East Point's pursuit of a historic third-straight Ballarat Football Netball League premiership has been given a significant boost with coach Jake Bridges committing to a sixth year at the helm.
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Bridges led the Roos to glory in 2018 and 2019 before guiding the reigning premiers to a third-place finish in a COVID-interrupted 2021.
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No premiership was awarded for this year's abandoned season, leaving the door open for an East Point three-peat.
Only Sunbury has won three-consecutive premierships in the modern era of the BFNL, achieving the feat from 2007 to 2009.
The Lions followed on from North Ballarat, who won three-straight flags from 2004 to 2006.
A two-time BFNL premiership player with Redan, Bridges took over as East Point's senior coach in 2017, replacing Glen Wilkins.
Bridges, who works for well-known development company Leading Teams, was a joint-coach at Springbank before he returned to the BFNL.
The Roos have only missed finals once under Bridges' tenure.
Bridges was the victim of one of the 2021 season's cruel anomalies, missing his side's shock round seven loss to Ballarat due to COVID restrictions. Bridges returned from Sydney for work just days before Victoria tightened its border in mid-June and was still waiting to be cleared by a negative COVID test by the time matchday came around.
The Roos leader joins a growing list of coaches who have extended their tenures.
Bacchus Marsh playing-coach Tom German and Melton's Aaron Tymms have both committed to another season in the job.
Ballarat's Joe Carmody and Sunbury's Travis Hodgson have both agreed to a further two years.
Lake Wendouree and Darley will enter 2022 under new coaches.
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