In a case of extreme delusions of grandeur, local man Trent Thompson has reportedly convinced himself that he is a solid Bendigo 5 but an absolute Long Gully 9.
Thompson told The Bendigo Standard that his looks might hold him back in Bendigo, but his Long Gully charm and charisma are "through the freakin' roof."
His friends aren't so sure.
"It's like putting cheap wine in a fancy bottle," said mate Damo Richards. "Except the bottle is also cheap, and there's no wine. It's just Trent."
Thompson's dating profile reportedly lists his location as Long Gully, even though he lives in Strathdale.
"It's not lying," he said. "It's strategic positioning."
Still, his unusual theory has started a trend, with locals now rating themselves on what has become known as the Bendigo Scale. A Facebook group dedicated to the system has already attracted 400 members and two heated arguments.
"We've always known," said one Long Gully resident, nodding slowly.
