Bendigo has their season back on track after a solid 52 point win over Frankston at Windy Hill last Saturday. The win gives them 2 wins on the trot leading into this week’s big clash with Collingwood as Anthony Cheyne reports.
Going in favourites with a solid number of AFL listed players pushing for a spot in next week’s Anzac Day clash, the Bombers did not have things all their own way despite getting out to a five goal to one lead at one stage during the first quarter. Frankston refused to lie down, and kicked the next five goals on the back of some good play from ruckman Russel Gabriel who was matching David Hille in the hit outs - giving the Frankston midfielders some clear ball to use to hit up Luke Clarke who kicked 3 goals before half time. Chris Doria, Tyson Mitchem and Ben Crowe where more than matching it with Bendigo’s Kyle Reimers, Michael Quinn and Andrew Welsh in the battle through the middle while in defence Mark Baguley and Warwick Miller where standing strong for the Dolphins as they trailed by 21 points at half time. Bendigo had kicked 4 goals in a row mid quarter and it looked like they would break the game open but to their credit, Frankston dug deep to get the last 2 goals for the quarter.
The fitness and run of the Essendon listed players started to get on top of the Dolphins in the third quarter but poor kicking for goal kept Frankston in the game as Bendigo wasted numerous opportunities kicking 2.9 to Frankston’s 2.2 leaving them only 28 points in front despite dominating the last half of the quarter.
The Dolphins had started well kicking the first two goals after the main break including a second to midfielder Ben Crowe but that was where the resistance ended. The run of Ricky Dyson, Kyle Reimers and Michael Hibberd began to tell and David Hille started to get some telling possessions around the ground as the Bombers pounded the goals and despite all the points being kicked, Bendigo looked in no danger from this stage as the big names rose to the top.
The Bombers where just as wasteful in the last quarter kicking 5.7 but at this stage Frankston had given all they could. Travis Colyer, Michael Quinn and Ben Duscher where on top in the midfield, Kyle Reimers, Michael Hibberd and Ricky Dyson where still on top running the ball from half back giving plenty of feed into Matthew Little, Troy Dickson, Mark Williams and Jay Neagle. This enabled the Bombers to run away with a 52 point win despite the fact they had kicked 17.29.
Russel Gabriel gave a four quarter performance in the ruck for the Dolphins giving his all along with defenders Mark Baguley and Warwick Miller who did well on the dangerous Matt Little and Troy Dickson, holding up the back half despite the large number of inside 50’s Bendigo had. Midfielders Tyson Mitchem, Chris Doria and Mitch Bosword never gave in and gave the Bendigo midfield plenty to worry about.
The Bombers best where Ricky Dyson, Michael Quinn, Travis Colyer, Michael Hibberd, Ben Duscher and Henry Slattery. Dyson and Hibberd stared off half back with their long kicking a highlight of the game. Slattery was solid in defence and provided some run in the midfield when used there. Duscher lead from the from in the forward line and through the middle after half time while Quinn was his usual self in and under all day and continually running. Others who did well where David Hille who managed a number of marks around the ground despite having a battle in the ruck contests, Kyle Reimers provided plenty of run to back up Dyson and Hibberd and Mark Williams had a much better game this week setting up a number of goals and kicking 2.3 himself as well as taking a big mark over the pack in front of the crowded Reynolds Stand in the last quarter.
Final scores were Bendigo 17.29.131 def Frankston 12.7.79
Next week Bendigo host Collingwood on Saturday at Windy Hill in a mini preview to the big Anzac day game on Monday while Frankston have their first bye and a week to build up and push to get their first win on the board against neighbour Casey in round 5.
Last Modified on 18/04/2011 17:57