An unbelievable turn around against the arch nemesis has kept the Bombers finals hopes alive at the business end of the season as Brittany Shanahan reports.
Bendigo Bombers treaded to the quarter time huddle, slumping their shoulders and struggling to find the motivation to lift from a goal-less quarter and a 45-point deficit against Collingwood.
The Pies had simply out-classed the Bombers in the opening term. They dominated possession and utilized the extraordinary amount of space the Bombers had allowed them.
Bombers coach Shannon Grant was infuriated with the lack of effort displayed on field but his quarter time spray certainly worked wonders when Scott Gumbleton nailed the first goal of the second quarter.
Tory Dickson (22 possessions, 4 goals), Matthew Little (13 possessions, 3 goals) and Scott Gumbleton (13 possessions, 2 goals) were pivotal in the forward line, contributing a total of nine goals between them.
The Bombers were on a roll and despite Collingwood’s pressure and intensity around the stoppages dropping, they still held onto a 21-point lead into the main break.
Both sides gave their all with reputation and the possibility of finals chances on the line. The vocal crowd filling the Sherrington Stand was treated to a ferocious second half.
Pies captain Kris Pendlebury and Tom Young (23 possessions) were outstanding when the Collingwood defence was under-sieged particularly in the second half.
Jarrod Witts (15 possessions, 3 goals) was the standout, showcasing strong overhead marks that you would expect to see from Travis Cloke.
Collingwood coach Tarkyn Lockyer was pacing along the boundary when Bomber Ariel Steinberg booted the goal to snatch the lead moments before three quarter time.
Enraged with anger, Lockyer pointed to the stats board and said, "This stuff isn't going to look pretty cause you didn't want it enough".
“Scratch, fight, do what you have to do to win this game,” he continued to say.
A momentary lapse enabled Little to convert for the Bombers in the dying stages and snatch a 4-point advantage as the lead was bouncing between the two teams.
Grant was ecstatic to get away with the win against the Pies and believes that it was a team effort that will set them up well for finals.
“For whatever reason we weren’t switched on…we were pretty disappointing in that first quarter.”
“It was totally against us, we were grinding away and kept coming. We got in front when we needed to.
“It’s these types of games that can build a lot of confidence within the group.
“We had a lot of guys who really stepped up after quarter time when they needed to.”
Grant praised the efforts of Dickson’s four-goal haul and was in prime position to witness it all, coaching from the boundary line.
“I thought he (Dickson) was outstanding all day, whether it was up forward or through the midfield, he’s a class act,” he said.
“It’s the first time I have done it (coaching from the boundary).
“It was good to talk to the players as they come off and talk to the guys about certain things we need to improve.
“I thought it worked pretty well, I would certainly look at doing it again.”
Last Modified on 15/08/2011 16:21