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BFNL REWIND | Steadier Eaglehawk scores narrow win, early '92
News
BFNL REWIND | Steadier Eaglehawk scores narrow win, early '92
Published on:
05 December 2025
An Eaglehawk side which was just a little steadier at crucial times overcame a determined Sandhurst in a late May, 1992, clash at the QEO.
Only four points separated the sides at the last change, but the Two Blues nailed 5.3 to 4.1 in the final term to sneak home by two, straight kicks: 15.14 (104) to the Hurst's 14.8 (92).
"Both sides were fit, fast and ferocious and the closeness of the scores all day had the crowd on the edges of their seats as they watched a contest that had absolutely everything," wrote Jock Clark, the Addy's man at the QEO that Saturday.
Clark noted the Borough selectors were forced to re-cast their side prior to the match as three selected players in captain Steve McDougall (a 2025 BFNL Hall of Famer), Tim Dingfelder and Glen Saari were all out through injury.
"This brought Dale Stewart, Craig Hayes and Andy Ryan into the twenty."
Clark reported that the Two Blues nailed the first, three goals of the day before the Dragons had even scored. But he wrote that the pendulum then swung as the Hurst took control of the rest of the first term with Simon Mclean, Jamie Gepp and 2025 Hall of Fame Legend Brendan Hartney all key contributors.
The Two Blues' Peter Tardrew, Grant Wee Hee, Andy Gibbs and Chris Waterson spearheaded the early Eaglehawk supremacy but couldn't continue on in the second term.
Sandhurst added 5.3 to 2.3 to snatch an 18-point half-time lead, but it would have been more clear-cut had the Hawks not added two goals late in time-on just before the long break.
The Hawks fired up again in the third quarter. Big men Peter Crone and Peter Larson got on top of the Dragons' ruckman Matt Dickson, Clark noted, with the height of Doug Sutherland and Tim Birthisel up forward worrying the Dragon defence.
"They added 5.6 to 2.2 to snatch a four-point three-quarter-time with Tardrew, Thompson and Hobbs continuing to be fine, constructive defenders for Eaglehawk and they set up many solid forward moves from out of the back half," Clark wrote.
The Borough led by just four points at three-quarter time: 10.11 to 10.7. Clark reported that the final term "was a beauty with the lead changing four times as first one side, and then the other, would work the ball into a scoring position."
However, Clark reported that there were some "questionable umpiring decisions which spoiled what was an epic battle" in that final stanza with Hurst's Jamie Gepp sent from the ground at the 20-minute mark.
"And when Mark Williams goaled for Eaglehawek from a free kick the contest was suddenly all over," Clark finished up.
I was out at Dower Park for the match-of-the-day with top side Castlemaine up against third-placed Kangaroo Flat, but it was close to all over by half-time with the super-accurate Camp Reserve Pies leading by five goals: 14.3 (87) to the Roos 8.9 (57).
The Magpies dominated the centre breaks all match with the Filo brothers, Simon Jorgensen and Jamie Allan providing the drive, as Dean Henderson took over the second half ruck duties from injured David Cox.
That allowed coach Matt Scully to allocate other roles to Mitch Droney and Michael Blake.
Meanwhile Roos' coach Brian Teasdale started with Ben Chapman in the ruck and Graeme Willox at full-back on Steven Oliver.
With the Maine nailing the first five goals of the day the Roos had all sorts of defence problems. The two Filos (Derrick and Shaun), Jorgensen, Oliver and Tommy Kavanagh all drilled majors as Darren Gibbs and Jamie Allan continually fed their forwards.
Nathan Chapman (later to latch onto a USA NFL kicking career with the Green Bay Packers), Norm Ritchie and Brett Lovell led a mini-revival for the Roos, before Sean Smith (taking an over-his-head handball from Derrick Filo) and Oliver, who snaffled a Shaun Filo pass, both drilled Maine majors.
Then Castlemaine banged home 7.5 to the Flat's 4.5 in the second term to stretch their lead to
five goals by the long break, followed up by a six-goals-to-one third term which swamped the Roos.
Tim Cocks nailed two Maine majors and Blake also landed a major, but not before he'd banged one shot straight into the big white posts for a behind.
Chapman was deep into the action for the Flat. His long shot was just touched on the line by Scott Tully as he tried to mark his teammates' kick on the goal-line.
