Bloods bounce back with vengeance good signs for Golden Square

BRIDGING the gap between their best and worst performances will be the key to South Bendigo’s fortunes in the second half of the season, according to co-coach Troy Coates.

The Bloods warmed up for a blockbuster clash against Eaglehawk this weekend, with a stirring 42-point win over Gisborne at Harry Trott Oval on Saturday.

It was a season-best win for the Bloods, who have now beaten the Bulldogs, who finished runners-up last year, twice this season.

Serving to highlight Coates and co-coach Jack Fallon’s desire for greater consistency, the win followed what most viewed as an upset loss to Strathfieldsaye, headlined by a poor second half.

Coates hailed the Bloods strong rebound against Gisborne as huge.

“We were really disappointed last week. I’ve been trying to instill in the boys all year that our best footy is as good as anyone’s, we just have to have the belief,” he said.

“We really focused on taking the game on and backing ourselves.

“It was great to see.

“Even though it the margin was 25 or 30 points most of the day, we always knew they would keep coming.

“They are a quality side and there was always that doubt that they could easily come back on us.”

A pair of wins over Gisborne is no small achievement, which is perhaps why Coates remains a little non-plussed at the week-to-week variation in performance.

He is anticipating greater consistency in the run to finals.

“We have had patches this year when we have played two really good quarters and then we go into our shell and it’s like we become a bit nervous,” he said.

“I said it at the start of the year, I think we are going to get better and better as the year goes on as we have so many new players.

“But I was so proud of the group – everyone played their role.

“We threw some players around – I had Brock Harvey up on a wing at times – it was good to see blokes adapt.”

Coates praised the effort of ruckman Callum Crisp against “quality opposition” as sensational, with plaudits also flowing the way of Anthony Zimmerman, Josh Nitschke for his effort on Pat Mckenna, and class midfielder Brody Haddow, who has stamped himself as a Michelsen Medal contender.

The Bloods will be looking to avenge an earlier season loss to Eaglehawk in Saturday’s clash.

Excited by the happenings at Harry Trott Oval, Coates and Fallon have already put pen to paper to continue as coaches in 2026.

 

“We knew when we signed that we were in for a longer haul and things weren’t going to happen overnight,” Coates said.

“We are keen to continue what’s going on at the club.

“The reserves are going well and so are the juniors and our netballers.

“It’s a good place to be around at the moment.”

Meanwhile, Golden Square will continue to chase greater consistency after breaking through for its second win of the season last Saturday against Castlemaine.

The Bulldogs delivered a huge blow to an injury-hit Castlemaine’s finals hopes with a 23-point triumph at Wade Street.

Only one-point separated the two teams at three-quarter time, before the Bulldogs – led by Tom Strauch and Jack Stewart – kicked clear in a dominant final term.

Playing his second game back from an injury, Stewart booted two of his three goals for the match in the last quarter.

Bulldogs coach Brad Eaton said it was pleasing to see his players earn some reward for a big week on the track in response to their loss to Eaglehawk.

“Hopefully, it’s a bit of a sign of things to come. We definitely played with a lot more freedom and trained like that during the week,” he said.

“We tried to change some things up and that certainly showed.

“It felt a lot better, taking the game on a bit more and shifting the footy a bit more, which we haven’t done.

“We’ve been defending our arses off and trying to hang in there.”

While inaccuracy prevented the Bulldogs from posting a bigger win – they kicked 3.8 in the final term – Eaton could not have been happier with the way they controlled the game in the final quarter.

Clearly one of the beneficiaries of the more attacking game plan, Strauch was dominant in the midfield.

Xavier Carter two goals was strong at both ends of the ground, moving into defence in the second half, while Daniel Keating rucked tirelessly, and Zac Westcott produced one of his best games in blue and gold.

Momentum and belief will be needed in spades when the Bulldogs front up against league leaders Sandhurst this Saturday at the QEO.

While it will be a tough ask, Eaton is adamant on at least one thing he would like to see from his side.

“I’d love to start well and be even with them at quarter time,” he said.

“When we do that, we are in most games.

“I feel we have a much better side and a more balanced side than we did when we first played them, and a bit more leg speed now and some blokes coming into form.

“It will be a great challenge and it would be great to see us use the space at the QEO.”

Castlemaine remains two wins behind Strathfieldsaye in the battle for fifth, ahead of a must-win game against Kangaroo Flat.

Round 9 recap:

South Bendigo 17.13 (115) defeated Gisborne 9.19 (73); Golden Square 10.15 (75) defeated Castlemaine 7.10 (52); Sandhurst 16.6 (102) defeated Strathfieldsaye 4.8 (32); Kangaroo Flat 4.13 (37) lost to Eaglehawk 14.16 (100).

Round 10: Eaglehawk v South Bendigo; Sandhurst v Golden Square; Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne; Castlemaine v Kangaroo Flat.