IT WAS 10 years ago that Buninyong broke a premiership drought that had lasted a generation.
The Bombers' senior coach on that day was Chris Maple, as Buninyong defeated Beaufort by 49 points at the Northern Oval.
A decade on, Maple is development manager assistant coach at the Western Bulldogs but he still looks back on that 2002 premiership with considerable satisfaction, not least of which because Beaufort had belted his team by 100 points in the second semi-final two weeks earlier.
"That club hadn't played in a grand final for 32 years, and to see grown men crying it was amazing. It was 34 since they had won one," Maple said.
"I can remember we got beaten by Beaufort in the second semi. To be honest we had an average run before that with the draw and byes, so it wasn't a great preparation. It wasn't a great result obviously.
"It was a bit of a challenge to talk it up for the players. What we did was totally change our team, and played guys in different positions. It was the same 21 guys but part of the sell was a completely different team."
Maple has coached one other premiership team the Ballarat High School first XVIII for the 2001 BAS premiership.
Prior to joining Buninyong he coached Tatyoon into grand finals without luck.
"In the five years I coached club football, my teams made four grand finals and one prelim, and only won one, so to be involved in a premiership is great."
Maple also coached the North Ballarat Rebels in 2007 and 2008 before joining the Bulldogs.
He has been there since.
While Maple wishes his old club the best, he won't be at tomorrow's game.
He believes the focus should be on the current crop of players rather than those of 10 years ago.
"We've got a game on Saturday ourselves with Williamstown. Some of the Bulldogs guys are playing on Saturday so I will be there in that capacity.
"Port Melbourne is a very good side and there will be a limited number of Bulldogs players in the team so it will be a tough battle."