CAVENDISH football has enjoyed two periods of success during the modern era, claiming successive senior grade flags in 1973-4 and 1992-3.

The club also won the 1985 and 1992 reserve grade premierships.

Until last year there have been no senior grade grand final appearances since 1994 when the Bloods went down by 28 points to Westerns.

Recent seasons have produced mixed fortunes featuring intermittent finals forays alternating with dalliances with - and one consignment to - the wooden spoon.

For example, the Bloods came seventh in 2013, sixth in 2014, fourth in 2015, third in 2016, and seventh in 2017 before succumbing to the ultimate indignity in 2018 when they lost all 16 matches contested for the year and, inevitably, finished last.

A year later they at least managed a win, but this was still not enough to lift them off the bottom of the ladder.

Then came 2022, storming up the ladder and finally a clear-cut flag.

This season marks 50 years since the 1973 premiership, presumably, with a reunion to follow later in the year.    

The Spectator’s Richard Oakley  previewed the 1973 big game as follows…

Cavendish can win P-PFDFL flag

CAVENDISH will have its big chance to clinch a Portland-Port Fairy District Football League premiership at Merino today.

 The side will field its strongest team for its all-important clash with Bessiebelle.

 Cavendish has made the finals each year since the amalgamation of the three leagues four years ago.

 So far luck has not fallen its way in the form of a premiership.

 This season, Cavendish finished the year with 17 wins and one loss, heading the league ladder at the end of the home-and-away series.

 It also created the remarkable figures of having only 952 points kicked against the side.

 To my knowledge a side in this league has not kicked more than 2000 points and had under 1000 points kicked against it in a season.

 These figures gave Cavendish a percentage of 216.9, with its next highest rival being Bessiebelle with 180.5.

 The Belles finished third on the ladder after the completion of the home-and-away games and winning 14 of their 18 games.

 From these few facts it can be seen that Cavendish will undoubtedly go into the game today as the firm favorites.

 It is also worth noting that Cavendish had little trouble in accounting for Westerns in the second semi-final a fortnight ago.

 Bessiebelle on the other hand has not had a rest since the start of the season and has won its way into the grand final by downing Macarthur (elimination final), Merino-Digby (first semi) and Westerns (preliminary) in the past three weeks.

 Because of this long hard road the Belles have had to tread, they will throw everything at Cavendish.

 Rain, hail or shine a great game is assured at Merino.

 Bessiebelle coach, Kevin Tobin, says his side has reached a desperation point, where it will be won at all costs.

 Opposition coach, Jack Waters, is not over-confident, but believes he has the players to win the flag.

 The big test for both sides will be whether they can get the ball from the centre bounces.

 Cavendish probably has the more experienced following division, but nothing can be taken away from the lion-hearted Anthony Bourke.

 Bourke is undoubtedly a player who really produces his best in the important clashes and can almost turn the tables himself.

 He has natural spring, is a great overhead mark and it could be said a coach’s dream.

 Cavendish will have the lanky Barry Little and experienced Bob McNaughton doing the heavy work around the ground.

 Waters is the springboard of the Cavendish attack and seldom puts in a bad game from centre half-back.

 The young Michael Jewell will line-up against Waters and will need to make every kick a winner.

 The battle between Kevin Purcell and the opposition’s Brian Cordy will almost decide the outcome of the match.

 The team that can produce four solid quarters will be the side that wins the flag.

• * *

CAVENDISH team – B: Brook, Menzel, Morris; HB: Stewart, Waters, Saligari; C: Guthrie, Cordy, Duncan; HF: Heywood, McNaughton, Hatherell; F: Menzies, A. Menzel, Middleton; FOLL: Little, B. McNaughton; ROV: H. Duncan; 19-20: Stewart, Hardy; EMERG: Brook, Henry, Kearney, Harding, Brumley, Lyons, Young.

And the winner was…

CAVENDISH has at long last won a Portland-Port Fairy District Football League premiership.

 After being one of the stronger clubs in the league since the amalgamation, Cavendish achieved its reward when it beat Bessiebelle in the grand final at Merino on Saturday.

 It could be said consistency won out for Cavendish, because it put together four quarters of purposeful football.

 The side led all day but met a strong final quarter challenge from Bessiebelle.

 The Belles lost the game in the opening quarter when they failed to score.

 Only 11 points separated the two teams when they entered the last quarter of football for the year.

 Nine goals were kicked in this term, with Bessiebelle getting within one straight kick of victory minutes from the finish.

 Cavendish skipper, Jack Waters, was in his usual dashing form and making every kick a winner.

 The Belles suffered a big blow when regular centre half-forward, Michael Jewell, was forced to leave the field with a leg injury.

 Jewell was replaced by tall Steve Brennan, who showed some class at the key position.

 But Brennan’s stay was short-lived because he, too, became injured.

 With the match drawing to a close it was evident that if Bessiebelle had played four quarters like the last one, it would have won.

 But credit must go to Jack Waters and his boys for the clean manner in which they played the game.

 Best: CAVENDISH – G. Menzel (best-on-ground), H. Duncan, D. McNaughton, Waters, Morris, A. Menzel. BESSIEBELLE          - Sharrock, Tobin, Jasper, Bourke.