Bendigo looked comfortable from early in the match but failed to gain any clear ascendancy as the game followed a goal for goal pattern.
The first half signalled the return of Welsh and he didn’t disappoint the Bomber fans eager to see him back on the field.
Welsh looked fit and in good touch has he booted five first half goals playing up forward before being rested for the second half.
Despite Welsh’s five majors, one the result of an Andrew Lovett run and bounce through the middle of Windy Hill, Bendigo lead by only one goal at the main break.
The goal for goal trend continued into the third quarter with Lovett on top through the midfield and Bendigo team-mate Ali Fahour providing defensive pressure around the middle of the ground.
Essendon listed big man, Tom Bellchambers, who was impressive all day in his first game for Bendigo, snapped sharply from the pocket following a free kick from a scuffle and a fired up Bendigo took the lead to 15 points.
Tasmania would not go away and answered a short time later with a goal to return the deficit to only nine points.
Angus Monfries then marked strongly overhead and goaled after the three quarter time siren to send Bendigo into the last quarter with a healthy 15 point lead.
Bendigo maintained their momentum for the beginning of the final term and could quite easily have ended any remaining Tasmanian hope had they kicked straighter when shooting for goal.
The Bombers had only kicked two behinds for the entire first three quarters but failed to put Tasmania away as they booted nine behindsin the final quarter, a string of which came early in the term.
Two quick Tasmanian goals reduced the margin to seven points before Bendigo forward Grant Weeks provided two steadying goals to kick the Bombers clear.
Andrew Lovett capped off a pleasing individual performance when he casually went back and booted a long torpedo from well inside the centre square to seal the game for Bendigo.
Kyle Reimers was among Bendigo’s best players providing hard running from defence and helping to set up several goals going forward.
Cale Hooker and Courtney Johns provided good targets up forward with several strong marks and Blair Holmes and Captain James Flaherty also played important parts in the win.
The final score was Bendigo 18.11.119 defeating Tasmania 13.12.90.
player kicks handballs marks
Lovett 24 10 5
Monfries 18 7 5
Hislop 16 7 10
Bowe 8 10 2
Davies 9 8 8
Fahour 5 10 1
Holmes 11 4 3
Hartigan 9 5 4
Hooker 9 5 9
Geary 8 5 3
Crameri 6 7 2
Bristow 3 9 2
Reimers 8 4 3
Chartres 9 3 5
Johns 7 3 5
Welsh 10 0 6
Lee 6 3 5
Pears 6 2 1
Bellchambers 6 2 4
Flatherty 1 6 0
