Bendigo has survived a scare from a gallant Geelong outfit to put its season back on track, recording a gritty five goal win at Windy Hill last Sunday as Kane Hunkin reports.
Entering the game on the back of three consecutive losses, the Bombers needed a win to keep in touch with the top four and place some breathing space between themselves and the sides below them. Conversely, Geelong looked to continue their impressive form, which saw the side record back-to-back wins.
With league leaders Port Melbourne the only team to defeat Bendigo at Windy Hill so far in season 2011, the Bombers seemed to revel in the muddy and overcast home conditions early, kicking four of the first five goals. However, in a manner similar of their last start win against Coburg, Geelong overturned an indifferent beginning to close the margin to three points at half-time.
Cameron Mooney's (four goals) form revival continued in earnest, with the key forward again strengthening his claims for a late season AFL call-up. His strong marks and intensity counteracted Bendigo's firepower at the opposite end, which included dangerous forwards Tory Dickson (four goals) and Matt Little. Inaccuracy continued to be a factor for the veteran, with Mooney kicking five behinds in addition to his respectable goal tally.
The third quarter was marked by wasteful opportunities, with both sides surrendering promising forward build-ups. The scoreboard failed to tick over for the respective teams and despite the Bombers always looking the more composed, a late goal to Mark Corrigan brought the Cats' deficit back to just six points at three-quarter time.
At the final huddle, acting Geelong coach Matthew Egan stressed the importance of "work rate". A key interception and subsequent goal to Cat Ben Johnson closed the margin to under a kick early in the final quarter, aligning the game for a close finish. However, a more experienced Bendigo side, led strongly by captain Ben Duscher, eventually wore down the visitors to win a tightly-fought contest by 30 points.
In the latter stages, Ariel Steinberg and Josh Jenkins (five goals) were significant for the winners. Additionally, Bendigo's plans to rotate three talls, including primary listed Tom Bellchambers against in-form ruck man Dawson Simpson paid dividends. The move invariably isolated Simpson as the sole ruck man in the absence of regular teammate Trent West.
While Bendigo keep in touch with the fourth-placed Northern Bullants (the Bombers currently sitting a game behind in seventh), Geelong was left to rue some inaccurate kicking and a late fourth quarter fadeout - a point previously addressed by co-captain Troy Selwood.
"The thing that's killing us is that we're just losing concentration for about 20 minutes and we are going away from the way we usually play," Selwood said after the Cats' round 10 game against Box Hill.
Bendigo were well-served by consistent contributors Dickson and Luke Davis throughout the day while Andrew McLean, Jonathan Simpkin and Jaxson Barham were among the best for the Cats. Equally, the debut of Jed Bews (son of former Geelong captain, Andrew) was also of interest to attending fans.
Bendigo now enjoy a bye before their final month of the home and away season while Geelong returns home to take on Casey Scorpions in an AFL-curtain raiser on Saturday.
Bendigo 17.12.114 def Geelong 11.18.84
Last Modified on 26/07/2011 07:57