From the Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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DAVID Joss will stand down as chairman of the Bendigo Football Club at the end of this month.

Joss will vacate the position at the BFC’s annual general meeting, but remain a board member of Bendigo’s VFL club.

Joss has held the chairman’s position since August 2008 when he took over from Ian Dyett and has overseen a number of key decisions at the club, but believes the time is now right for a fresh person to take the reins.

“The club is going into its third phase, having been the Bendigo Diggers, then Bombers and now the Bendigo Football Club,” Joss said yesterday.

“It seems that if I can’t commit myself fully for the next three years then it’s time for the next person to come through and take the leadership role.

From ABC News
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The Bendigo council has intervened in a decision about use of the city's main football ground on Good Friday.

Both the Bendigo Football Netball League and the city's VFL team, the Bendigo Football Club, were scheduled to play games at the Queen Elizabeth Oval next year on Good Friday.

The parties were negotiating but failed to reach an agreement, so the council decided to allow the local league to keep its Good Friday date.

From essendonfc.com.au
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Essendon Football Club and Bendigo Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Hayden Skipworth as Bendigo senior coach for 2012.

Skipworth, who played 44 games for Adelaide and 11 games for Essendon, has held a development role at Essendon since his retirement in 2009.

The 28-year-old said he was looking forward to the opportunity of coaching his own side.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to coach the club’s VFL affiliate and to further develop my coaching career,” Skipworth said.

“Initially, it wasn’t something that I set out to achieve this season but the opportunity arose and I am thrilled to be able to lead Bendigo next year.”

From Moonee Valley Leader
Reported by Sam Landsberger
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FORMER Essendon toiler Hayden Skipworth has moved into the box seat to claim the vacant coaching post at Victorian Football League affiliate Bendigo.

Skipworth, who played 11 games with the Bombers under Matthew Knights in 2009, has impressed with his leadership and intrinsic knowledge of the game since his 55-game career drew to a close.

The 28-year-old would become the youngest coach in the competition, but took the reins at Bendigo for one match during then-coach Shannon Grant's club-imposed suspension last year.

Grant won an AFL assistant role with Brendan McCartney at the Western Bulldogs, leaving Bendigo after two seasons where the Bombers made an elimination final in both years.

Skipworth enjoyed a bumper season for Aberfeldie in the Essendon District Football League this year and is tipped to fight a clutch of local and interstate candidates for the top job.

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Tanya Paolucci
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The Bendigo Bombers will split from Essendon at the end of the 2012 VFL season.
The club made the announcement at its grand final eve business luncheon this afternoon at the All Seasons Quality Resort

While Essendon will have to apply for a licence, Bendigo will be allowed to go stand-alone in 2013 because it has a licence to play in the VFL for the next three years.

To be known as the Bendigo Football Club, the team will wear navy blue and gold uniforms in line with traditional Bendigo colours.

The team's nickname is still to be decided.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Nathan Dole
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THE odds are stacked against the Bendigo Bank Bombers as they prepare to take on the Victorian Football League’s premier of the past three seasons, North Ballarat, this Saturday on the QEO.

Despite the fierce rivalry between the goldfields cities, North Ballarat has dominated many VFL contests.

The ledger stands at 18-2 the Roosters’ way leading into the round 21 contest.

Bendigo kicked off this season by scoring a 27-point win on the Roosters’ turf at Eureka Stadium in round two.

Since then the Roosters have kicked on for a 12-4 record to be third on the ladder, while the Bombers are seven with a 9-7 record.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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THE Bendigo Bank Bombers’ future remains undecided.
Essendon yesterday forwarded its submission to AFL Victoria as part of its review into the future structure of the VFL.

Essendon’s submission is expected to declare its intention to split from its alignment with Bendigo.

Bombers general manager Peter Lodewijks said the club now faces a waiting game before AFL Victoria releases its findings.

“The submissions closed today (Monday), but that doesn’t mean decisions will be made today,’’ Lodeiwjks said.

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Nathan Dole
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THE Bendigo Bank Bombers stayed on track for a top-four finish after yesterday’s five-goal win against Geelong in the Victorian Football League’s 17th round.
Just a goal separated the teams as the final quarter began at Essendon’s Windy Hill.

Led by the play of captain Ben Duscher, key forward Josh Jenkins, strong defence by Tyson Slattery and the skilful Tory Dickson, the Bombers kicked away to win 17.12 (114) to 11.18 (84).

After three consecutive defeats, the heat was on the Bombers to bounce back.

It was a much-improved Geelong line-up, led by former Bendigo Pioneer Troy Selwood, which kept the red and black under pressure.

Bombers’ coach Shannon Grant was rapt with the team’s four-quarter effort.

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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IT was an important day for the Bendigo Bank Bombers on Saturday.
It was the Bombers’ return to the Queen Elizabeth Oval for the first time in more than a year, and a chance to stand up and show they are capable of mixing it with the best teams in the VFL.

Their opponents were the second-placed Williamstown. Claiming the scalp of the Seagulls would have certainlly been a major step towards the Bombers building their credibility as a genuine premiership threat.

While it started promising with a big crowd passing through the gates, for the first time in 2011 it had turned to disaster by 4.30pm

The final result was a 79-point loss as the Seagulls won 25.16 (166) to 13.9 (87).

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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JUSTIN Maddern bided his time in breaking into the Bendigo Bombers team, now it’s all about cementing his place in the side.
Maddern, affectionately known as “Harry”, has played the past three games for the Bombers after he was rewarded for his outstanding start to the Bendigo Football League season with Kangaroo Flat, where he kicked 51 goals in seven games.

Since forcing his way into the Bombers’ side, Maddern has kicked 11 goals in his three outings, including a bag of six in his first match against Geelong at Skilled Stadium a month ago.

“I’m really enjoying it, so, hopefully, I can keep my spot and string a few games together,” Maddern said.

The goalkicking star is particularly looking forward to stepping out on the newly redeveloped Queen Elizabeth Oval for today’s VFL clash with Williamstown.

He will be the sole Bendigo representative in the side, which is dominated by Essendon-listed players and Melbourne-based VFL players.

“The QEO looks sensational ... it’s just like carpet, so it’s going to be nice to run around on,” Maddern said.