Bendigo opened their 2012 Peter Jackson VFL season in a positive fashion, with a commanding 84 point win over Frankston at Frankston Park last Sunday.
It was a milestone game for Frankston’s Luke Clark playing his 50th game at his home ground in front of a good crowd, but Bendigo would spoil the celebration with a start to finish victory as Dale Fenney reports.
The first quarter was one for the high flyers, as new Dolphin’s recruit Dylan Van Unen was first to launch skyward, followed by teammate Khan Haretuku a few minutes later. Haretuku hit the ground hard on landing and was helped from the field to the clubrooms.
Despite their high aerial skills, the Dolphins were not flying high on the scoreboard, with Bendigo getting the early ascendancy to kick the first seven goals of the game, leading by 45 points at quarter time.
In the second quarter Haretuku returned to the field and helped with the Dolphins early scoring. Matthew Clarke kicked Frankston’s first goal mid way threw the term quarter from a tap out inside 50 from Haretuku. Frankston went goal for goal with Bendigo till the time of period, when Bendigo again went on to kick quick unanswered goals. Bendigo Gold’s Sam Lonergan took a huge mark to rival his oppositions aerial skills of the first term, and went back to kick a goal on the half time siren, to see Bendigo lead by 60 points.
Haretuku opened the third term on a positive note for Frankston kicking a contender for goal of the day from 55m out. Moments later he goaled once again for Frankston, cutting into the Gold’s substantial lead.
Bendigo’s Ricky Dyson continued his great form in the third term, and was a key reason for his side setting up such a big lead against the Dolphins. Whilst Frankston won the third quarter kicking four goals to two, the Dolphins still trailed by 46 points at three quarter time.
In the middle Tom Bellchambers dominated the centre hit outs all day and played a good game for Bendigo. Any sign of a Dolphins revival was eliminated by Bendigo in the final term, with the Gold kicking seven goals to one in the final quarter to run out 84 point winners.
Bendigo coach Hayden Skipworth was happy with his team’s efforts in their first hit out for the season. He believed that Tom Bellchambers and Ricky Dyson both had a good chance of being selected in Essendon’s side this week against Port Adelaide.
Frankston coach Simon Goosey thought his team played really well for two quarters against Bendigo, but stressed to his side that they need a full four quarters to wins games this season. Goosey highlighted the performance of Haretuku and believes he is a really important player to the Dolphins side.
Bendigo will be hoping to take the momentum from their first win of the season into this week’s game against undefeated Port Melbourne, who will be aiming for their 24th victory in a row. Frankston will be hoping to put behind them back to back loses to start the season, as they take on Casey Scorpions.
Photo by Jenny Owens
Last Modified on 03/04/2012 11:26