Last year the Bears endured a winless season in the Loddon Valley league, but 12 months on are setting themselves up for a return to the finals in what has been a stunning turnaround.

One win for the Bears would have been an improvement on 2016, yet they go into Saturday with seven from their 12 games so far and a percentage that is almost triple what it was at the same stage last year.

While the Bears have risen from a season in the doldrums to be AFL Central Victoria’s biggest improver in 2017, the region’s biggest slider has been Charlton.

After winning the North Central flag last year, the Navies have tumbled this season to be second last on the ladder with a 2-9 record – six wins less compared to the same stage last season.

Here’s a look at how each of the 36 senior teams in the region is tracking compared to the same time last year.

BENDIGO LEAGUE:

All played 11 games.

SOUTH BENDIGO

Wins: 7 (+5)

Percentage: 134 (+59)

Avg for: 99 (+33)

Avg agst: 74 (+14)

Ladder: 5th (+3)

…………………………..

EAGLEHAWK

Wins: 9 (+4)

Percentage: 152 (+25)

Avg for: 104 (+8)

Avg agst: 68 (+7)

Ladder: 3rd (+3)

…………………………..

GISBORNE

Wins: 3 (+1)

Percentage: 86 (+32)

Avg for: 85 (+22)

Avg agst: 99 (+18)

Ladder: 7th (+2)

…………………………..

MARYBOROUGH

Wins: 1 (+1)

Percentage: 36 (+11)

Avg for: 53 (+6)

Avg agst: 143 (+36)

Ladder: 9th (+1)

…………………………..

GOLDEN SQUARE

Wins: 9 (Same)

Percentage: 168 (-39)

Avg for: 101 (-24)

Avg agst: 60 (Same)

Ladder: 2nd (+1)

…………………………..

KYNETON

Wins: 6 (Same)

Percentage: 147 (+33)

Avg for: 123 (+19)

Avg agst: 83 (+8)

Ladder: 6th (-1)

…………………………..

STRATHFIELDSAYE

Wins: 9 (-1)

Percentage: 183 (Same)

Avg for: 101 (+2)

Avg agst: 55 (-1)

Ladder: 1st (Same)

…………………………..

SANDHURST

Wins: 7 (-2)

Percentage: 163 (-50)

Avg for: 109 (-17)

Avg agst: 67 (-8)

Ladder: 4th (-2)

…………………………..

CASTLEMAINE

Wins: 1 (-4)

Percentage: 33 (-44)

Avg for: 50 (-32)

Avg agst: 148 (-43)

Ladder: 10th (-3)

…………………………..

KANGAROO FLAT

Wins: 2 (-5)

Percentage: 67 (-62)

Avg for: 68 (-26)

Avg agst: 100 (-28)

Ladder: 8th (-4)

…………………………..

HEATHCOTE DISTRICT:

LBU

12 games

Wins: 3 (+3)

Percentage: 65 (+33)

Avg for: 73 (+29)

Avg agst: 111 (+21)

Ladder: 6th (+3)

…………………………..

NORTH BENDIGO

11 games

Wins: 11 (+2)

Percentage: 322 (+141)

Avg for: 161 (+37)

Avg agst: 50 (+18)

Ladder: 1st (+2)

…………………………..

WHITE HILLS

12 games

Wins: 6 (+2)

Percentage: 98 (+39)

Avg for: 90 (+25)

Avg agst: 91 (+18)

Ladder: 5th (+2)

…………………………..

HEATHCOTE

12 games

Wins: 3 (+2)

Percentage: 48 (-6)

Avg for: 59 (-8)

Avg agst: 121 (+2)

Ladder: 7th (+1)

…………………………..

LEITCHVILLE-

GUNBOWER

11 games

Wins: 10 (+1)

Percentage: 271 (+57)

Avg for: 144 (+19)

Avg agst: 53 (+5)

Ladder: 2nd (Same)

…………………………..

COLBINABBIN

12 games

Wins: 8 (-1)

Percentage: 149 (-4)

Avg for: 96 (-3)

Avg agst: 64 (Same)

Ladder: 3rd (+1)

…………………………..

