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1 - GOLDEN SQUARE 2011
UNDEFEATED and with an average winning margin of 89 points - Golden Square's all-conquering 2011 has taken out the No.1 spot in our 50 most dominant premiership seasons across the Bendigo, Heathcote District and Loddon Valley leagues since 1990.
The Bulldogs had already won the 2009 and 2010 premierships with a combined 38-3 record over those two years when Nick Carter delivered an ominous warning to the rest of the BFNL in the lead-up to the 2011 season, saying he expected Golden Square to be "fitter, stronger and more skilful" in pursuit of its third flag on the trot.
Betting agency Sportsbet seemed to agree, instilling the Bulldogs $1.45 favourites in their 2011 BFNL premiership market, with Eaglehawk a distant second at $6.
And the Bulldogs wasted no time asserting their dominance, destroying South Bendigo by 109 points in the round one grand final re-match at Wade Street.
Coming off 157 goals in his debut season with the Bulldogs in 2010, star forward Grant Weeks opened 2011 with a haul of nine, while recruit Travis Baird and Shaun Young both kicked five in the 26.12 (168) to 8.11 (59) win.
The round one belting of the Bloods was one of eight games the 2011 Bulldogs won by more than 100 points, with the only genuine scare Golden Square faced coming early in the season when their undefeated record was very nearly thwarted in round two by arch-rival Sandhurst.
In one of the great BFNL home and away games of the 2010s decade on a Sunday afternoon at Huntly (the QEO was being upgraded), the lead changed six times in the last quarter before the Bulldogs prevailed 14.9 (93) to 14.6 (90), with their match-winning goal kicked by forward James Bristow.
Apart from that three-point margin against the Dragons, the only other game where an opponent finished within five goals of the Bulldogs was the 28 points Gisborne lost by in a round four shoot-out at Gardiner Reserve where 39 goals were kicked: Square won 22.12 (144) to 17.14 (116), with Bristow booting eight and Weeks five.
To paint a picture of just how talent-laden the Golden Square side was, the BFNL inter-league team that lost to Geelong by 20 points at Skilled Stadium in May featured 10 Bulldogs players - Aiden Pratt (back pocket), Luke Hammond (half back), Travis Baird (centre half-back), Jack Geary (half back), Mark Lloyd (wing), Nathan Bell (centre), Adam Baird (half forward), Bristow (centre half-forward), Weeks (full forward) and captain Simon Rosa (ruck rover).
From that inter-league game, Rosa, who won Square's best and fairest that year, Weeks, Bristow, Bell and Geary were all selected in the VCFL team to play the Victorian Amateurs in June.
Despite the absence of five of their stars on VCFL duties, the Bulldogs still brushed aside Strathfieldsaye by 70 points in round 11.
The BFNL's 2010s Team of the Decade would later feature five members of Square's 2011 premiership: Clayton Anderson (back pocket), vice-captain Rosa (centre), Weeks (full forward), Adam Baird (wing) and captain Geary (ruck rover), while Lloyd had already been named on a wing in the 2000s Team of the Decade.
"It was such an enthusiastic group that really enjoyed being around each other," Carter said this week.
"They trained hard, had a strong sense of confidence and no matter what the situation was, there was always the belief among the group that they would get the job done. If they were playing poorly or being challenged, it never fazed them at all."
The 2011 Bulldogs outscored their opposition in 68 of the 80 quarters they played, while the biggest margin they trailed by at any break during the year was the 14 points they were behind Gisborne at quarter-time of the round four shootout.
"I remember Travis Baird's season was just phenomenal. I don't think I've seen a more dominant centre half-back than Travis that year... just nothing got through him," Carter said.
"The backline also had Chris Malone, Dale Young, Clayton Anderson; it was just stacked with talent.
"And then you go to the midfield and you reel off names like Simon Rosa, Jack Geary, Nathan Bell, Mark Lloyd, Luke Hammond, Adam Baird, Dale Lowry, Aiden Pratt and Adrian McErvale.
"We always talked about having two midfield mixes where we'd have our starting four and then if you interchanged them with another four, nothing would drop away at all.
"If you look at the eight or so midfielders we ran through there, most were among the top 12 players in the competition.
"And then the forward line with Grant Weeks, James Bristow and Matt O'Toole as three key targets speaks for itself."
Weeks ended the year with 130 goals, which featured a season-high of 18 kicked against wooden spooner Kyneton in round 14, while Bristow finished with 48.
Shaun Young (34), Matt O'Toole (27), Adam Baird (25), Christian Carter (22) and Travis Baird (21) also kept the goals ticking over throughout the season for the Bulldogs, who rounded out their year with the most awesome of performances - a 135-point demolition of Eaglehawk in a grand final blowout to become the first BFL team since Rochester in 1962 to complete an undefeated year.
