LBU hoping to party like its 2014

By Bransen Gibson

Sep 1, 2022

Fantastic fourth: LBU celebrates after winning the premiership in 2014, its fourth flag in a row. Nathan Bacon (back row, fourth from right) and Rhys Woodland (front row, second from right) were on the field that day, and will be back in grand final action this Saturday. Photo: Bruce Povey

Lockington-Bamawm United will be out to claim its first flag since 2014 this Saturday, and will be hoping to recapture some its premiership magic from a decade ago to do so.

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The Cats won four premierships in a row from 2011 to 2014, capping off the four-peat with a memorable come-from-behind win over North Bendigo.

The Cats trailed the Bulldogs by 21 points at half time, a deficit that grew to 26 at one point in the third term. But LBU chipped away, reeling the margin in to 14 at the final change.

LBU then stormed home in the final term, kicking five goals to North’s one to run out 11-point victors.

Nathan Bacon and Rhys Woodland were part of the Cats’ side that day, and both will be back on the field again at Strauch Reserve in Huntly on Saturday, looking to earn another piece of premiership hardware.

Bacon played in three of LBU’s four premierships from 2011 to 2014 and said the most recent was his favourite.

“The first one [preimiership] in 2011 was unreal because we hadn’t won one in more than 20 years, but I think 2014 was probably the most exciting,” Bacon said.

Family: Trent Bacon, left, and his cousin Nathan Bacon with their grand final medals after LBU defeated North Bendigo in 2014.Photo: Bruce Povey

“2014 is probably my favourite, I reckon. North had beaten us both times during the year and with the comeback, it was really good.

“They were up by a fair bit at half time, and then for us to hang on right at the end, it was unreal.”

The success in 2014 was Woodland’s first senior flag, and he said it was awesome to be a part of the premiership side.

“We were down convincingly at half time, so to fight back and get the win was unbelievable,” Woodland said.

Memory lane: Before winning the 2014 premiership, Rhys Woodland was the best on ground in LBU’s reserves flag against White Hills in 2013. Photo: Geordie Cowan

“I remember late in that second quarter North Bendigo kicked a goal and the whole crowd was going absolutely berserk and the players were hugging each other and it was like they had already won it.

“We managed just to chip back and chip back in that third quarter and at three-quarter time we knew we were close to breaking the game open in our favour.

“We were still down by 15 points, so to limp over the line was pretty good.”

Even with three flags to his name, Bacon said the hunger to win was well and truly there.

“I’m super excited, I don’t think I ever wanted to win a game as much as last week against Colbinabbin,” he said.

“I don’t remember feeling the way that I felt going into that, and it was good to get back to those feelings as well, it’s refreshing.

“We’ve had the last three years where we have been expected to be the best side, and to lose that first final was quite disappointing.

“A little bit of redemption would be nice, and that is obviously what we will be aiming for on Saturday. We believe that we are the best side. If we play our best footy then we’ll be right.”