GDFNL | TOP FIVE GDFL RIVALRIES: The Battles with Bannockburn

06 Sep TOP FIVE GDFL RIVALRIES: The Battles with Bannockburn

Posted at 01:33h in football by GDFL Media 0 Comments

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Bannockburn has featured in our top two GDFL rivalries ahead of the Tigers’ preliminary final clash with Inverleigh this Saturday.

Last weekend our broadcast team went through our top five respective rivalries with four match-ups continuously featured on all four lists.

The 33-year battles between Werribee and Bannockburn, who play off for the king of the highway trophy, edged out the Tigers’ long rivalry with Inverleigh.

“They played off in five grand finals from 1997 to 2001 with Bannockburn winning two in a row while I was Werribee’s president,” GDFL commentator Grubby Cations said.

“They then gave me the ‘lemon and sarce’ before winning the next three so it was a great move by Werribee but it was a great rivalry.”

He added, “When we first came into the GDFL in 1984 we won the Division 2 flag against Bannockburn so that started it all off.”

The Hawks and Tigers playoff for the Shane Dillion memorial trophy having played in district grand finals before crowds of thousands in the 1920s.

Anakie and North Geelong (who play for the Ray ‘Parsy’ Priddle Cup) also received the nod as did Thomson and East Geelong who play for the Polly Rankin shield.

A number of pairs battled for the final spot, scroll down to see our final list.

Grubby Cations:

Werribee v. Bannockburn
Anakie v. North Geelong
Bannockburn v. Inverleigh
Thomson v. East Geelong
Werribee v. Anakie

Cations Says: “They (Thomson and East Geelong) do hate each other and have done so for many years.”

“Then I had Werribee and Anakie, I can remember Anakie ruckman Alex Wiasak once chased a certain Werribee runner off the ground at one stage after the runner said something.”

“I’m not allowed to say what because 1. It was course language and 2. It was me.”

“If he had of caught me he would have killed me.”

“And as recent as a few weeks ago we had the lights go out after half time when Anakie desperately needed the premiership points.”

Dale Smythe:

Werribee v. Bannockburn
Inverleigh v. Bannockburn
North Geelong v. Anakie
Thomson v. East Geelong
Belmont v. East Geelong

Smythe Says:

“When the Lions were East Belmont the two ‘East’ clubs had an intense rivalry and now they play for the Loomis shield every year.”

Alex Tigani:

Inverleigh v. Bannockburn
East Geelong v. Thomson
Anakie v. North Geelong
Bell Post Hill v. North Geelong
Bannockburn v. Werribee

Tigani Says:

“I wanted to give North Geelong v. Corio, Werribee v. Corio, East Geelong v. Belmont, Werribee v. Anakie and Bannockburn v. Thomson a mention each.”

I understand Werribee and Bannockburn played in those grand finals but they don’t attract a large crowd or at least haven’t in many years.

“Inverleigh and Bannockburn have done so as has Werribee and Anakie so geography has been a notable variable for me and we can expect a huge crowd this Saturday.”

“And how can I be the only one to mention Bell Post Hill and North Geelong?”

“What a rivalry they’ve had this decade!”

Jason Doherty:

East Geelong v. Modewarre (former club)
Bannockburn v. Werribee
North Geelong v. Anakie
Bannockburn v. Inverleigh
East Geelong v. Thomson

Doherty Says: “Firstly my honourable mention is Bannockburn v. Thomson but I have to go back to 1993 when Modewarre played East Geelong.”

“They hated each other with David Cooke playing out at Modda.”

“Lookey, lookey, lookey – here comes Cookey they used to say.”

“They played in the grand final in 1993 and Modewarre was 30-points up at three quarter time before East got them”

“Darryl Rowbottom who I saw walking past before played the most amazing 30 minutes of footy that I’ve ever seen.”

“The one thing I will say about rivalries in this league is that Dick Philpott (North Geelong) and Noel Tucker (Anakie) were the biggest rivals but as soon as the siren went they were the best of friends.”