Peter Banfield was left lamenting his team’s lack of height and experience after Saturday’s 69-point loss. Werribee boasted nine senior AFL players (Western Bulldogs players) and used that experience perfectly in the muddy conditions at the Queen Elizabeth Oval. ""It was a disappointing result, we didn’t play well and we lacked a lot of experience. They had 900 AFL games experience and we only had something like 220 under our belt,"" Banfield said.

The loss leaves the Bombers picking up the ruins of a season marred by inconsistency. It was the clubs fourth consecutive defeat, with the average losing margin in those games 11 goals. The team now sits in 11th position, one game out of the top eight.

Despite the loss, Banfield was up beat, saying that his players would learn from the defeat.

""I guess if there is a positive out of it, then it’s great experience for our young blokes to play against some players who are probably at the end of their career. For someone like Ricky Dyson it’s a great teaching lesson.

Bendigo could not withstand the pressure of Werribee’s midfield. The ball went inside 50 on 63 occasions for a total of 26 scoring shots. The Bombers only managed 31 inside 50’s and had a measly seven scoring shots (four goals for the game).

What is worrying for Banfield’s players is their lack of potency in the forward line.

""We have been struggling a little bit for key forward targets lately. We have probably been a little undermanned in that area and we are not going as well because we are a little bit short at the moment,"" the Bendigo coach said.

""I just think that with Ted Richards, Aaron Henneman and Kepler Bradley playing senior footy, they are three very similar players who we are really missing at the minute.

""We are probably just lacking that forward height and quality. It’s very hard to kick a winning score without that,"" he said.

Banfield believes all is not lost in season 2004 and that it’s time for his players to earn their stripes in the final four games.

""I think improvement can come from all over. I think everyone needs to improve. Every player has to shoulder the load and I just think that perhaps we are not getting that,"" he said.

""Obviously as some of the Essendon senior players come back, then that will certainly help our cause.

It begins this weekend with the Bombers travelling to Frankston to try and restore some pride into the red and black jumper.

Bendigo statistics:
Doering – 35
Carter – 30
Alvey – 28
Dyson – 23
Rosa – 23
Wilson – 19
Moorcroft – 18, 1 goal
Webster – 16
Bowen – 15
Walsh – 15
Summers – 14
Watson – 14
Hunt – 13
Nash – 13
Lovett – 12, 1 goal
Robins – 11
Cupido – 9, 1 goal
Campbell – 7
Hawkins – 7
Laycock – 7
Brown – 4, 1 goal