On paper at least, it looked a daunting challenge for the Bendigo Bank Bombers at Tannery Lane on Saturday.
The Bombers’ opposition was a Collingwood VFL side that was so strong there wasn’t a spot for its captain Kris Pendlebury.
All 22 players who took to the field for the Magpies were Collingwood-listed.
Among them were the likes of Josh Fraser – who kicked the first goal of the game – Tarkyn Lockyer and Shane O’Bree, who have all played in AFL grand finals for Collingwood, along with Paul Medhurst and John Anthony.
But the Bombers thrived on the tough challenge to upstage their more fancied opponents, winning 12.12 (84) to 10.16 (76).
Saturday was a brilliant advertisement for the Bombers as a club.
There was a massive crowd at Strathfieldsaye to watch the game – sure, many of them came to support Collingwood – but the Bombers didn’t disappoint on the big stage.
It was a fantastic dress rehearsal for the finals, which is where the Bombers are now headed in three weeks’ time after improving their record to 9-7.
Remember, just one win would have been an improvement this year after the disaster of last season.
The Bombers led at each change on Saturday, starting with a 10-point advantage at quarter-time, 4.1 to 2.3.
The first term was all about making the most of their opportunities for the Bombers.
Collingwood – which had 19-year-old Tom Hunter stretchered off early in the opening quarter – dominated possession in the first term, having 15 inside 50s to just seven, and winning the stoppages around the ground 9-5.
But from their seven entries inside 50, the Bombers kicked four goals through Ben Duscher, Tom Bellchambers, Ricky Dyson and Jake Carlisle.
Down the other end, the Bombers’ backline held up brilliantly as they constantly repelled the Magpies’ attacking forays.
From 10 points up at quarter-time, the Bombers extended their advantage to 30 at half-time.
Bendigo’s run from the back half and pressure was superb in the second quarter. Twice in the space of a minute the Bombers forced Collingwood’s Jaxson Barham and Tom Young to kick out on the full.
The Bombers added 4.6 to 1.4 in the second quarter, but they should have been more than 30 points up at half-time.
Twice Irishman Michael Quinn hit the post in the second term, while Carlisle missed from 15m out.
Forward Jason Cloke produced one of the game’s highlights with 1:15 left in the second quarter when he cleverly got boot to a bouncing ball to snap the Bombers’ eighth goal.
Ultimately, the Bombers’ strong first half proved to be the difference. As expected, Collingwood refused to wilt, but the 30-point deficit was too great to overhaul.
The Magpies dominated the second half, kicking 7.9 to 4.5, but for the second time this season they were beaten by Bendigo, having also lost to the Bombers by 30 points in round three.
In what was an even team effort, Stewart Crameri, who kicked two goals, was named the Bombers’ best.
“He played half-back and through the midfield, and his work-rate and contested work in close was a highlight,’’ Bombers coach Shannon Grant said.
Also in the best for the Bombers were Leroy Jetta, Jake Melksham, David Myers, Dyson – who played on Lockyer – and Tyson Slattery.
Henry Slattery drew high praise from Grant for his defensive job on Medhurst, holding him goalless.
This article appears thanks to the Bendigo Advertiser.
