By Matt Fotia
It’s Thursday the 14th of May and the new normal (albeit temporary) sucks. So let’s go back to yesteryear when local footy was thriving, with another edition of the Bendigo Bank On This Day!
It’s 2011 and Julia Gillard is PM, Michael Clarke has just taken over from Ricky Ponting as test captain, Carlton are a good football team and Richmond are not.
On a brisk autumn day in Melbourne’s East, Canterbury play host to the Eastern Lions in the EFL’s Fourth Division. The Cobras win a thrilling shootout, 20.10(130) to 15.11(101) one of their best wins across their short stay.
Further East Ferntree Gully and The Basin tussle in an early match-up between two finals aspirants. The Bears kick seven goals to four in the first quarter and lead by 18 points at the final change, but cannot hold off the Eagles, who led by Paul Giannopolous get home 12.7(79) to 11.7(73).
In Division Three Templestowe ran away from Mitcham in an exciting encounter, 11.14(80) to 9.12(66). Present day Coldstream recruit Jarrod Witnish kicked two for the Tigers, whilst Ryan Bain (5) and Paul Eccles (3) led the way for the Dockers.
Meanwhile Boronia and Ringwood endured a tight tussle all afternoon, with the Hawks holding out 11.8(74) to 10.7(67) in no doubt windy conditions at the Hawks nest. Journeyman Nick Tennant was prominent with five majors for the Redbacks whilst current Hawks star Matt Buzinkas popped up with two goals in an impressive performance. Oh and ex Hawthorn big man Ben Holland pocketed four majors.
Division Two and whilst Doncaster East and eventual premier Lilydale enjoyed comfortable wins over Wantirna South and Upper Gully, a Bernie Dineen led Bayswater went down by one straight kick against Montrose. Stalwart Dean Stephen was amongst the Demons best.
Out at Mount Waverley Reserve, the Blues (who wear red and white…) got the jump on the Mustangs kicking five goals to one in the first, enough to hold on by 10 points, 10.10(70) to 8.12(60). The Blues would finish eighth whilst the Mustangs missed finals, finishing in fifth.
In the top tier it was business as usual for Noble Park who pummelled Croydon by 63 points, Knox held Mulgrave to just 19 points as the Falcons set themselves for a possible finals push and Blackburn got one over on their local rivals Vermont, kicking six goals to none in the last to win by five points.
The Burners managed one behind in both the first and third quarters despite winning 13.8(86) to 12.9(81). Ben Fraser kicked four for Blackburn while Vermont ruckman Robbie Ross was best on ground for the Eagles.
Fast forward to 2016 and things have changed a little in the top division. Knox are a shadow of their 2011 form, Doncaster have arrived at the big boys table and Rowville are making strides.
The Hawks knocked off the reigning premier Balwyn by one point on this day, despite some inaccurate goal kicking, 12.18(90) to 13.11(89). Cameron Manuel bobbed up with three goals for the Hawks, whilst current Doveton defender Daniel Zajac was in the best.
In Division Two Croydon and Mooroolbark went down to the wire as well, with the Blues overcoming a 26 point half time deficit to win 10.8(68) to 9.13(67). Brendan Weinert the star with five goals.
Elsewhere Wantirna South stormed home against East Burwood, kicking 7.9 to 0.3 in the last quarter to run out 42 point winners, 13.17(95) to 7.11(53). Anthony Papa snared three majors, whilst Nik Papadopolous was best on ground.
The Basin feature once again, this time in Division Three and this time as victors. The Bears jumped the gun kicking 6.4 to Boronia’s 2.3, but the Hawks steadily closed the gap to one point at the last change. But bad kicking is bad football, with The Basin kicking 3.3 to 2.5 in the last to hold on by four points 12.13(85) to 11.15(81). Josh Adams was best on for the Bears. Ryan White for the Hawks.
Finally, on this day in 2016, in Division Four of the EFL, Kilsyth’s inaccurate kicking cost them four points against Forest Hill, as the Zebra’s won 9.13(67) to 8.14(62). The Cougars kicked 2.5 to 1.0 in the third term, missing their chance to put the boys in Green and White away.
Around the grounds, Donvale won easily against Coldstream, eventual premiers Ferntree Gully cruised against Surrey Park, the Eastern Lions cracked 287 against Nunawading and Whitehorse knocked off Glen Waverley Hawks, despite the fact the Pioneers would finish four spots below them at the season’s end.