The 2015 season has been a struggle for Ballarat Football League side Melton, but the Bloods had plenty of reason to celebrate earlier this month.
Several of the club’s heroes from yesteryear returned to MacPherson Park to commemorate one of the greatest days in the Bloods’ recent history.
This season marks 10 years since the Melton seniors’ last premiership, when the Bloods got the better of BFL rival Sunbury by 31 points.
Premiership captain Andrew Button said it was great to catch up with old teammates and remember the win.
“Everyone goes different ways, and a few have travelled around a bit, so it was good to catch up with everyone,” Button said.
“I finished up at the club in 2007 or 2008 and I’ve kept an eye on how they were going ever since.”
Melton was forced to call on all its fighting ability to secure the 2005 premiership after finishing the home and away season fourth on the ladder.
Underdogs right through the finals, the Bloods got the better of Lake Wendouree and Redan en route to securing the premiership cup.
Button says the fact his team was given no chance by many around the league made the win all the more special.
“We did play our best in finals. We weren’t expected to win it, but we managed to perform at the right time and were able to snatch it,” he said.
“Everyone just worked really hard to get us to where we got. They came at us pretty hard late, but we managed to hold on and win.”
Melton went on to play finals in 2006 and 2007 but was eliminated in the first week both times.
The Bloods have not finished in the top six since but are looking to break the mean streak this year.
Melton is in eighth spot, six points behind sixth-placed East Point.
