BEARS Lagoon-Serpentine is one win away from achieving what has only been done six times previously across the Bendigo, Heathcote District and Loddon Valley leagues since 1995.
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And that’s win at least 10 more games than the previous year.
The Bears have come out of hibernation this season to be the biggest surprise packets across the AFL Central Victoria region in what has been a superb revival.
Bears coach Greg Gadsden told the Bendigo Advertiser pre-season: “We’re confident we’ll make some progress this year”.
That’s proven to be a massive understatement given after enduring a winless 2016 season, the Bears are 9-5 and fourth on the Loddon Valley ladder.
As dramatic as the resurgence the Bears have made this season, it’s Gisborne that tops the list of biggest win increases from one year to the next across the BFL, HDFL and LVFL since 1995.
In 2001 the Bulldogs won just three games and finished eighth in the Bendigo league.
But the following year with Mick McGuane taking over as coach, the Bulldogs won 14 more games, finishing 2002 with a 17-1 record and the first of what would be four flags in five years.
“To go from a team that won three games in 2001 to a 17-1 team the year after that also had the reserves and under-18s win premierships as well, that doesn’t happen if you don’t understand the basic fundamentals of what we stand for as a footy club,” McGuane said in 2012 ahead of the 10-year reunion of the 2002 premiership.
• Biggest win increases since 1995:
GISBORNE – +14
2001: 3 wins (8th);
2002: 17 (Premiers).
…………………………………
NORTH BENDIGO – +11
1995: 0 wins (10th);
1996: 11 (4th).
1995 last year in Bendigo league; 1996 first year in Heathcote District league.
…………………………………
CASTLEMAINE – +10
1998: 5 wins (7th);
1999: 15 (2nd).
…………………………………
GOLDEN SQUARE – +10
2000: 5 wins (8th);
2001: 15 (Premiers).
…………………………………
KANGAROO FLAT – +10
1999: 8 wins (5th);
2000: 18 (2nd).
…………………………………
CALIVIL UNITED – +10
1995: 4 wins (8th);
1996: 14 (Premiers).
…………………………………
GISBORNE – +9
2010: 4 wins (8th);
2011: 13 (3rd).
…………………………………
NEWBRIDGE – +9
2011: 4 wins (7th);
2012: 13 (2nd).
…………………………………
COLBINABBIN – +9
1997: 8 wins (5th);
1998: 17 (Premiers).
…………………………………
COLBINABBIN – +9
2001: 7 wins (6th);
2002: 16 (Premiers).
…………………………………
HUNTLY – +9
2011: 1 win (9th);
2012: 10 (5th).
…………………………………
LBU – +9
2007: 4 wins (8th);
2008: 13 (3rd).
…………………………………
BROADFORD – +9
1999: 3 wins (6th);
2000: 12 (3rd).