The fast-starting Hawks kicked the first three goals of the grand final inside the opening 10 minutes. However, the Bulldogs kicked 25 of the next 27 to finish 25.18 (168) to 5.3 (33) victors.
The grand final was the fourth time Eaglehawk's Luke Monaghan had coached against the Bulldogs that season.
"Looking back over their side that year, it was just unbelievable," Monaghan said.
"Their starting bench had Luke Rosa and Shaun Young, who both ended up kicking four goals in the grand final, Adam Baird in a forward pocket, Jack Geary on a wing, Aiden Pratt was half back, Luke Hammond started on a half forward flank... they just had depth and quality everywhere and were able to rotate heavily."
SNAPSHOT:
Coach - Nick Carter
Record - 20-0
Percentage - 266.4%
Average for - 143
Average against - 54
Points differential - +89
Quarters won - 68 of 80
Time in front - 91.3%
THE SEASON:
ROUND 1 - 26.12 (168) d South Bendigo 8.11 (59)
Best - Travis Baird, Mark Lloyd, Adrian McErvale
Record: 1-0, 284.7%, 3rd
.............................................
ROUND 2 - 14.9 (93) d Sandhurst 14.6 (90)
Best - Aiden Pratt, Simon Rosa, Jack Geary
Record: 2-0, 175.2%, 2nd
.............................................
ROUND 3 - 12.19 (91) d Strathfieldsaye 6.6 (42)
Best - Aiden Pratt, Mark Lloyd, James Bristow
Record: 3-0, 184.3%, 2nd
.............................................
ROUND 4 - 22.12 (144) d Gisborne 17.14 (116)
Best - James Bristow, Simon Rosa, Adam Baird
Record: 4-0, 161.6%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 5 - 39.23 (257) d Kyneton 3.5 (23)
Best - James Bristow, Mark Lloyd, Luke Hammond
Record: 5-0, 228.2%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 6 - 18.20 (128) d Eaglehawk 7.5 (47)
Best - Aiden Pratt, James Bristow, Jack Geary
Record: 6-0, 233.7%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 7 - 20.23 (143) d Maryborough 8.7 (55)
Best - Nathan Bell, Adrian McErvale, Jack Geary
Record: 7-0, 237.0%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 8 - 18.18 (126) d Kangaroo Flat 8.6 (54)
Best - Jack Geary, Travis Baird, Nathan Bell
Record: 8-0, 236.6%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 9 - 14.19 (103) d Castlemaine 10.8 (68)
Best - Nathan Bell, Travis Baird, Aiden Pratt
Record: 9-0, 226.2%
.............................................
ROUND 10 - 23.21 (159) d South Bendigo 6.6 (42)
Best - Luke Hammond, James Bristow, Grant Weeks
Record: 10-0, 236.9%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 11 - 23.17 (155) d Sandhurst 7.5 (47)
Best - Grant Weeks, Mark Lloyd, Nathan Bell
Record: 11-0, 243.7%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 12 - 15.18 (108) d Strathfieldsaye 5.8 (38)
Best - Adam Baird, Clayton Anderson, Mark Lloyd
Record: 12-0, 246.0%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 13 - 18.15 (123) d Gisborne 13.6 (84)
Best - Grant Weeks, Jack Geary, Simon Rosa
Record: 13-0, 235.0%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 14 - 38.12 (240) d Kyneton 8.4 (52)
Best - Grant Weeks, Matt O'Toole, Simon Rosa
Record: 14-0, 249.4%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 15 - 15.25 (115) d Kangaroo Flat 2.9 (21)
Best - Simon Rosa, Jack Geary, Nathan Bell
Record: 15-0, 256.9%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 16 - 25.13 (163) d Maryborough 6.8 (44)
Best - Travis Baird, Grant Weeks, Simon Rosa
Record: 16-0, 262.6% 1st
.............................................
ROUND 17 - 18.20 (128) d Eaglehawk 12.8 (80)
Best - Simon Rosa, Mark Lloyd, Grant Weeks
Record: 17-0, 254.1%, 1st
.............................................
ROUND 18 - 25.15 (165) d Castlemaine 7.3 (45)
Best - Grant Weeks, Simon Rosa, Aiden Pratt
Record: 18-0, 259.1%, 1st
.............................................
SECOND SEMI - 10.13 (73) d Eaglehawk 3.12 (30)
Best - Luke Hammond, Simon Rosa, Jack Geary
Record: 19-0, 258.6%
.............................................
GRAND FINAL - 25.18 (168) d Eaglehawk 5.3 (33)
Best - Matt O'Toole, Mark Lloyd, Jack Geary
Record: 20-0, 266.4%
.............................................
