Last Week formed Part 1 of the Bernie Dinneen story, we pick up part two as Aaron Kirkby-Rodier chats to Dinneen regarding his move to Vermont…
His first season in 2005 at Vermont Dinneen started off on fire before dislocating his shoulder in Round 13, he would require a reconstruction and would miss playing in Vermont’s Premiership.
“We’ve had a few tough battles along the way and I’d like to think we are about even, as a player he’s so good inside and out. Bernie did something for my family last year that I’ll never forget and we will be forever grateful. We at Noble Park have so much respect for Bernie as a true legend of the EFL.” – Craig Anderson, Noble Park.
“It was a pretty bad one it took them a while to get it back in.”
“Obviously winning the medal and the club winning the flag was great and I decided to stay for another year, the original plan was to play for a season and then travel but I’m glad I stayed.”
But in 2006 Dinneen would return winning the Chandler Medal for back to back seasons and playing a part in Vermont’s premiership.
“Anyone who has been fortunate enough to play with him has been on the good side of it because if you were playing against him you knew you were in for a battle. It didn’t matter where on the ground you were or if you were in the vicinity and you had the aggot you were in trouble because he was the most ferocious ball player and tackler, his ability to get to 3 or 4 contest in a row and even make it a 50/50 or a ball up was amazing. He’s a got a heart of gold if you needed anything you could put in a call to Bernie and he would do anything for you.” – Matt Greig, Retired Vermont Legend.
“It was a great season, really special to play in a side with a great bunch of blokes and win a flag. I considered while the going was good to postpone for another year but in the end I decided to go.”
Dinneen would travel to 30 countries across 13 months playing footy in New York, Toronto, Sweden and London.
“I managed to squeeze in some footy which was good and being able to educate some of the guys learning the game. I found that I’d caught the coaching bug a bit after doing a bit as an assistant before I left and also while I was away. ”
When Bernie would return to the EFL in 2008 he would be back to his best until he would rupture his achilles in Round 6 and miss the remainder of the season. The next season he would coach the Bayswater football club while still playing.
“I did consider elsewhere I remember going up to Seymour and I felt I couldn’t get the people I wanted into that league and I obviously didn’t want to go against Vermont straight away so knowing the president on top of all that, Bayswater was just the right fit.”
In 2009 Dinneen took Bayswater to 4th and then in 2010 made the grand final. He won the Wright Medal in all his 3rd EFL league medal and 6th overall.
“During my time at Bayswater I thought we had a great young improving list, I would’ve loved to win the flag but that’s the way things go, I had probably the most special game of my life in 2011 a few hours after my dad passed against Lilydale, their only loss of that season. Obviously winning the medal in 2010 was great as well.”
“I made some lifelong friends at Bayswater, I loved the big ground and my initial instinct was to stay another year.”
Bernie Dinneen parted ways at the end of 2011 and would take the reigns of East Ringwood in 2012.
“Les Ferguson approached me about coaching and that’s how it happened really, I spoke to a few other clubs but they didn’t seem as keen as East Ringwood did.”
“The person who really convinced me about East Ringwood was Marcus Buzaglo, and just how passionate about the club he was and the direction he wanted the club to go.”
In 2012 his first season at East Ringwood, Dinneen wouldn’t last long as a playing coach when he damaged just about every ligament in his knee early in the season.
“It was a mess, it meant I was just coaching probably a little bit earlier than expected but the team in general just had a shocking run with injuries that year. We started the year well but that just got a hold of throughout the year, I think we were in the four at round 6 or 7.”
At the end of 2012 and early 2013 Bernie would lose some of his senior players, which put the side under pressure heading into Round 1.
“A few of the guys in particular pulled out really late which I was pretty disappointed in, I felt that had a real chance to make a name for themselves.”
“I really enjoyed the 2013 season we had a good bunch of young kids who were willing to work. Losing Joel Perry hurt us and we just had some tough losses, a lot by under two kicks.”
Dinneen would return to Vermont for season 2014 after a five year absence. Returning to play with some of his good mates and being able to just concentrate on his own football.
“It was a good time to go back, I appreciate all the time I had away but I’m enjoying just focusing on my football not everybody else.”
Bernie’s brother put him on a strong training regime to get him back to peak fitness during the pre season, with some tough times away from football this helped Dinneen a lot giving him something to focus on. Heading back to re join some of his great mates at Vermont was also invaluable.
“Having those mates around me was great and a real support mechanism the only thing I was disappointed in was that Matt Grieg had hung the boots up and I wouldn’t get to play another game with him.”
The Eagles would have a good season in 2014 just falling short in the preliminary final to Balwyn. Despite really enjoying his football again it wasn’t an easy year for Bernie.
“I had a chat to Cocha’s (Steve Cochrane) mid season when my form was just ok and was I going to be good enough, I managed to convince him to give me a run in the midfield and never looked back.”
“I’ve been lucky to be involved in some really great footy clubs and met some really good people and I’m really quite privileged to have got have some of the team and individual success that I have but its those relationships and friendships that mean the most to me.”
“Bernie is like a little energizer bunny he just bounces around everywhere he was so dangerous around stoppages and he was super fit. He would always come in for a beer after he had run his warm down laps, he’s just a super footballer and a great bloke.” – Jason Wade, Donvale Legend.
Bernie Dinneen will finish his playing career at the end of 2015 as a 300 game, 6 x League Best and Fairest Winner, 4 x Premiership Player, 2 x Best and Fairest and all that among a string of other accolades. A true champion, of not just the EFL but football in Victoria.