""It’s certainly been pleasing the way we have been travelling in the last couple of weeks, we have assumed control early in the games and taken away the initiative of the opposition,"" Bendigo coach Matthew Knights told Bomber Radio last night.
""It’s really important to get off to a good start for the year, I don’t think we have ever beaten Box Hill at Box Hill so it is something that we are very proud of.""
In a big boost for Essendon, Dean Rioli got through his first match since injuring his back in a training mishap.
""Dean played around 60 minutes of football which was always going to be the plan and he rotated through the half forward line.
""The main thing from Dean’s point of view is that he got through the game unscathed and he got half a game of condition under his belt,"" Knights said.
Knights was also impressed with the performance of Ricky Dyson along with some of the other Essendon regulars.
""Ricky over the last two weeks has been very very good. I think he had 20 possessions, and every one hit their target. So when someone like Ricky runs to that efficiency it means good things happen for your team.
""I think Mark Alvey has been very solid when he has played with us and he had a good day on Saturday.
""And it was also good to see Nathan Lovett-Murray come back and play a good game up forward and down back and Joel Reynolds has now put two consistent performances together for us,"" Knights said.
The Bendigo Bombers have a bye in Round 3.
