Playing their first home game of the season at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, the young Bombers were outclassed by a more slick Scorpions side, which won 20.13 (133) to 14.8 (92), with the loss leaving Bendigo 12th on the ladder.

While the scoreline may show a 41-point defeat, the Bombers were still in with a sniff of victory at the 16-minute mark of the final term.

The game had looked all but over at the 10-minute mark of the last quarter when a goal to Casey’s Chris Dunne gave the Scorpions a 34-point break.

However, in the next six minutes the Bombers slammed on three quick goals through Brent Hartigan, Jarrod Atkinson and Josh Bowe to draw within 17 points at the 16-minute mark and with all the momentum their way.

But just as they had done in the third term when the Bombers also kicked three consecutive goals to rally from a 34-point deficit, the Scorpions were able to withstand the Bendigo challenge.

Casey rounded the game out by kicking the last four goals of the match, including another two to Dunne, to record their third straight win and beat the Bombers for just the second time in eight meetings.

‘‘We’re trying to work on our starts and picking up a man when we don’t have the football,’’ Bombers coach Adrian Hickmott said after the loss.

‘‘We needed to do it today, and we didn’t.

‘‘I told the guys at half-time that I can’t comprehend why we don’t do that.

‘‘I was disappointed with that, but more disappointed and hurt for their team-mates because when one bloke did a good job, the next let him down, so that’s what I will take out of his game.’’ The Bombers’ lack of accountability was evident in the fact the Scorpions were able to take 26 marks inside their forward 50, of which 10 directly resulted in goals.

Down the other end, Bendigo took just three marks inside 50.

Inside the first 10 minutes of the first term both sides had kicked two goals in an even start.

But when St Kilda-listed player Shane Birss kicked the Scorpions’ third goal at the 13-minute mark, Casey wouldn’t be headed for the rest of the match.

By quarter-time the Scorpions led 6.0 to 3.1 and the signs were looking ominous for Bendigo.

The backline appeared to lack communication as three times in the first term Bendigo turned the ball over under pressure inside 50, which resulted in scoring chances for the Scorpions, who converted two of them.