The Mean Machine weren’t a battler, but they weren’t a side to strike fear into the opposition, either.

After finishing fifth on the 2009 ladder, the Mean Machine were bundled out in the elimination final by Marong by 12 points.

At that stage, the Mean Machine hadn’t won a premiership since 1991, and in the previous 18 years since that last flag had won just three finals.

But following 2009, the Mean Machine have become the undisputed power of the LVFL, winning the past four flags.

On Saturday on the back of what is so far an undefeated season, Bridgewater will vie for its fifth premiership in a row against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Mitiamo.

Bridgewater captain Darren Clutton - who joined the club in 2007 and has played in the past four flags - has experienced the evolution of the Mean Machine from middle-of-the-road side to the LVFL’s dominant force.

The turnaround began in 2010 when untried senior coach Troy Auld took charge, laying the groundwork for the Mean Machine’s golden run.

“In my first years there we were fairly basic in terms of training and professionalism and stuff like that,” Clutton said this week.

“Training was fairly low key... three or four drills and that would be it. But when Troy came along it really lifted the whole professionalism of the club.

“He brought along a group of mates from South Bendigo who had played a mix of senior and reserves footy in Bendigo, but the professionalism with the training and preparation for the games really lifted.

“The training ethics, recovery and getting more committee involved with the footy side of things went to another level.”

Auld coached the Mean Machine for two years for a 34-2 win-loss record, with the seasons culminating in grand final wins by 115 points over Calivil United in 2010 and by 99 points against Pyramid Hill in 2011.

Brad Wickham and Zac East co-coached the Mean Machine in 2012 (defeated Newbridge in the grand final), while East coached the side on his own last year (defeated BL-Serpentine in the grand final).

This year there has been another fresh voice in charge of the Mean Machine in former Richmond and Carlton AFL player Andrew Collins, who returned to his home club.

Throughout the Mean Machine’s four-peat of flags between 2010 and 2013, 41 players have been part of their premiership teams. 

That includes 24 players who have been part of at least two flags, plus Clutton, Brad Rohde, Daniel Nalder, Deon Jones, Luke Scoble and East, who played in all four.

“The main core has been there throughout, but each year we’ve turned over three or four players and that keeps everyone on their toes,” said Clutton, arguably the best key position swingman in the LVFL.

“This year, there’s something like 50 premierships between the group.

“You play footy to win premierships and there’s no issue with the hunger.

“Everyone is always hungry to keep it going, and now that there’s six or seven of us who are over the age of 30, you never know when it’s going to be your last flag.”

Since the 2009 elimination final loss to Marong, the Mean Machine have won 82 of 90 games, including their past 23 in a row.

“Everyone is really good mates and we’re always striving to be the best we can,” Clutton said.

“You’ll never have it, but every week we’re striving for that perfect game.”

A Bridgewater win on Saturday would match the feat of the 1985 Mean Machine - the last time the club was undefeated premiers.

BRIDGEWATER PREMIERSHIP PLAYERS: 2010-13

FOUR FLAGS

Brad Rohde - 2010, 11, 12, 13.

Daniel Nalder - 2010, 11, 12, 13.

Darren Clutton - 2010, 11, 12, 13.

Deon Jones - 2010, 11, 12, 13.

Luke Scoble - 2010, 11, 12, 13.

Zac East - 2010, 11, 12, 13.

THREE FLAGS

Adam Parry - 2011, 12, 13.

Ben Galea - 2010, 11, 12.

Josh McLeod - 2010, 12, 13.

Josh Metherell - 2010, 11, 12.

Kurt Ashman - 2010, 11, 12.

Tristin Nalder - 2011, 12, 13.

Zeb Broadbent - 2010, 11, 12.

TWO FLAGS

Adam Auld - 2010, 11.

Alexander Pollock - 2010, 12.

Andrew Ball - 2010, 11.

Andrew Ferguson - 2010, 11.

Cameron Hayes - 2012, 13.

David Coghlan - 2010, 11.

David Harrison - 2010, 12.

Jack Hickey - 2012, 13.

Marc Lindsay - 2010, 13.

Nick Harris - 2010, 11.

Taylor Strachan - 2012, 13.

ONE FLAG

Alex Collins - 2013.

Andrew Duguid - 2011.

Angus Parry - 2013.

Anthony Baker - 2011.

Brad Wickham - 2010.

Callum Prest - 2013.

Danny O’Bree - 2011.

Isaac Broadbent - 2010.

Jackson Bennett - 2013.

Jayden Exell - 2013.

Jerome Williams - 2012. 

Kris Jermyn - 2013.

Luke Harrison - 2013.

Marcus Emmett - 2011.

Nathan McClelland - 2012.

Ryan Evans - 2012.

Simon Hanns - 2013.