MOUNT PLEASANT

11 games

Wins: 2 (-2)

Percentage: 37 (-36)

Avg for: 47 (-33)

Avg agst: 124 (-14)

Ladder: 9th (-3)

…………………………..

HUNTLY

11 games

Wins: 7 (-2)

Percentage: 125 (-89)

Avg for: 108 (-20)

Avg agst: 87 (-27)

Ladder: 4th (-3)

…………………………..

ELMORE

12 games

Wins: 2 (-4)

Percentage: 51 (-43)

Avg for: 69 (-28)

Avg agst: 134 (-32)

Ladder: 8th (-3)

…………………………..

LODDON VALLEY:

BEARS LAGOON-

SERPENTINE

12 games

Wins: 7 (+7)

Percentage: 113 (+76)

Avg for: 87 (+42)

Avg agst: 77 (+43)

Ladder: 4th (+5)

…………………………..

CALIVIL UNITED

12 games

Wins: 12 (+3)

Percentage: 207 (+46)

Avg for: 122 (+24)

Avg agst: 59 (+2)

Ladder: 1st (+2)

…………………………..

NEWBRIDGE

13 games

Wins: 9 (+3)

Percentage: 109 (+14)

Avg for: 81 (+5)

Avg agst: 74 (+6)

Ladder: 3rd (+1)

…………………………..

PYRAMID HILL

12 games

Wins: 6 (+1)

Percentage: 126 (+40)

Avg for: 91 (+15)

Avg agst: 72 (+16)

Ladder: 5th (+1)

…………………………..

MAIDEN GULLY YCW

12 games

Wins: 2 (Same)

Percentage: 55 (+5)

Avg for: 59 (+11)

Avg agst: 106 (-11)

Ladder: 8th (Same)

…………………………..

BRIDGEWATER

13 games

Wins: 10 (-3)

Percentage: 156 (-142)

Avg for: 101 (-38)

Avg agst: 64 (-17)

Ladder: 2nd (-1)

…………………………..

INGLEWOOD

13 games

Wins: 1 (-3)

Percentage: 49 (-25)

Avg for: 57 (-17)

Avg agst: 115 (-16)

Ladder: 9th (-2)

…………………………..

MARONG

12 games

Wins: 3 (-3)

Percentage: 63 (-30)

Avg for: 66 (-15)

Avg agst: 103 (-17)

Ladder: 7th (-2)

…………………………..

MITIAMO

13 games

Wins: 6 (-5)

Percentage: 111 (-32)

Avg for: 75 (-26)

Avg agst: 67 (+3)

Ladder: 6^th (-4)

…………………………..

NORTH CENTRAL:

All played 11 games

SEA LAKE NANDALY

TIGERS

Wins: 7 (+3)

Percentage: 123 (+30)

Avg for: 93 (+18)

Avg agst: 76 (+4)

Ladder: 3rd (+3)

…………………………..

BOORT

Wins: 8 (+3)

Percentage: 116 (+25)

Avg for: 75 (+6)

Avg agst: 64 (+12)

Ladder: 2nd (+2)

…………………………..

WEDDERBURN

Wins: 3 (+2)

Percentage: 65 (-4)

Avg for: 57 (Same)

Avg agst: 87 (-6)

Ladder: 6th (+2)

…………………………..

BIRCHIP-WATCHEM

Wins: 6 (+1)

Percentage: 119 (+32)

Avg for: 73 (+6)

Avg agst: 61 (+15)

Ladder: 5th (Same)

…………………………..

WYCHEPROOF-

NARRAPORT

Wins: 10 (-1)

Percentage: 230 (+81)

Avg for: 122 (+18)

Avg agst: 53 (+16)

Ladder: 1st (Same)

…………………………..

ST ARNAUD

Wins: 1 (-1)

Percentage: 57 (-13)

Avg for: 67 (-7)

Avg agst: 115 (-11)

Ladder: 8th (-1)

…………………………..

DONALD

Wins: 7 (-1)

Percentage: 97 (-47)

Avg for: 69 (-20)

Avg agst: 72 (-10)

Ladder: 4th (-2)

…………………………..

CHARLTON

Wins: 2 (-6)

Percentage: 67 (-51)

Avg for: 58 (-30)

Avg agst: 87 (-13)

Ladder: 7th (-4)