PREMIERSHIP TEAM:
B: Clayton Anderson (27), Dale Young (24), Lachlan O'Toole (23)
HB: Aiden Pratt (23), Travis Baird (25), Chris Malone (29)
C: Mark Lloyd (28), Simon Rosa (28), Jack Geary (20)
HF: Matt O'Toole (33), James Bristow (22), Adrian McErvale (24)
F: Christian Carter (31), Grant Weeks (23), Adam Baird (21)
FOLL: David McMeekin (29), Nathan Bell (29), Luke Hammond (29)
INT: Shaun Young (23), Luke Rosa (30), Josh Baird (21), Dale Lowry (20)
age in brackets
ALSO PLAYED SENIORS IN 2011 - Braeden Deary, Brayden Dorrington, Callum Sharp, Che Walls, Harry Donegan, Jack Daley, Jamie Garner, Matt Compston, Matt Klein-Breteler, Matthew Sporn, Thomas Holdstock.
TOP 10 BEST PLAYER VOTES:
Simon Rosa - 52
Jack Geary - 49
Grant Weeks - 44
Mark Lloyd - 37
Nathan Bell - 36
James Bristow - 35
Aiden Pratt - 30
Luke Hammond - 30
Travis Baird - 26
Matt O'Toole - 20
TOP 5 GOALKICKERS:
Grant Weeks - 130
James Bristow - 48
Shaun Young - 34
Matt O'Toole - 27
Adam Baird - 25
THE FULL LIST:
50 - CALIVIL UNITED 2003
Coach - Andrew Freemantle
Record - 18-3
Percentage - 186.0%
Average for - 121
Average against - 65
Points differential - +56
49 - EAGLEHAWK 2018
Coach - Josh Bowe
Record - 18-3
Percentage - 190.4%
Average for - 115
Average against - 60
Points differential - +55
48 - GISBORNE 2006
Coach - Marcus Barham
Record - 18-3
Percentage - 242.2%
Average for - 150
Average against - 62
Points differential - +88
47 - CALIVIL 1990
Coach - Dale Alford
Record - 16-2
Percentage - 154.9%
Average for - 106
Average against - 69
Points differential - +37
46 - MOUNT PLEASANT 1990
Coach - Robert O'Connell
Record - 16-2
Percentage - 161.8%
Average for - 121
Average against - 75
Points differential - +46
45 - NEWBRIDGE 2018
Coach - Brad Comer
Record - 16-2
Percentage - 163.4%
Average for - 102
Average against - 63
Points differential - +39
44 - EAGLEHAWK 2008
Coach - Derrick Filo
Record - 16-2
Percentage - 167.8%
Average for - 135
Average against - 81
Points differential - +54
43 - ELMORE 2007
Coach - Tony Southcombe
Record - 16-2
Percentage - 191.5%
Average for - 142
Average against - 74
Points differential - +68
42 - HEATHCOTE 1992
Coach - Wayne Bell
Record - 16-2
Percentage - 194.1%
Average for - 121
Average against - 62
Points differential - +59
41 - SANDHURST 2004
Coach - David Collins
Record - 17-2
Percentage - 151.8%
Average for - 112
Average against - 74
Points differential - +38
40 - BRIDGEWATER 1991
Coach - David Collins
Record - 17-1-1
Percentage - 162.7%
Average for - 122
Average against - 74
Points differential - +47
39 - CALIVIL UNITED 2017
Coach - Anthony Dennis
Record - 17-2
Percentage - 179.2%
Average for - 109
Average against - 61
Points differential - +48
38 - NORTH BENDIGO 2019
Coach - Matt Dillon
Record - 17-2
Percentage - 191.8%
Average for - 114
Average against - 59
Points differential - +55
37 - LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER 2018
Coach - Michael Pilcher
Record - 17-2
Percentage - 198.0%
Average for - 121
Average against - 61
Points differential - +60
36 - MITIAMO 1999
Coaches - Ash Wilson and Barry Pitson
Record - 17-2
Percentage - 202.3%
Average for - 104
Average against - 51
Points differential - +53
35 - SANDHURST 2016
Coach - Wayne Primmer
Record - 18-2
Percentage - 207.5%
Average for - 117
Average against - 57
Points differential - +60
34 - CASTLEMAINE 1992
Coach - Matt Scully
Record - 18-2
Percentage - 208.3%
Average for - 171
Average against - 82
Points differential - +89
33 - SOUTH BENDIGO 1990
Coach - Peter Bradbury
Record - 18-2
Percentage - 214.6%
Average for - 134
Average against - 62
Points differential - +72
32 - SOUTH BENDIGO 1994
Coach - Peter Curran
Record - 18-2
Percentage - 241.4%
Average for - 146
Average against - 61
Points differential - +85
31 - GOLDEN SQUARE 2009
Coach - Mark Adamson
Record - 19-2
Percentage - 188.9%
Average for - 135
Average against - 71
Points differential - +64
30 - MARYBOROUGH 1998
Coach - Neville Massina
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 156.9%
Average for - 124
Average against - 79
Points differential - +45
29 - GISBORNE 2005
Coach - Marcus Barham
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 178.0%
Average for - 135
Average against - 76
Points differential - +59
28 - GISBORNE 2002
Coach - Mick McGuane
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 192.9%
