Fast forward across those weeks then, and we find that Saturdays triumph over Werribee was not only impressive in it’s own right, but completed a remarkable run between the “byes” that saw Gold go undefeated. In doing so, they not only transformed their season, but cut a swathe of carnage through the middle reaches of the ladder and jumped into fourth spot.
Conditions at Windy Hill were heavy and overcast, and the game promised to be a tough, physical slog that one might have suspected would suit the physically developed Tigers. But much like the match three rounds earlier against Williamstown, Bendigo stood up even in the absence of star captain, Ben Duscher, and a handful of Essendon players who were taken west to Perth.
The game started with Werribee having the use of a decent breeze to the school end, but the contest at ground level was fairly even. Bendigo moved the ball well into the wind, and efficient conversion saw them capitalise. The pressure around the ball – with Bellchambers and Putt doing the ruckwork, and the likes of Sam Lonergan and Brendan Lee exerting influence in the congestion- meant that Werribee couldn’t find any system. The quarter time scoreline saw Bendigo lead 4.1 to 3.3, and in reality a far greater outcome than the 4 point margin would suggest. Matt Little proved to be the major contributor, kicking accurately from two set shots. The only negative came in the form of a concussion to Scott Gumbleton, who took no further part.
The second term would prove to be the crucial one. Bendigo unveiled arguably it’s finest quarter of football for the year thus far, with movement of the ball from half back verging on the exquisite. The first five minutes saw a continuation of the arm-wrestle, with the Tigers managing the first goal to grab the lead, but the game was broken open soon after. Key forward Justin Maddern used his considerable pace to tumble into a mark 40 meters from goal and kicked truly. A minute later he was on the burst again, judging the tricky breeze to perfection to post consecutive goals. And when Lonergan caused a turnover in the middle and found the increasingly impressive Steven Stroobants on the lead, Bendigo had posted 3 goals in as many minutes to tip the contest on it’s head.
Lee continued to get his hands on the footy, and as the game opened up became more and more often used as a linking player through the middle. Mark Baguley feasted across half back on Werribee’s inability to move the ball cleanly under pressure, rebounding with impunity. A whole host of youngsters hit the contest with renewed confidence and the traffic became largely one-way. None enjoyed a more prominent quarter, though, than Alex Browne. The young Essendon hopeful crashed back into a pack with the flight of the ball, somehow won it on the deck and fed it out to the outside runners, where it eventually finished with a forward-drifting Baguley. Goal. Minutes later it was Browne again, this time bursting through the centre square and spearing the ball onto Lonergans chest in the pocket. Another goal. His purple patch continued as he continually found space – and the ball – on the outer wing to generate several inside-50’s.
When Little marked on the lead in the dying moments before half time, and converted on the breeze, the home side had completely dominated 20 minutes of football and posted 7 goals to 1 for the quarter. The scoreline of 11.2 to 4.6 at the main break amply demonstrated Bendigo’s efficiency in general play, and also it’s ability to force the Tigers into hurried and wasteful use.
The third term proved to be a more dour affair as the visitors lifted, a not unexpected eventuality given Werribee had won five games on the trot and are a more than decent side. The going was tough and rugged, with the Tigers showing signs of getting on top and opening Bendigo up in general play. But again, they couldn’t capitalise fully as Bendigo’s defence, lead admirably by co-captain Trent Shinners and the ever-reliable Baguley, kept their heads above water. The visiting side scored the first major, but when Maddern used his pace again to pressure an ill-prepared defender and Little swooped on the spillage to goal, Werribee’s increasing control of play had amounted to nothing. Five minutes later Bellchambers hauled down a big mark in the forward 50 and extended a lead that should be rights have been shrinking.
Both sides continued to slog it out, and Werribee scrounged another major via a free kick in the goalsquare, but the siren drew a curtain on a term that saw Bendigo cling to a 13.5 to 6.11 lead. Browne had faded somewhat out of the game, but Lonergan and Lee continued on through the middle, as did Jordan Williams in his best outing of the year. Cameo’s from Merrett, Kavanagh, Vale and Peoples among others ensured that the home side maintained enough pressure around the ball to protect it’s advantage.
The final stanza opened with both sides aware that the visitors needed early goals into a somewhat dwindling breeze to keep the game alive. This hope was soon snuffed out. Kavanagh orchestrated a clearance and the ball was rapidly transitioned via Browne – again enjoying a profitable quarter – and quickly to Lee – showing an invaluable ability to play as a link-up player , not merely in-and-under. Lee put the ball into the path of the leading Stroobants, who again weighed up the breeze nicely to goal from a difficult pocket and the result was more or less settled. It was put beyond doubt over the next ten minutes, despite Werribee managing goals into the wind, when Lee rewarded himself for an excellent afternoon with a goal of his own. And then Maddern rammed home his fourth of the day. The crowed were treated to some big marks from Bellchambers in defence, and the day was rounded off on a strangely appropriate note when Browne shrugged his way through a tackle to get the ball out to Lee, whose quick hands found the highly promising Kavanagh for a lovely snapped goal on a tight angle.
Come final siren, Bendigo had extended the lead out to 45 points. The scoreline of 17.6.108 to 8.15.63 may suggest that nearly equal scoring shots translated to an even contest, but the truth is that Bendigo controlled much of the afternoon and were able to severely interrupt Werribee’s flow and patterns of play. A very even contribution from most players found it’s just rewards in a fifth consecutive victory, and a toehold in the top four.
A remarkable VFL season continues for Bendigo after the bye with yet another crucial match-up. This time against fellow country-based rivals, North Ballarat. A win there will open up some real possibilities as attention turns to possible finals positions, but a loss would drop Bendigo back into a morass of teams in an extremely even and unpredictable year.
