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3 - BRIDGEWATER 2016
SEASON 2016 was the last chapter in Bridgewater's remarkable record-setting Loddon Valley league dynasty of seven-consecutive premierships.
With six flags in a row already under their belt, Marc Lindsay took over the coaching reins of the Mean Machine and ensured Bridgewater not only remained the competition benchmark, but did so without losing a game.
The Mean Machine immediately grabbed top spot on the 2016 ladder after round one with a 79-point belting of Pyramid Hill and stayed there for the rest of the season.
That first-up hiding of Pyramid Hill was one of 14 games throughout their 18-0 season the Mean Machine won by more than 10 goals.
"We were always confident that we could win every week, but always in the back of my mind as coach was you're always a week away from having a loss if you don't play well," Lindsay said on Monday.
"It was a really motivated group and having had the success we did beforehand, we knew how good it tasted and that really drove us."
The Mean Machine had lost ex-Richmond player Daniel Connors from the previous year, but brought in another former AFL player in 2008 Hawthorn premiership player Rick Ladson.
Ex-Carlton and Richmond player Andrew Collins, who had coached the 2014 and 2015 premierships, also stayed on with the Mean Machine, who were so dominant that the only time they trailed at any break for the season was when they were 13 points down at quarter-time against Mitiamo in round five.
Just as it had been in 2015, Mitiamo was again the Mean Machine's grand final opponent in 2016.
The Mean Machine went into the grand final riding not only a 29-game winning streak (they hadn't lost since round five the previous year), but also as raging hot $1.10 favourites according to Sportsbet.
As expected, the Mean Machine put the finishing touch to their season of perfection, becoming the first LVFNL club to win seven flags in a row with their 19.12 (126) to 10.16 (76) win at Pyramid Hill.
Bridgewater captain Zeb Broadbent was awarded the best-on-ground medal to go along with the Harding Medal he also won with 31 votes. The midfielder was named one of the Mean Machine's best two players in 12 of their 18 games.
"Zeb was huge that year. It was his first season as captain and he thrived on that with the way he led from the front for us every week," Lindsay said.
The Mean Machine grand final side included Brad Rohde, Daniel Nalder, Darren Clutton and Deon Jones who had played in all seven flags in a row during the dynasty, while in the first year of the player points system, Bridgewater averaged just 29.2 of their allotted 42.
The forward quartet of Ben Galea (51), Rohde (34), Alex Galea (32) and Alex Collins (31) all finished among the top 10 in the league goalkicking.
SNAPSHOT:
Coach - Marc Lindsay
Record - 18-0
Percentage - 273.7%
Average for - 136
Average against - 50
Points differential - +86
Quarters won - 62 of 72
Time in front - 98.6%
THE SEASON:
ROUND 1 - 17.23 (125) def Pyramid Hill 7.4 (46)
Best - Zeb Broadbent, Kyle Chant, Marc Lindsay
Record: 1-0, 271.7%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 2 - 17.13 (115) def YCW 4.3 (27)
Best - Zeb Broadbent, Deon Jones, Ben Galea
Record: 2-0, 328.8%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 3 - 21.19 (145) def Inglewood 7.2 (44)
Best - Rick Ladson, Zeb Broadbent, Tom Broadbent
Record: 3-0, 329.1%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 4 - 25.24 (174) def BL-Serpentine 5.5 (35)
Best - Darren Clutton, Zeb Broadbent, Josh McLeod
Record: 4-0, 367.8%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 5 - 18.14 (122) def Mitiamo 15.9 (99)
Best - Ben Galea, Zeb Broadbent, Tom Broadbent
Record: 5-0, 271.3%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 6 - 9.13 (67) def Calivil United 7.6 (48)
Best - Callum Prest, Zeb Broadbent, Angus McKinley
Record: 6-0, 250.2%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 7 - Bye
.............................................
