Premiership wins cap off perfect season for clubs

THE perfect season ended in the perfect way for a number of clubs across the state on Saturday.

Perfect season: Southern Mallee Giants 2016 HDFNL premiers.

THE perfect season ended in the perfect way for a number of clubs across the state on Saturday.

Bridgewater, Shepparton East, Tyrendarra and Southern Mallee Giants joined Omeo and District league premier Lindenow South as undefeated champions in their respective leagues last weekend.

Bridgewater became the first club in Loddon Valley Football League history to win seven straight premierships, defeating Mitiamo in a replay of last year’s decider by 50 points.

Shepparton East ended Tungamah’s run of three consecutive Picola and District Football League premierships by defeating the Bears by 23 points.

And Tyrendarra beat Coleraine — which had battled floods in its hometown the day before the grand final — in the South West District league final.

Southern Mallee Giants coach Geoff Burdett said he did not see a flawless season coming after the Giants moved from the debunked Mallee league at the end of last year.

The Giants won the Horsham District premiership by 25 points against Harrow Balmoral.

“We’re very happy with what we achieved in our first year (in the league) with a young group,” Burdett said.

“When you’ve got a playing group as passionate as ours, it goes a long way.”

Albury will be hoping to join the exclusive club this weekend with a win against Lavington in the Ovens and Murray league this Sunday.

Kyabram is also vying for a faultless year, but must wait for the result of Sunday’s Goulburn Valley preliminary final between Benalla and Rochester to know its final opponent.