Then Chapman made amends moments later. St Clair had flown high, appearing to have climbed into the back of a Maine defender, but no whistle sounded so Chapman drilled a long, running goal.
Derrick Filo's delightful 15-metre long handball found the running Jorgensen for a Maine reply and then best afield Filo found his brother Shaun who nailed a great long shot.
Leading 14.3 to 8.9 at half-time the Magpie defence limited the Roos to just 1.5 in the third term while Castlemaine nailed 6.6 with Tim Cocks landing a pair of majors.
Don Moran was impassable at centre half-back as he held the Maine defence together and his prodigious clearing kicks sailed over centerfield and into the half\-forward zone.
Sean Smith finished off the match with three last term majors, to give him an even half-dozen for the day, while a majestic left-handed handball from Tim Cocks found Darren Gibbs for his third six-pointer of the day.
The loss tumbed the Roos down one spot, from third to fourth, as South bolstered their percentage with a 73-point belting of Square after leading by a massive 65-points at the long break
The Bloods leapt up to third with close to a 3% advantage over the Flat.
Meanwhile Peter Harrick saw his beloved Kennington dispose of Maryborough at the Magpies' Princes Park by 33 points, Noel Stedwell reported on South Bendigo's huge 73-point drubbing of Square at Wade Street --- the Bloods landed 44 scoring shots to 26 --- while Iain Sutherland reported on a close one at the Kyneton Showgrounds with Northern United the visitors.
Home side Tigers managed just one major in the gripping final term while the Swallows booted 7.2, but were unable to completely close the gap.
The BFL Tribunal was facing a busy Monday all those years back. Two players and a trainer had been reported while an under-15 player was appealing a club decision.
Wayne Hodgkiss was appealing against Northern United's refusal to clear him to North Bendigo's under-15s in the BJFL.
Sandhurst senior player John Roberts had been charged by goal umpire Stan Cue for alleged use of abusive language, second quarter.
Maryborough Twos player Eddie McQuienn was reported by central umpire B. Cole for allegedly striking Kennington's Ben Dulloo, last quarter.
And legendary Eaglehawk trainer Ray 'Bluey' Watts was charged by central umpire Ron Threlfall for alleged use of insulting language at the QEO during the Sandhurst- Eaglehawk senior game.
Those were the days. Monday nights for me were set down for lengthy stays and note taking in the old BFL Tribunal rooms adjacent to the fire brigade running track at Weeroona Oval.
Then there was a hasty drive back to the Addy's Pall Mall offices at around 11.40 pm to type up the story and meet the Tuesday paper deadline.
There was a fair bit of 'biffo' involved in major and district footy leagues three decades ago keeping league tribunal secretary, the late Harrie Sims, very busy. Although there was only one charge of that nature to be heard that Monday night in 1992.
Final scores, Rd. 8: Kyneton 15.18 (108) def. Nthn. United 14.12 (96); Kennington 15.20 (110) def. Maryborough 12.5 (77); Castlemaine 26.10 (166) def. Kang. Flat 13.19 (97); Eaglehawk 15.14 (104) def. Sandhurst 14.8 (92); Sth. Bendigo 26.18 (174) def. Golden Square 15.11 (101).
Ladder, Top 5: Castlemaine 7 wins, 0 losses, 1 bye, 32 prem. pts.; Eaglehawk 6-1-1, 28; South Bendigo 5-3-0 bye,129.93%, 20; Kang. Flat 4-3-1 bye, 127.59%, 20; North Bendigo 4-3-1 bye, 117.41%, 20.
Out of the Five: Sandhurst 4-4, 122.67%, 16; Square 3-4-1 bye, 95.58%,16; Kennington 3-4-1 bye, 94.13%, 16; Maryborough 2-5-1 bye, 81.73%, 12; Kyneton 2-5-1 bye, 67.45%, 12; Northern United 0 wins-8 losses, 0 bye, 0 premiership points.
The Addy, under the careful watch of company secretary Fred Trewarne, paid the BFL writers monthly back in the Nineties. It was $50 a game in those days, pre-on-line accounts, as he posted out the payment cheques to the Addy's team of scribes early in the first week of the next month.
And oh, for the days of an 11-club BFNL ! Still, the BFNL club stocks could improve with the addition of Broadford next year, while Maiden Gully (and maybe Moama) will be knocking on the door for admission soon after.
