Australian Football

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KEY FACTS

Official name
Irrewarra-Beeac Football and Netball Club Inc.

Known as
Irrewarra Beeac

Formed
1986: merger between Beeac and Irrewarra

Colours
Black and red

Emblem
Bombers

Associated clubs
Beeac; Irrewarra

Affiliation (Current)
Colac and District Football Netball League (CDFNL) 1986–2024

Senior Premierships
Colac and District Football League - 2008-9-10 (3 total)

Website
aflbarwon.editorx.io/irrewarra-beeacfnc

Irrewarra Beeac

The Bombers were born in 1986 when erstwhile Colac and District Football League rivals Beeac and Irrewarra merged. After two decades of struggle the past few seasons have seen them at last emerge as a bona fide force in the competition. In 2006 they inflicted minor premier Lorne’s only defeat of the season in the second semi final, only to fall comprehensively short when the two sides met again on grand final day. Then, in 2007, they once more proceeded straight to the season’s ultimate match via the second semi, but Lorne again proved too strong when it mattered, winning 13.12 (90) to 9.8 (62).

The Bombers’ big breakthrough finally arrived as the culmination of a magnificent 2008 season which produced just a single defeat from 20 matches. After comfortably heading the ladder the side clinched the premiership by means of a pair of emphatic finals wins over Lorne. In the second semi final the Bombers won a low scoring affair by 23 points, while a fortnight later in the grand final they did more or less as they pleased in racing to a 14.14 (98) to 5.7 (37) triumph.

The 2009 season proved to be equally propitious. Top of the ladder after the home and away rounds the Bombers unexpectedly lost a low scoring second semi final clash against Birregurra by 23 points. However, they recovered superbly, accounting for Alvie in the following week's preliminary final by 3 goals and Birregurra in the grand final re-match by an emphatic 52 point margin.

Still better was to follow, for in 2010 Irrewarra Beeac made it a hat trick of flags thanks to another grand final victory over Birregurra. The contest was much closer and harder fought than in 2009, but the Cats ultimately held sway by a couple of points, 11.10 (76) to 11.8 (64).

After three seasons outside the five the Cats returned to finals action in 2015 when they got as far as a grand final clash with Simpson which resulted in a 23 point reversal. After that, the 2016 season which produced just half a dozen wins and saw them plummet to third from last on the premiership ladder, has to be viewed as immensely disappointing. There was then a modicum of improvement in 2017 as the Cats won 7 games to finish sixth but the following season was little short of disastrous with the side only managing 2 wins and a draw to end up above only wooden spooners Western Eagles on the ten team premiership ladder.

Source

John Devaney - Full Points Publications


 

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.