett 'Growler' Gloury as senior coach and Dower Park officials were confident of a big 1999.
More to come with the Flat in the Late Nineties and into the 2000s: runner-up in 2000 season.
Richard's early tips for the 2026 season (still 6 months away).
Top Five: Eaglehawk, Sandhurst, South Bendigo, Strath Storm, Castlemaine.
Big Improver: Kangaroo Flat. Ron Best medal: Fergus Greene (Sandhurst).
Wooden Spoon: Broadford.
