Dons, Bendigo to part
Brent Diamond
October 1, 2011
ESSENDON and VFL partner Bendigo have reached an in-principle agreement to end their association at the end of next season.
The team will play in Bendigo's traditional navy blue and gold colours, and the club will be known as the Bendigo Football Club next year. It will drop the Bombers nickname, and may revert to being known as the Diggers, as it was when it first joined the VFL.
Bombers development coach Shannon Grant will coach next season but it is uncertain whether he will remain when ties with Essendon are officially severed. He was hired as coach of Bendigo.
Bendigo general manager David Joss said yesterday the Bombers had plenty of backing from the community to remain viable in the VFL without the funding from an AFL partner after 2012.
