FIVE future Hall of Famers and a player who would go on to win three premierships with Carlton.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was some sort of a team Golden Square fielded in the 1976 Bendigo Football League grand final against Kyneton.
The Bulldogs premiership side of 1976 featured Robert O’Connell, Peter Davey, Peter Moroni, Gary Mountjoy and coach Tony Southcombe, who would all be later inducted into the BFL Hall of Fame.
And at half-forward was an 18-year-old described as having the “leap of a kangaroo” with VFL potential – Peter McConville.
McConville would go on to turn that potential into 194 VFL games and play in premierships with the Blues in 1979, 1981 and 1982.
Forty years on from the flag triumph, the star-studded Bulldogs of 1976 will reunite this weekend, starting at the Bridge Hotel on Friday night, before continuing the celebrations on Saturday when the modern day Bulldogs host Eaglehawk.
The Bulldogs defeated Kyneton by 42 points in the 1976 grand final, winning 15.13 (103) to 9.7 (61), set up by a flying start in which they raced to a 41-point lead at quarter-time.
The flag win came amid a golden era for the Bulldogs, who between 1971 and 1983 played in 11 of 13 grand finals.
“It was obviously a fantastic team and while you’re playing you probably don’t quite appreciate it and take it all in,” said coach Southcombe, who the following year in 1977 played 13 games for Carlton.
“There were some absolute champions in that team and it’s going to be fantastic to catch up again this weekend.”
As well as the senior grand final there was also a double celebration for the Bulldogs in 1976, with their reserves also winning the premiership.
1976 grand final details:
Golden Square 8.5, 10.5, 14.7, 15.13 (103)
Kyneton 2.0, 6.4, 7.6, 9.7 (61)
GOALS - Golden Square: P. Safstrom 4, G. Mountjoy 3, P. Hinck, R. Roulston 2, P. McConville, I. Moffatt, P. Moroni, T. Southcombe 1. Kyneton: B. Gook, P. McRae, J. Watts 2, R. Dickson, R. Edmonds, D. James 1.
BEST - Golden Square: G. Mountjoy, T. Southcombe, R. Kent, P. Davey, P. Safstrom, A. Winzar, P. Moroni. Kyneton: L. McNaughton, D. James, R. Edmonds, L. Potter, G. Clarke.
Golden Square premiership team:
B: John Kaladis, Shane Rodda, Russell Kent
Hb: Robert O’Connell, Peter Davey, Mike Featherston
C: Peter Moroni, Gary Mountjoy, Alan Winzar
Hf: Peter McConville, Peter Hinck, Peter Fitzpatrick
F: Ian Moffat, Russell Roulston, Peter Safstrom
Foll: Tony Southcombe, Brett Bahen, Neil Cordy
Inter: Ken Smith, Chris Bell