Continuing the forward line efficiency and a lift in overall team defence will have the Bombers troubling a lot of sides on the run home, according to Scott Lucas.

The Bombers have six wins and six losses from the opening 12 games and sit in 7^th spot on the ladder.

Just one game separates 5^th placed Port Adelaide from 13^th placed Gold Coast.

The Dons are ranked fourth in 'points for' despite winning the inside 50 count just twice.

Lucas said maintaining that forward line efficiency combined with reducing the scores against per game (currently conceding 93 points per game) will have the Bombers well positioned in the second half of the season. 

“Their efficiency has been exceptional,” he said. 

“They’ve got a dangerous forward line in there and that really leads into the areas they need to work on because at times they’ve been going against the tide a little with the lack of forward entries.

“It’s the one area they’ll need to work on in the second half of the year.

“The backs have worked pretty well in terms of covering when they’ve conceded a lot of entries. 

“If the team defence really picks up and they continue to be an efficient forward line they’re going to trouble a lot of teams on the run home.

“They’ll grow and get a lot of self belief having worked together for the 12 games.

“The growth in individuals would really please the coaches and give the team enormous confidence for the second half of the year.”

The Bombers face just two top eight sides (Western Bulldogs and Adelaide) in the second half of the season.

But given the closeness of the competition, it’s likely the race for a spot in the finals won’t be decided until the final round.

Lucas expects the Dons to continue to improve as they gain more experience playing alongside each other.

“There was a great level of uncertainty at the start of the season about how they would go,” he said.

“With the wins that they’ve had against teams above them on the ladder – they should go into the second half of the season very confident knowing that the guys that have returned to the team have started to find their form.

“I’d expect a much stronger showing in the second half of the year as they gel together and the cohesion just builds from there. 

“It’s really quite a positive start for the team. There is a couple of disappointing losses they’d be unhappy with but then their last four or five weeks has been very strong.”