ROUND 8 - 19.15 (129) def Newbridge 5.8 (38)
Best - Zeb Broadbent, Andrew Collins, Kyle Chant
Record: 7-0, 260.2%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 9 - 23.19 (157) def Marong 9.11 (65)
Best - Rick Ladson, Tom Broadbent, Deon Jones
Record: 8-0, 257.2%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 10 - 29.15 (189) def Pyramid Hill 4.2 (26)
Best - Callum Prest, Andrew Collins, Zeb Broadbent
Record: 9-0, 285.7%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 11 - 22.18 (150) def YCW 5.6 (36)
Best - Zeb Broadbent, Tom Kuhne, Zac East
Record: 10-0, 295.9%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 12 - 20.11 (131) def Inglewood 8.4 (52)
Best - Callum Prest, Zeb Broadbent, Ben Galea
Record: 11-0, 291.5%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 13 - 28.14 (182) def BL-Serpentine 4.6 (30)
Best - Tom Kuhne, Alex Galea, Luke Harrison
Record: 12-0, 308.8%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 14 - 19.10 (124) def Mitiamo 8.13 (61)
Best - Brad Rohde, Zac East, Daniel Nalder
Record: 13-0, 298.2%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 15 - 24.15 (159) def Calivil United 11.5 (71)
Best - Josh Metherell, Zac East, Zeb Broadbent
Record: 14-0, 290.4%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 16 - Bye
.............................................
ROUND 17 - 16.18 (114) def Newbridge 7.9 (51)
Best - Harry Symons, Zac East, Andrew Collins
Record: 15-0, 285.7%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 18 - 21.9 (135) def Marong 6.6 (42)
Best - Zeb Broadbent, Callum Prest, Zac East
Record: 16-0, 287.7%, 1st
.............................................
SECOND SEMI - 15.18 (108) def Mitiamo 7.7 (49)
Best - Zeb Broadbent, Alex Collins, Darren Clutton
Record: 17-0, 283.7%
.............................................
GRAND FINAL - 19.12 (126) def Mitiamo 10.16 (76)
Best - Zeb Broadbent, Zac East, Andrew Collins
Record: 18-0, 273.7%
.............................................
PREMIERSHIP TEAM:
Brad Rohde, Daniel Nalder, Darren Clutton, Deon Jones, Josh Metherell, Zeb Broadbent, Ben Galea, Tristin Nalder, Josh McLeod, Marc Lindsay, Callum Prest, Luke Harrison, Alex Collins, Andrew Collins, Tom Broadbent, Jared Keely, Alex Galea, Zac East, Harry Symons, Tom Kuhne, Angus McKinley, Rick Ladson.
TOP 10 BEST PLAYER VOTES:
Zeb Broadbent - 77
Callum Prest - 32
Zac East - 32
Josh Metherell - 22
Rick Ladson - 20
Tom Broadbent - 20
Andrew Collins - 18
Tom Kuhne - 17
Kyle Chant - 16
Ben Galea - 15
TOP 5 GOALKICKERS:
Ben Galea - 51
Brad Rohde - 34
Alex Galea - 32
Alex Collins - 31
Tom Kuhne - 29
THE LIST SO FAR
No. 4 - Calivil United 2005
No. 5 - Calivil United 2004
No. 6 - Strathfieldsaye 2015
No. 7 - Heathcote 2010
No. 8 - South Bendigo 1993
No. 10 & 9 - Golden Square 2010; Strathfieldsaye 2019
No. 12 & 11 - Castlemaine 2000; Strathfieldsaye 2014
No. 14 & 13 - Leitchville-Gunbower 2017; South Bendigo 1991
No. 16 & 15 - Colbinabbin 1999; Mount Pleasant 1995
No. 18 & 17 - YCW 1997; Bridgewater 2015
No. 20 & 19 - Mount Pleasant 1997; Mount Pleasant 1993
No. 22 & 21 - Bridgewater 2010; Bridgewater 2011
No. 24 & 23 - LBU 2011; Colbinabbin 1998
No. 26 & 25 - Gisborne 2003; LBU 2013
No. 28 & 27 - Gisborne 2002; Colbinabbin 1991
No. 30 & 29 - Maryborough 1998; Gisborne 2005
No. 32 & 31 - South Bendigo 1994; Golden Square 2009
No. 34 & 33 - Castlemaine 1992; South Bendigo 1990
No. 36 & 35 - Mitiamo 1999; Sandhurst 2016
No. 38 & 37 - North Bendigo 2019; Leitchville-Gunbower 2018
No. 40 & 39 - Bridgewater 1991; Calivil United 2017
No. 42 & 41 - Heathcote 1992, Sandhurst 2004
No. 44 & 43 - Eaglehawk 2008, Elmore 2007
No. 46 & 45 - Mount Pleasant 1990, Newbridge 2018
No. 48 & 47 - Gisborne 2006, Calivil United 1990
No. 50 & 49 - Calivil United 2003, Eaglehawk 2018
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