![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2025\/06\/b6def0c0-2b80-40c5-8_73314.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“It gives our girls such confidence for the rest of the season and hopefully it makes the competition think that South are here to play \u2026 that there’s another team here,” she said.<\/p>\n
Having struggled to find a consistent pairing in the goal circle due to pre and in season injuries and absences, Bowles was licking her lips at the prospect of Furphy lining up alongside her Strikers teammate Gabe Richards for the first time in red and white.<\/p>\n
The duo did not disappoint, giving the Bloods a pair of strong targets and scoring options.<\/p>\n
Richards finished with 42 goals in an intriguing one-one-one battle with Bulldogs star Charlee Kemp, one of the league’s premier defenders, earning lavish praise from her coach.<\/p>\n
“Gabe was absolutely awesome,” Bowles said.<\/p>\n
“To be honest, they all came out firing.<\/p>\n
“Gabe is such a presence, not only in game-play, but I think I’ve said this time and time again, as a person she just directs so much play out on court in such a positive way.<\/p>\n
“She gives others so much confidence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Obviously having Bridgette in the mix as well on Saturday – she is such a smart player. Having her and Gabe combining at Strikers and then bringing that into South is amazing.<\/p>\n “I thought our defenders were incredible \u2013 Hayley Harrington and Maggie Burke were awesome.<\/p>\n “Kyla Byrne stood up at wing attack and Andrea Wilson is having a great season.<\/p>\n “I just think it was such a great team performance.”<\/p>\n With momentum building, Bowles, in his first year at the helm at South Bendigo, said she was ultra-excited to see what her side could achieve in the second half of the season.<\/p>\n “We won’t shy away from the fact they had two really big outs \u2013 Zoe Davies and Claudia Mawson \u2013 but a win like this means so much to our team,” she said.<\/p>\n “Last week against Strathfieldsaye was a great step for us and this week we just came out firing.<\/p>\n “If we can beat Eaglehawk, it opens some possibilities and we could even sneak into third.<\/p>\n “It’s all about confidence.”<\/p>\n Gisborne’s loss came on the back of a spirited eight-goal defeat by top-of-the-ladder Kangaroo Flat.<\/p>\n It is the first time the Bulldogs have suffered back-to-back defeats since round 16 and 17 of their 2023 premiership season when they lost to Sandhurst and South Bendigo.<\/p>\n The Bloods have proved a bit of a bogey side for the Bulldogs in recent seasons, also beating them in 2022.<\/p>\n Round 9 recap:<\/p>\n Kangaroo Flat 74 defeated Eaglehawk 33; Sandhurst 70 defeated Strathfieldsaye 40; South Bendigo 51 defeated Gisborne 49; Golden Square bye.<\/p>\n Round 10:<\/p>\n Eaglehawk v South Bendigo; Sandhurst v Golden Square; Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne; Kangaroo Flat bye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BELIEF is continuing to build at South Bendigo, as the Bloods eye three consecutive wins and a sneaky chance of a spot in the top three. The Bloods continued their second half of season charge with a gutsy two-goal win last Saturday over reigning premier Gisborne at Harry Trott Oval. Bolstered by the inclusion of […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2025\/06\/6198d2b8-af30-4710-a_75558.jpg\")