The four-win Bulldogs ended five games off finals pace but were able to push Sandhurst in the 16.17 (113) to 15.10 (100) defeat.

Elliott said he'd made his decision not to seek reappointment midway through the season and would not be looking to go to a different club.

The outgoing coach said he wasn't disappointed with what the club had achieved this season.

"It was a difficult time to come in, having lost experienced players. I was happy to play this role for the club, get the wheel of evolution turning again."

Elliott said he believed groups of players at the club tagged as "fringe" or "reserves" had shown advances as had younger players introduced to the senior group.

Sandhurst held 23, 21 and 23-point leads at each change at the weekend, holding on against Gisborne's five-goal final term. The result was the seventh time of the season Gisborne had scored 90 points or more and ended up on the losing side.

Darren Farrugia kicked five goals for the Bulldogs, while better players were two-goal Ollie Messaoudi, Lachlan Testro, Scott Walsh and Casey Summerfield.

Gisborne's arch-rival Kyneton also ended the Bendigo league season with a defeat, by 121 points against Maryborough. The four-win Tigers finished more than nine percentage points behind Gisborne in ninth on the ladder.

In netball, Gisborne inflicted Sandhurst's first A-grade loss of the season with a 39-31 win.