Bacchus Marsh has a break from on-field commitments in the Ballarat Football League senior final series this week, but there has been no let up in the excitement at Maddingley Park.
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The hype has never been bigger as the Cobras prepare to line up in just their third BFL grand final next Saturday.
Just ask Graham Dawson and Chuck Connors. They should know.
The 83-year-old Dawson and Connors, 65, are Bacchus Marsh football doyens and life members.
“I’ve been through thick and thin,” said Dawson, who is a past club president. I’ve stuck with them right through and it’s gratifying to see the club in great order.”
Dawson’s association with football in the town goes back to 1951 – a premiership year – when he first played with Maddingley, which merged with Bacchus Marsh Tigers in 1978 to form the Cobras.
He was the new entity’s first president and went on to again take the chair in 1976-80 and 2003-05.
Connors has given similar service and is it is many years since he has enjoyed a season so much.
He said pointed to Doug Hawkins’ year as coach in 2013 as the start of where Bacchus Marsh had climbed to.
“He brought fun back to the club. People wanted to play.”
Connors said Cam Richardson’s two years at the helm had continued the building process, with Travis Hodgson lifting it to another level this season.
He said what made reaching the grand final even more satisfying for him was that when he stepped up to the presidency in 2005 the club was struggling.
Connors remembers a day against East Point when Bacchus Marsh failed to kick a goal in the seniors, reserves or thirds.
He recalls just five spectators outside players and club officials being at the match.
“It’s much different now,” said Connors, who also spent 36 years a trainer for the club.
The Marsh meets the winner of Saturdays’ preliminary final between Sunbury and Lake Wendouree in the grand final.
