NORTH BENDIGO ended one of the region’s longest premiership droughts on Saturday, defeating Leitchville-Gunbower by 10 points in an epic Heathcote District Football League grand final.
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In front of a crowd that paid a record gate of $59,000 at Huntly’s Hy-Line Australia Oval, the Bulldogs won their first premiership since 1977 with the 10.13 (73) to 8.15 (63) victory over the Bombers.
“To be honest, this is surreal… it hasn’t sunk in yet,” North Bendigo co-coach Rob Bennett said.
“I don’t think we played that well, but we were able to do enough to keep in front.”
No more than 15 points separated the two sides in what was a game of constant pressure where every possession seemingly had plenty riding on it.
Playing in its first grand final since joining the HDFL in 2010, Leitchville-Gunbower burst out of the blocks, kicking the opening two goals of the game inside the first five minutes through Tom Shepherd and Daniel Couwenberg.
However, momentum shifted after play was halted when Bulldog Ash Craig was knocked out in a bump from Joel Helman and stretchered off the ground.
When the game re-started, North Bendigo kicked five goals in 17 minutes and the Bulldogs were on their way.
The Bulldogs led by 12 points at quarter-time, two points at half-time and eight points at three quarter-time, before holding on in the final term as the Bombers squandered opportunities, kicking 1.7.
North Bendigo ruckman Troy Kelm was the winner of the AFL Victoria Country Medal for best on ground, while Sam Barnes and Paul Prime each kicked three goals for the Bulldogs.
Like North Bendigo last year when the Bulldogs were beaten, Leitchville-Gunbower’s grand final defeat was only its second of the season.
In the A-grade netball, Colbinabbin denied the North Bendigo the major double after belting the Bulldogs 50-29.
