Bendigo have caused a dramatic upset against top four contenders Williamstown last Saturday, to consolidate their spot in eighth position on the 2012 Peter Jackson VFL ladder as Brendan Lucas reports.
Gold now sit one game clear inside the top eight, but it was the Seagulls who threatened early in the game.
Three early goals to the Seagulls looked to give them the edge, but Gold hit back with six of their own to round out the first term with a seven-point lead.
Gold’s lead was soured by the loss of Justin Maddern in the first term after he suffered a sprained ankle injury and did not return for the rest of the game.
Scott Gumbleton looked dangerous up forward and started to find consistency in his game. He finished as Gold’s equal leading goal kicker alongside Cory Dell’olio, Kyle Reimers and Matt Little with three.
Despite the minor quarter time deficit, Seagulls’ coach Peter German had been concerned about his side’s accountability.
"Too many of our players got lost. Individually take responsibility for an opponent," he said.
The second term went from bad to worse, as three unanswered goals with Matt Little kicking two kept the Seagulls goalless.
Gold’s spread from half back was telling, and the Seagulls struggled to keep up with the pace of the game.
The first four goals of the third went Gold’s way after some poor defensive goal line marking gave them opportunities.
It had not been all good news for Gold who were dealt another casualty in Trent Shinners, after a heavy collision with Brodie Moles left him groggy and needing to be stretchered off.
Essendon ruckman David Hille had also been rested for the second half and played no further part after a knock to the shoulder in the second term.
With the game’s sting almost gone, and a 51-point deficit by the 13 minute mark of the third term, it was Jack Redpath who reignited the Seagulls’ hopes with a third long range goal from fifty metres out.
By three quarter time Gold had been battered about. After the loss of three players, they had weathered the storm to hold a 32-point buffer over the opposition.
Seagulls coach Peter German urged his side to take the game on, and like a switch had been flicked, his players responded.
Gold were out of legs in the last and the Seagulls midfield got on top.
Jack Redpath had a crucial opportunity to bring the margin to 14-points with his fifth goal but missed at the 26-minute mark of the final term.
The Seagulls left their run too late, as Gold held off a late charge to register their fourth win of the season by 19-points.
Bendigo coach Hayden Skipworth said he was pleased with his player’s physical and mental resilience to grind out the win.
“I was hoping we would. Obviously to have three or four guys go down throughout the game wasn’t ideal but I just hoped that we had enough rotation and legs in that last quarter to hold them off.
“I knew they were going to come, as any good side does, but to our players credit they dug in deep and fought out a win.”
Last Modified on 06/06/2012 11:04