Average for - 122
Average against - 64
Points differential - +58
27 - COLBINABBIN 1991
Coach - Phil Morgan
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 192.9%
Average for - 110
Average against - 57
Points differential - +53
26 - GISBORNE 2003
Coach - Mick McGuane
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 194.9%
Average for - 134
Average against - 69
Points differential - +65
25 - LBU 2013
Coach - Kahl Oliver
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 201.4%
Average for - 115
Average against - 57
Points differential - +58
24 - LBU 2011
Coach - Kahl Oliver
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 204.6%
Average for - 125
Average against - 61
Points differential - +64
23 - COLBINABBIN 1998
Coach - Phil Morgan
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 210.2%
Average for - 113
Average against - 54
Points differential - +59
22 - BRIDGEWATER 2010
Coach - Troy Auld
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 214.9%
Average for - 123
Average against - 57
Points differential - +66
21 - BRIDGEWATER 2011
Coach - Troy Auld
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 223.3%
Average for - 137
Average against - 61
Points differential - +76
20 - MOUNT PLEASANT 1997
Coach - Murray Collins
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 236.6%
Average for - 148
Average against - 63
Points differential - +85
19 - MOUNT PLEASANT 1993
Coach - Peter White
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 242.8%
Average for - 162
Average against - 67
Points differential - +95
18 - YCW 1997
Coach - Phil Walsh
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 247.1%
Average for - 137
Average against - 55
Points differential - +82
17 - BRIDGEWATER 2015
Coach - Andrew Collins
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 257.4%
Average for - 126
Average against - 49
Points differential - +77
16 - COLBINABBIN 1999
Coach - Phil Morgan
Record - 17-1
Percentage - 291.1%
Average for - 133
Average against - 46
Points differential - +87
15 - MOUNT PLEASANT 1995
Coach - John Craig
Record - 18-1
Percentage - 186.5%
Average for - 122
Average against - 65
Points differential - +57
14 - LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER 2017
Coach - Matt Hawken
Record - 18-1
Percentage - 263.6%
Average for - 137
Average against - 52
Points differential - +85
13 - SOUTH BENDIGO 1991
Coach - Peter Bradbury
Record - 19-1
Percentage - 183.9%
Average for - 124
Average against - 67
Points differential - +57
12 - CASTLEMAINE 2000
Coach - Shane Robertson
Record - 19-1
Percentage - 203.4%
Average for - 146
Average against - 72
Points differential - +74
11 - STRATHFIELDSAYE 2014
Coach - Darryl Wilson
Record - 19-1
Percentage - 211.1%
Average for - 121
Average against - 57
Points differential - +64
10 - GOLDEN SQUARE 2010
Coach - Nick Carter
Record - 19-1
Percentage - 226.7%
Average for - 139
Average against - 61
Points differential - +78
9 - STRATHFIELDSAYE 2019
Coach - Troy Coates
Record - 19-1
Percentage - 297.7%
Average for - 142
Average against - 48
Points differential - +94
8 - SOUTH BENDIGO 1993
Coach - Peter Curran
Record - 20-1
Percentage - 237.3%
Average for - 141
Average against - 60
Points differential - +81
7 - HEATHCOTE 2010
Coach - Brent Chapman
Record - 18-0
Percentage - 156.5%
Average for - 107
Average against - 68
Points differential - +39
6 - STRATHFIELDSAYE 2015
Coach - Darryl Wilson
Record - 20-0
Percentage - 213.1%
Average for - 112
Average against - 53
Points differential - +59
5 - CALIVIL UNITED 2004
Coach - Andrew Freemantle
Record - 18-0
Percentage - 213-6.%
Average for - 122
Average against - 57
Points differential - +65
4 - CALIVIL UNITED 2005
Coach - Ross Maxted
Record - 18-0
Percentage - 227.2%
Average for - 133
Average against - 58
Points differential - +75
3 - BRIDGEWATER 2016
Coach - Marc Lindsay
Record - 18-0
Percentage - 273.7%
Average for - 136
Average against - 50
Points differential - +86
2 - BRIDGEWATER 2014
Coach - Andrew Collins
Record - 18-0
Percentage - 282.7%
Average for - 137
Average against - 49
Points differential - +88
1 - GOLDEN SQUARE 2011
Coach - Nick Carter
Record - 20-0
Percentage - 266.4%
Average for - 143
Average against - 54
Points differential - +89
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