After suffering a mass exodus of players and starting a rebuild, the Bears didn’t win a game in the Loddon Valley league in 2016 and ended the season with a percentage of just 43.6.

But three rounds into 2017 the Bears are flying.

They are undefeated with wins over Bridgewater, Marong and Pyramid Hill – all finalists last season – and have already had their premiership odds slashed by Sportsbet from $101 to $13.

While pleased with his side’s start that has generated a buzz within the club, Gadsden says his playing group is keeping the lid on.

“What happens when you’re coming from where we were last year in not winning a game, there’s no expectation on our group that we should be beating sides, so our players are probably embracing the games with a bit of a care-free attitude in that we’re not expected to win,” Gadsden said on Friday.

“If we do win, it’s a great result, if we don’t, well, it’s probably not expected from most people.

“The players are going out with the attitude of they’ve got nothing to lose and what ever happens, happens.

“We’re keeping the lid on because we know we’ve still got the likes of Mitiamo, Calivil United and Newbridge to come. If you drop those three games then you’re back in the pack, so we know we’ve got a fair bit of work to do yet.”

The Bears’ next assignment is an away game against the grand finalist of the past two seasons, Mitiamo.

“If we’re going to be anywhere near playing finals, we have to compete well,” Gadsden said.

• Round five games: Newbridge v Calivil United, Marong v Inglewood, Bridgewater v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, Mitiamo v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine. Pyramid Hill bye.

Games start at 2.15pm.

Ladder:

Calivil United – 3-0

BL-Serpentine – 3-0

Bridgewater – 3-1

Newbridge – 3-1

Mitiamo – 2-2

Pyramid Hill – 1-3

M. Gully YCW – 1-2

Marong – 0-3

Inglewood – 0-4