The Essendon and Bendigo Football Clubs began the sometimes complicated task of creating a cohesive side by playing their first VFL practice match of their new season on Saturday. Further increasing the difficulties was the fact that the usual rustiness needed to be dealt with amidst a deluge of water.

A casual observer would have been forgiven for double-checking that they hadn’t somehow been transported from late summer to mid July! The Essendon input was limited – just Mark Baguley, Brendan Lee and Jackson Merrett took to the field – and given all of the factors in play, it was a surprise to no-one that the hit-out was somewhat disjointed.

A more advanced and physically bigger Geelong side – having already had a match the previous week – ran out comfortable 38 point victors, but Essendon assistant and new Bendigo coach Hayden Skipworth is not likely to have been too fazed by the margin.

Lee had some valuable time in the midfield, generating some effective clearances around the stoppages at the feet of ruckmen who he won’t have been too familiar with. Mean time Baguley and Merrett accumulated some possessions and gave some run at half back and on a wing respectively. None were real standouts, but all got through the game ok.

Last season’s captains, Ben Duscher and Trent Shinners, have enjoyed good pre-seasons and looked sharper and far more advanced than at the corresponding stage of 2011. Essendon fans will no doubt hold some interest in the progress of Jacob Thompson, the nephew of “Bomber” Thompson, and he acquitted himself well, scoring a last quarter goal and finishing the game strongly.

Several other Bendigo hopefuls who are extremely youthful and inexperienced managed to improve somewhat as the game progressed and narrowly won the final term. Matt Little and Rick Ladson sat the game out, but Wayne Schultz, Tom Cain and Nathan McCarty are a few new names that Essendon fans may become more aware of as the season starts to unfold.

Bendigo never really threatened Geelong at any stage, but then the outcomes in March are largely academic anyway. Most importantly, the first step of a new year has been taken and linear improvement, understanding and team cohesion is what Skipworth will be searching for as much as scoreboard results in the next few weeks.

Particularly as more Essendon boys start to filter into the side. Finally, perhaps not least, a dry location wouldn’t go astray to really judge the game plan and hone the skills. It is March and not July, after all.

Jason Hannigan – Bendigo Bomber Fan-in-the-outer