From Bendigo Adveriser
Reported by Luke West
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THE Bendigo Bank Bombers are headed for their first finals series since 2007 following an eight-point win over a star-studded Collingwood on Saturday.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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THE VFL markets itself as the competition where the ‘‘AFL meets grassroots’’.
And it’s a slogan that epitomises today’s round 16 clash between the Bendigo Bank Bombers and Collingwood.

From bendigobombers.com.au
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The Bendigo Bombers will play their scheduled 2010 season home games against the Werribee Tigers and Collingwood Magpies at the Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club’s Tannery Lane oval.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have these home games back in our local area” Bendigo’s General Manager, Peter Lodewijks said today.

“We’ll play at Strathfieldsaye against the Werribee Tigers this Saturday 24th July at 1.00PM and then Collingwood will be our opponent on Saturday 7th August at 12:00PM.”

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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THE Bendigo Bank Bombers squandered a 40-point half-time lead against the Gold Coast on Saturday as they lost their VFL match in Cairns with a kick after the siren.

Scores were level at 89 apiece when the final siren sounded.

However, at the final siren Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith had the ball in his hands 40m out after marking a pass from Hayden Jolly.

Kicking into the breeze, any score would do for the Gold Coast to win just its third game of the season.

Smith’s kick after the siren went through for a behind, which gave the Gold Coast a 13.12 (90) to 13.11 (89) victory at Cazaly’s Stadium.

The defeat was a bitter blow for the eighth-placed Bombers, who are now 6-7 and with a tough fight on their hands over the last five rounds if they are to play finals for the first time since 2007.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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THE Bendigo Bank Bombers yesterday lost their fourth-consecutive game of the VFL season, but not before giving reigning premier North Ballarat an almighty scare.
In a game switched to Essendon’s Windy Hill because of surface concerns with the Queen Elizabeth Oval, the Roosters prevailed by six points in a thriller, 15.14 (104) to 15.8 (98).

Yesterday’s defeat leaves the Bombers – who had at one stage been 5-1 – with a 5-5 record and in seventh position heading into their mid-season break.

The Bombers had led by seven points during the last quarter, but the Roosters showed their class to answer Bendigo’s challenge and beat their country rivals for the 11th time in 12 meetings.

“It was a heartbreaking loss, but it’s probably the best we’ve played all year,’’ Bombers coach Shannon Grant said.

From Bendigo Advertiser
Reported by Luke West
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A FRUSTRATED Bendigo Bank Bombers chairman David Joss has branded the Queen Elizabeth Oval the “laughing stock” of football in country Victoria.
Joss’ stinging comments yesterday came after, for the second time in as many seasons, the QEO surface was deemed unsuitable to host VFL football.

The Bombers were scheduled to meet country rivals North Ballarat at the QEO in round 10 this Sunday, but following an inspection by both clubs yesterday morning, the game has been switched to Essendon’s Windy Hill after surface concerns.

In a further blow for the Bombers, the shifting of the game has forced the club to postpone its Team of the Decade function on Sunday night.

Although at this stage it’s just this Sunday’s match that has been transferred, there’s no guarantees the Bombers will be back on the QEO this season.

From the Bendigo Advertiser
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BENDIGO Bank Bombers chairman David Joss yesterday said the 2010 model for the football club was already proving a success - on and off-field - and benefiting the local football league.
“The new alignment model is unique to the VFL and it is working very well,’’ Joss said.

“It allows for the Bendigo Bombers to remain aligned to Essendon, field a VFL senior side only and release those players not selected to play with their aligned local club which has been great for Bendigo football.’’Joss made his comments following a media report questioning the Bendigo partnership with Essendon.

“The licence required to play in the VFL is still held between AFL-Vic and the Bendigo Bombers.

“We also remain an aligned club but, because we no longer have a reserves team, AFL-Vic has fit us under the same player-rule structure as applies to the Geelong and Collingwood Football Clubs.

THE Bendigo Bank Bombers' rapid improvement in the VFL continued on Saturday when they defeated Sandringham by 16 points.
The Bombers entered the match at Trevor Barker Beach Oval having lost their previous 10 encounters against the Zebras by an average of 37 points.

However, Sandringham's stranglehold over Bendigo has now been broken after the Bombers won 16.17 (113) to 15.7 (97).

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The Bombers - who were winless last year - are one of four teams, along with reigning premier North Ballarat, Williamstown and the Casey Scorpions, that have a 5-1 record after six rounds.

Saturday loomed as a danger game for Bendigo, with the Zebras playing on their home ground and determined to bounce back from a shock 92-point loss to Port Melbourne the previous week.

"Sandringham started really well and came out firing, as we knew they would after their result from last week,'' Bendigo coach Shannon Grant said.

From Bendigo Advertiser
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THE Bendigo Bank Bombers are on their best winning streak since 2005 after overcoming a spirited challenge from the Gold Coast in their VFL clash at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.

In front of a big crowd, the Bombers won 15.17 (107) to 12.9 (81) as they registered their fourth consecutive victory.

The last time the Bombers won four games in a row was the opening four matches of the 2005 season.

With their 4-1 record the vastly improved Bombers remain in fourth position on the ladder.

Gold Coast, which next year will become the AFL’s 17th club, made a solid start to the game.

Playing a quick, free-flowing brand of footy, coupled with strong defensive pressure, Gold Coast led by seven points at quarter-time, 5.3 to 4.2.

Two of Bendigo’s four first-quarter goals were kicked by Mark Williams, both from marks on the lead.

Three minutes into the second term Gold Coast extended its lead to 13 points following a goal to Charlie Dixon, who cleverly slotted a 45m set shot from the swimming pool flank.

With the challenge being laid down to Bendigo, the Bombers responded with a string of four goals in succession to Travis Colyer, best-on-ground Marcus Marigliani (two) and Jason Laycock between the five and 17-minute marks to establish a 13-point break.

The run of four straight goals was kick-started in the middle, with the Bombers winning the first five centre breaks of the quarter after the Gold Coast had earlier held sway 7-3 in the first term.

From Bendigo Advertiser

MACORNA teenager Matthew Ladson will made his debut with the Bendigo Bank Bombers in round five of the VFL tomorrow.
The 18-year-old has been selected in the Bombers side for their clash with Gold Coast at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in a game to be shown on ABC TV.

Ladson will play as the Bombers’ 23rd player under a VFL rule that allows players straight out of the TAC Cup to play a maximum of two games as an extra player.

Ladson’s selection for the Bombers comes after his solid performances off half-back for his aligned Bendigo Football League club Strathfieldsaye over the past month.