Speaking at the 40-year reunion of the ’83 premiership, captain-coach from that flag, Wayne Eeles, recalled how the season had unfolded for his troops.
“I’d never met any of the guys, I came straight from coaching a premiership at Lorne in the Colac league,” Eeles said.
“I came and got the job up here, and it was just a great bunch of local blokes, not one paid player, they were all just playing for the love of the game.”
With the tight-knit group at his disposal, Eeles’ tactical nous yielded strong results throughout the season, but it all came unstuck in the first week of the finals.
“I think we only probably lost two or three games during the year,” he said.
“We fancied ourselves, and we got bloody well beaten in the second semi by Mathoura.
“We had to play our most hated enemy Bamawm in the preliminary final, and it turned out to be probably one of the toughest games I’ve ever played in.”
Eeles kicked seven in the win, allowing the Cats to play in the grand final, which is famed for the all-in brawl that turned the game on its head, as Lockington came from eight goals to three down at quarter-time to win.
While he coached the club to more success in 1985 and 1987, Eeles also remembers the merger of Lockington and Bamawm, which didn’t sit well with him at the time.
“Of course it eventually came, where it did in so many other places, the amalgamation,” he said.
“I didn't embrace it all that greatly, as Bamawm had been probably our biggest enemy.”
But celebrating the flags as Lockington Bamawm United, Eeles said upon reflection, it’s been great for both clubs.
“At the end of the day, it's been a great result,” he said.
“It has meant that Locky survive, and Bamawm survive, so it’s LBU, and I think now we have all accepted it.”
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