AFTER copping a 166-point hiding from Footscray on Anzac Day, it doesn't get any easier for the Bendigo Gold when they confront the unbeaten Port Melbourne in round five of the VFL on Saturday.
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The big question is which Gold side will turn up at North Port Oval at 2pm?
Will it be the one that competed strongly against Essendon on Good Friday before being over-run in the second half, or will it be the one that was comprehensively outplayed by Footscray seven days later and copped the third biggest hiding in Bendigo's VFL history?
"Last week we went away from the real basics of contested footy and being really strong defensively," Gold coach Aussie Jones said on Friday.
"They are the two key areas we've been judging ourselves on all year and we were very poor last week.
"How we compete and how we defend are the two biggest things we'll be looking at this week.
"We certainly don't tolerate last week and the players are well aware of that. As a coaching staff we made some errors as well, but selection helps us a bit this week in being able to bring in a lot of experience."
The inclusions in the Gold side this week are defender Jesse Wallin, who returns from suspension, midfielder Mitch Hough, Tom Hams for his first game of the season and Jack Sketcher.
"This is probably the strongest side we'll put on the park all year and we really need the experience and bigger bodies against Port Melbourne," Jones said.
Port Melbourne is coming off a 27-point win over Williamstown last week.