Of course, being the first year of a new club there have been a few firsts for the Bendigo Bombers this season. The first win, a hard fought Round 1 battle against Sandringham. The home victory, an emphatic performance over premiership contender Port Melbourne where Jobe Watson started to break free from his ‘Son of Tim’ tag. The agonising draw with Tasmaina, which has left both teams on equal points with must win games. Even the painful reminder of the past, the Bendigo Diggers guernseys made an appearance against Coburg and still couldn’t break their streak of losses.
The round one victory came as a shock, a rush of blood to the head for the all too eager Bendigo team. It seemed a little too much too soon for the new club who promptly slumped. They flailed through their next 8 games, the two points they gained in total indicative of their mediocre performance.
Halfway through the season coach Peter Banfield appeared strained. He was obviously fed up with the three quarter performances his team was putting together. Something clicked, whether it was to completely wipe the slate clean or otherwise Banfield swapped the QE Oval stand for the Bendigo pool and instigated a turnaround. He proclaimed his message on the local news and while many may have been sceptical, hope started to grow in the hearts of the faithful.
The time came for Banfield to make true. Against top four side Port Melbourne, the Bombers came out flying. They were hard and fast, determined and courageous and were worthy winners. Bendigo Bombers season 2003 had been allowed to start anew.
The next five games were not easy. But with the confidence now instilled within the team they grouped together and powered their way back into the eight. Earlier in the year perhaps the players commitment was doubted as they fell into a losing path. Now they played like the victors they were as they turned the once silent QEO grandstand into the roar that should accompany a home team.
In the last two weeks the Bombers have faltered, cut down by injuries and slipping away from the final frontier. However courtesy of last weeks VFL results and the draw that sees Geelong with the bye this week, Bendigo have one last chance.
Toppling top-four side Williamstown is a hard ask, but the signs are there to suggest that Bendigo could do it, after all they have the reason. Each and every player should be aware of the history that could be created at the QEO this Sunday and should be working towards the fairytale ending they deserve, a finals berth.
Story by Merryn Sherwood
