The Blood N Guts Shield will hold extra special significance when Bungaree and Springbank fight for its possession on Saturday afternoon.

Since the shield’s creation in 2009, the Demons and Tigers have fought it out in their annual senior football bouts.

Over the decades, there’s just a whisker separating the two old foes.

Detailed on the woodwork itself is the history of the battles.

Between 1932 and 2008 the two teams met on 86 occasions, with Springbank winning 43, Bungaree 42 and one draw. During this time, the clubs clashed in five grand finals, with the Demons claiming three victories and the Tigers two. The most recent was in 1976, when Bungaree won by eight points, 17.14 (116) to 16.12 (108).

The Demons have won just one senior grand final since – against Newlyn in 1991 – while the Tigers have won three – over the Cats in 1990, Clunes in 2000 and Buninyong in 2001. That back-to-back triumph was the last time Springbank contested a decider, with Bungaree’s last appearance on the big stage coming during a loss to Dunnstown in 1998.

Springbank president Anthony Simpson said players from the two clubs developed an annual bowls tournament which contested the Blood N Guts Cup, leading to the creation of the shield that honours the successful football team.

Bungaree has edged narrowly ahead in recent years, winning encounters in 2009, 2010, and 2011 before Springbank got the result in 2012 and 2013. This year, the Demons won a low-scoring match in the wet by two points to break a game clear on the head-to-head tally, 46-45.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au