BRIDGEWATER co-coach Lachlan Sharp is ready to trade his 100 goals this season for the Loddon Valley league flag.
The season’s first goal centurion had the focus firm within minutes of bringing up the milestone in the Mean Machine’s 102-point romp home against Inglewood.
 “The premiership is our main focus. I will trade 100 goals for a premiership medal any day of the week,” said Sharp who had been mobbed by players and supporters moments before the final siren on Saturday.
Among those who ran onto the field to celebrate with Sharp and his teammates were children Tige, 4, and Rumi, 2, as well as a young posse of co-coach Rick Ladson’s kids and their friends, who had spent the afternoon chanting Sharp’s name behind the goals.
“That’s something I will treasure for a long time,” he said post-game.
“It’s a special day, with my two running out it was a great moment. That’s what I’m loving about being here, with all these kids running around. It’s a pleasure to be out here.”
Coming into the clash needing nine goals to hit the magic ton in his first season in the Loddon Valley Football League, Sharp admitted he doubted at times whether he would get there.
A severely corked thigh in an eventful first quarter – Sharp was also involved in a wrestling bout with three Blues opponents after a late bump on Inglewood’s Callum March – had him playing sore for the rest of the game. “It was good to get it out of the way,” Sharp told the Loddon Herald after the match, admitting that the milestone played on his mind at times throughout the contest.
“It’s a distraction for the other players as well, and now we can focus on the three big games ahead of the club.”
The Mean Machine, second on the ladder after 12 rounds, faces the other three sides in the top four in succession – Pyramid Hill next week, which knocked off reigning premiers Marong last Saturday, followed by Bears Lagoon Serpentine and then Marong.
Sharp kicked centuries twice when playing for Strathfieldsaye in the Bendigo Football League, but said this achievement was more special.
“I love the Bendigo League, don’t get me wrong, but this is country footy. I grew up in the country, and this is as close to home as I could possibly get.
“The club itself and the people around have just been so welcoming.”
Bears Lagoon Serpentine’s Josh Mellington was racing Sharp to the century until a season-ending leg injury stranded him on 93 goals. “It’s devastating for Josh, who’s a ripper footballer who can kick them from anywhere, and I wish him all the best.”
One significant point of difference between Mellington and Sharp is that the former Fremantle forward kicked a much greater proportion of his team’s goals than Sharp. “You can’t be too one-dimensional,” Sharp said. “We’ve focused on rewarding blokes in the right spots and letting them have a shot on goal. We like to celebrate each other’s good efforts and goals.”
Now that the personal milestone is out of the way Sharp, as Mean Machine co-coach, has bigger things on his mind - a flag in his  Loddon Valley debut season.