The 1980s were a defining stretch for Bridgenorth, years when the club lifted its standards, built real momentum, and proved it could compete with anyone. Two names sit right at the centre of that era: Gary Davis and Tim Blair.
Tim Blair arrived first, taking on the senior coaching role in 1981 and 1982 after being approached by Geoff and Fred Lack and Ian Broomby. Tim wasn’t just a coach passing through, he was a player of real class and influence. A two-time Best & Fairest winner, he played as a ruck rover and was later named captain of the 1971–1999 Bridgenorth All-Star Team. What mattered most in those early years was the direction he set: higher expectations, better preparation, and belief that Bridgenorth could be more than quiet and low-key.
In 1982, Tim brought Gary Davis to Parrot Park from Launceston. That first year, the Parrots came within a whisker of a premiership, losing a Grand Final by a point. It was close enough to sting, and close enough to show what was possible. Tim’s call after that loss was simple: Gary should take over the coaching.
Gary did, stepping into the role of captain-coach, and the shift was immediate. He brought “muscle” to the club, strict standards, harder training, and non-negotiable fitness and skills. The group responded.
The result was one of the strongest back-to-back runs in club history. Under Gary’s captain-coaching, Bridgenorth won premierships in 1983 and 1984, beating George Town and Hillwood. Those weren’t soft flags. Bridgenorth earned them by being tougher to play against, fitter late, and sharper with the ball, a direct reflection of the level Gary and Tim drove into the program.
Gary Davis and Tim Blair represent that era for a reason. One built the standards, the other drove them higher, and together they helped create a period where Bridgenorth didn’t just compete.
It set the pace.
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