The untold stories behind the stories, rare and archival footage and unique insights into landmark sporting events that sporting docos offer have always been must-watch viewing.

It’s not a sporting documentary, but news last week that there are plans for the story of Matthew Dellavedova’s rise from the courts of Maryborough to the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers will be made into a Hollywood movie got me thinking.

What other sporting stories closer to home could have the makings of an entertaining documentary in the style of ESPN’S 30 for 30 series (the best $40 I’ve spent on Ebay, by the way).

Using some of the themes that sporting docos are based on, here’s part one of a few ideas:

DROUGHT-BREAKING: Bendigo’s Melbourne Country Week 2007 title – the story of a memorable five days that was capped when Bendigo won its first Melbourne Country Week Provincial Group title for 54 years. The final against Mornington-Peninsula was full of drama when, with Bendigo only two wickets from victory, heavy rain set in and Bendigo's hopes looked set to be washed away. But the skies cleared, play restarted and in the space of five balls, Ben DeAraugo took the last two wickets to break the Bendigo drought. It wasn't quite the extent of the Boston Red Sox ending their 86-year "Curse of the Bambino", but the rollercoaster of emotions during that long-awaited final win is a good place to start this doco series.

MOMENTOUS: Faith Leech’s Olympic gold medal – the story of Bendigo swimmer Faith Leech, who when it comes to the city’s sporting achievements is in a class of her own as the only Olympic gold medallist. Nicknamed the “Flying Fish”, this doco recounts the journey to Leech's gold medal swim with the 4 x 100m women’s freestyle relay team at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and the reaction from her hometown to their new golden girl. Aussie swimming legend and 1956 team-mate Dawn Fraser a must-have interview for this one.

DYNASTY: Eaglehawk Cricket Club – the story behind the secret to the success and the characters during Eaglehawk’s remarkable dominance of the Bendigo District Cricket Association in which the Hawks played in 14-consecutive A grade grand finals between 1979 and 1992, winning nine of them. First point of call for an interview would be Wayne Walsh, who played in all 14. Opposition thoughts on just how tough and intimidating the Hawks were to play against would be equally as interesting.

Bob McCaskill’s Dragons – the story of the Bendigo Football League’s greatest dynasty – the Sandhurst side that won a record six premierships in a row between 1929 and 1934 – and the man behind it, coach Bob McCaskill. What made McCaskill tick, what did he instill into the Dragons that set them apart from the rest of the competition during that golden era, and why did the city of Bendigo shut down for a day for his funeral in 1952?

TRIUMPH FROM NOWHERE: Golden Square's 2001 flag - the story of Golden Square’s history-defying 2001 BFL premiership. Since the BFL introduced its top five in 1983, only one team has won the flag from outside the top three. That was Brian Walsh’s Bulldogs of ’01, who after one stage being 4-5 before finishing the home and away season fourth, won three cut-throat finals to make the grand final, and then rode their momentum to a famous 14-point win over fierce rival Sandhurst - their 11th win in a row. How did the Bulldogs do it? How taxing was it? What sparked the mid-season turnaround?

Part two on Thursday.