During some post game reflections it seemed apparent that our experience in playing and succeeding in big finals assisted us to play well in this game. All the boys seemed pretty calm and confident before the game, and we managed to inspire each other with simple tough play.
It was almost like we just won the game out of habit. We played well because we always play well, and the new guys in the team do their job like the old guys used to do when they were new. There is a real sense of momentum and history in our club which i think serves to drive everyone to play at their best.
I think that is all we ask for. For each player to know their role (which is often and preferably very simple) and to play that role for the team. (Sounds like a 3 times Brisbane Lions premiership coach Lee Mathews ethos to me hey Matty?)
I was thinking about this history and momentum. The expectation to do your job that just seems to be present and accepted by all the players and I'm pretty happy about it. Its a pleasure to be a part of.
After the final some people asked me how many league wins that was for the Buggers. I couldn't remember off the top so I thought I should find out and write it down.
Season 1. Our first season in the BPL was when Rueben decided to 'put the band back together' in preparation for nationals in Sydney 2006. We had black buggers shirts modeled on our hard shelled friend above, we sang along to the Spiderbait version of 'Black Betty' a lot and we made it into the final against Whippet Good and got beaten.
Season 2. After nationals Rueben headed off to Melbourne to do some other stuff and I (Mike) took over the captains role. Again we made it to the final of what was a 4 team league in those days. We played Whippet Good again who were seeking their 3rd consecutive win. We won that final and were happy.
Season 3. Still 2006 and we persevered with the black get up. This season was full of tight contests with the UQ lovers team which continued in to the final in which we won again to go back to back.
Season 4. After another very hotly contested league with UQ we made it to the final and lost to the UQ lovers. I think they went up 7 to 1 in the first half. Ouch. By this stage we were playing in blue patagonia, sweet.
Season 5. This was our best looking team on paper as the 5 or 6 new players from the last couple of seasons (Wet Nose, Jangles, Chadwick, Nick Cootes, Matty who is now in Canberra, etc) were becoming very difficult for other teams to handle. We had 14 players, O and D lines and we smashed it up. We won the final to get the trophy back. I cant remember who we played, probably UQ again. I think this was the first season with 5 teams in it when UQ built their second team.
Season 6. This season we split into 2 teams and recruited heavily again to build the Fresh Buggers and the Crusty Buggers. The Crusty old difficult players joined up with a bunch of brand new guys, and the 2 and 3 season veterans lead by James Larkin made a Fresh run at it for themselves. The Crusty team won against DoJo in the final that season.
Season 7. We got some Red shirts half way through this season and played as two teams again. The Slippery Buggers and the Messy Buggers. In an attempt to concur the world and hold a grand final with 2 Buggers teams (and nobody in the crowd we often joke) our teams were reshuffled to balance our experience. The Messy team won this final against UQ Passion and the competition was now up to 6 teams and looking strong.
Season 8. Most recently the UQ, MBB rivalry has continued with the Messy Bugger team again winning the final against passion. The Slippery Bugger team had a great season to finish as minor premiers.
In summary since we entered the BPL at the beginning of 2006 the Moreton Bay Buggers have been in every final, we lost our first and our fourth and won the rest to currently be on a 4 season streak. We have also recruited and successfully developed over a teams worth of quality BPL players. I think for me the aspect of the 3 years i'm most proud of is how successful our brand new BPL players have been. From league guns like Messy Buggers captain Wet Nose who started as a gangly and raw rookie in 2006, to our 2 high school students Steve Glen and Reece Stewart who have won 1 and 2 league titles respectively, new Buggers have thrived in the competitive BPL environment.
We plan on continuing with this challenge of finding and developing new talent as we look forward to welcoming 3 rookie Bugs to the upcoming BPL.
Up the Bugs.
Mike
