Northern Bullants
"Having participated in the VFA for more than half a century before finally breaking through for a flag Preston had to wait just twelve months to repeat the accomplishment."
John Devaney looks back at the club formerly known as Preston.
1997 Season (VFL) Fixture
Preston's 1997 Fixture
| Rnd | H&A | Club | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | S | R | Opponent | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | S | Mgn | Grd | Date | SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-04-05 1 | H | Preston | 4.6 | 8.9 | 11.10 | 14.11 | 95 | WON | North Ballarat | 5.4 | 8.7 | 12.9 | 13.12 | 90 | 5 | PRE | 1997-04-05 Apr 5 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-04-12 2 | H | Preston | 3.2 | 6.5 | 11.8 | 16.14 | 110 | WON | Werribee | 3.3 | 5.7 | 9.10 | 9.12 | 66 | 44 | PRE | 1997-04-12 Apr 12 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-04-19 3 | A | Preston | 4.2 | 5.7 | 8.8 | 9.9 | 63 | WON | Traralgon | 1.2 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 7.11 | 53 | 10 | TRA | 1997-04-19 Apr 19 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-04-26 4 | A | Preston | 9.4 | 15.10 | 22.12 | 25.14 | 164 | WON | Coburg | 2.4 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 11.10 | 76 | 88 | COB | 1997-04-26 Apr 26 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-05-04 5 | A | Preston | 4.4 | 5.5 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 57 | LOST | Frankston | 4.2 | 10.5 | 16.7 | 19.12 | 126 | -69 | FRA | 1997-05-04 May 4 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-05-10 6 | H | Preston | 0.0 | 6.4 | 9.4 | 13.9 | 87 | WON | Box Hill | 6.0 | 8.1 | 11.3 | 11.4 | 70 | 17 | PRE | 1997-05-10 May 10 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-05-17 7 | H | Preston | 1.3 | 4.5 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 57 | LOST | Springvale | 4.4 | 10.5 | 13.9 | 14.13 | 97 | -40 | PRE | 1997-05-17 May 17 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-05-25 8 | A | Preston | 1.3 | 3.4 | 6.8 | 7.9 | 51 | LOST | Sandringham | 2.2 | 8.9 | 8.13 | 12.17 | 89 | -38 | TBO | 1997-05-25 May 25 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-06-01 9 | A | Preston | 3.2 | 6.5 | 9.7 | 13.8 | 86 | LOST | Williamstown | 5.3 | 11.6 | 15.8 | 22.10 | 142 | -56 | WCG | 1997-06-01 Jun 1 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-06-09 10 | Preston | Bye | 1997-06-09 Jun 9 (Mon, 12:00) | |||||||||||||||
| 1997-06-21 11 | H | Preston | 3.2 | 5.3 | 5.9 | 9.10 | 64 | LOST | Port Melbourne | 2.5 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 15.11 | 101 | -37 | SPR | 1997-06-21 Jun 21 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-06-28 12 | A | Preston | 2.1 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 40 | LOST | North Ballarat | 4.3 | 6.9 | 7.13 | 8.15 | 63 | -23 | NTO | 1997-06-28 Jun 28 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-07-06 13 | A | Preston | 3.4 | 4.5 | 9.5 | 11.7 | 73 | LOST | Werribee | 1.5 | 10.9 | 15.14 | 24.16 | 160 | -87 | CHI | 1997-07-06 Jul 6 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-07-13 14 | H | Preston | 3.4 | 7.9 | 14.13 | 16.14 | 110 | WON | Traralgon | 0.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 21 | 89 | PRE | 1997-07-13 Jul 13 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-07-20 15 | H | Preston | 4.2 | 6.3 | 7.8 | 9.10 | 64 | LOST | Frankston | 3.4 | 8.9 | 11.11 | 17.13 | 115 | -51 | PRE | 1997-07-20 Jul 20 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-07-26 16 | A | Preston | 2.3 | 4.9 | 4.12 | 7.13 | 55 | LOST | Box Hill | 5.2 | 6.4 | 11.9 | 14.9 | 93 | -38 | BOX | 1997-07-26 Jul 26 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-08-02 17 | H | Preston | 3.4 | 5.4 | 14.8 | 16.13 | 109 | WON | Coburg | 0.1 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 8.6 | 54 | 55 | PRE | 1997-08-02 Aug 2 (Sat, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-08-10 18 | A | Preston | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 37 | LOST | Springvale | 1.3 | 9.10 | 10.14 | 17.17 | 119 | -82 | SPR | 1997-08-10 Aug 10 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-08-17 19 | H | Preston | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 5.8 | 38 | LOST | Sandringham | 5.1 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 12.11 | 83 | -45 | PRE | 1997-08-17 Aug 17 (Sun, 2:00) | Scores |
| 1997-08-25 20 | Preston | Bye | 1997-08-25 Aug 25 (Mon, 12:00) |