The Bendigo Bombers have put in a vastly improved effort today against tenth placed Geelong with 21-year-old Stacey Fiske the stand-out near goals.  

 

The final scores were Bendigo 10.15 (75) to Geelong 16.14 (110). 

 

Fiske contributed almost half of Bendigo's ten goals and assistant coach Steve Thompson couldn't be more pleased with his contribution despite the 35-point loss.

 

""He's a young bloke from Bendigo and just had a really good game.  The team got off to a slow start, but worked their way back into the game in the second and third quarters,"" Thompson said. 

 

""The game was balanced heading into the final quarter, although there were a few missed opportunities in the second and third terms which could put us further ahead going into the fourth. 

 

""Opportunties opened up for both teams in the final term, but just didn't go Bendigo's way. Both teams are so young, the Geelong guys should be really happy with their performance, and we should be as well.  We saw some outstanding skills today.""

 

Second year captain, 22-year-old James Flaherty, had an outstanding day in defence, impressing the coaching staff as well as spectators.

 

""He (Flaherty) really is great down back, last year he was runner-up best and fairest for the club and looks to be heading in the same direction this year as well,"" Thompson said. 

 

""In the last few weeks he has been playing his best football ever, his skills as a defender are excellent, he's getting a lot more touches and he is taking his captaincy very seriously.  He's got a bright future at the club.""

 

Nathan Lovett-Murray, who returned to the VFL team this week after being omitted from the Essendon team, performed well including nearly taking a massive hanger in the final quarter. 

 

""He definately went up a few stories, and his defensive tackling was a feature,"" Thompson said.

 

""Michael Quinn and David Myers paired up well in the forward line, using their skills well and were quite lively. 

 

""Tom Bellchambers rucked tirelessly all day, it was a super effort from him.

 

""David Zaharakis made a great start, booting two goals for the Bombers, but he took a heavy knock to the head, which threw him of balance.  He recovered and finished the game, but he didn't seem to regain the pace he started with. 

 

""It's been great having Zaka back for us and it has given him an opportunity to work on his skills and freshen up.  He still is quite a young player with a great future ahead of him.""

 

Disappointing for Bendigo today was the loss of key player Jack Redpath with a knee injury in the first quarter. 

 

""He has possibly done an anterier cruciate ligament (ACL), but he'll go for scans tomorrow for confirmation.  It will be a blow for the side, he was showing a lot of potential.  It's heartbreaking for Jack, he's a builder by trade and an ACL could make it difficult to work and will almost certainly be a twelve month injury,"" Thompson said.

 

""Paul Scanlon played down back today, a change from his usual mid-field position, along with Simon Weekley, a natural forward.  Both played the back line effortlessly; their teamwork was excellent and played defensively all day gaining many posessions.

""We'll definately try that transition out again, they both worked really well together.  Simon is so flexible, kicking on both his left and right with such skill, sometimes it's hard to know what is his natural foot. 

 

""Darcy Daniher showed promising signs playing forward but needed to make more of his opportunities earlier.  John Williams was in great form today, looking really good coming off a finger injury.

 

""In the end, skill errors cost us but we moved the ball well and looked really good when we moved the ball.  We're definately on the rise.""

  

Coaching staff were excited that the VFL reserves team won yesterday against Sandringham, ending a two-year drought. 

 

""Essendon rookies Christian Bock, Kade Klempke and Bryce Carroll were fantastic,"" Thompson said.

 

""In tough conditions they pulled off a win. The senior guys that played did reallly well, Delahunty also kicked five and was outstanding as well as Stroobants.""

 

 

 

Best Players:  Flaherty, Atkinson, Quinn, Myers, Fiske, Bellchambers.

 

 

Goal Kickers:  Podsiadly 3, Johnson 2, Westwood 2, Tom 2, Simpkin 2, Sheringham 2, West, Stavenuiter, Corrigan.