THE Bendigo Pioneers endured their worst defeat this TAC Cup season in Saturday’s football clash with Eastern Ranges at Box Hill.
A 12-goal haul by Blake Hardwick, son of Richmond coach and Essendon and Port Adelaide premiership player Damien Hardwick, was one of many highlights for the Ranges.
Eastern led 72-2 at quarter-time.
Skill errors and a lack of intensity at the contest would prove costly for the Pioneers.
The Bendigo defence was under siege in the opening term as the Ranges dominated the centre breaks and continually pumped the ball to their marking targerts.
After such a disastrous start, Bendigo lifted its workrate dramatically in the second.
Sandhurst’s Lachlan Tardrew scored the Pioneers first goal after YCW’s Liam Collins won the centre clearance through a strong tackle.
Tardrew was on the end of a handpass from Rochester’s Joseph Atley to snap another goal.
The Pioneers led the inside 50m tally for the term, 7-1.
Eaglehawk’s Kane Farrell snapped a fine goal from a ball-up near the goalsquare.
A few minutes later and Kyabram’s Kyle Mueller and Golden Square’s Jayden Burke headed to the bench after a collision at half-forward.
It was “game over” for Mueller, but Burke did play on.
Atley’s goal put Bendigo within 48 points at half-time.
The third quarter was evenly fought.
Consecutive goals for Eastern were answered for the Pioneers by Sandhurst’s Braidon Blake and Eaglehawk’s Matthew Higgs.
Cohuna’s Rhys Free was on target, but it would be the Pioneers final goal of the match.
The last term was similar to the first as Eastern slick teamwork was capped by eight unanswered goals.
Pioneers’ coach Brett Henderson said the match was a painful lesson for all of the team.
“Our start was appalling,” he said of a distinct lack of competitive spirit and willingness to do the one per-cent plays.
After such a woeful start, the Pioneers greater workrate was rewarded, especially in the second quarter as Brent Daniels, Paddy Dow, Marty Hore and Lachlan Tardrew showed the way.
Sandhurst’s Cooper Jones and Wentworth’s Kobe Mutch never stopped trying.
An inexperienced Pioneers line-up included Wentworth’s Injidup Fyfe, Mildura’s Lachie O’Brien and Swan Hill’s Paddy Dow in their first TAC Cup matches.
The line-up of 23 included six players from this year’s Pioneers under-16 team.
Bendigo’s best was Brent Daniels, one of the youngest to take on Eastern.
The challenge is to rebound for next Saturday’s clash with Northern Knights at Epsom Huntly. The round 17 match starts at 1pm.
Last Modified on 18/08/2015 15:32
