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BENDIGO endured one of its most disappointing days on the inter-league stage on Saturday, copping a 77-point hiding off arch-rival Ballarat.
The lacklustre Bendigo failed to kick a goal at the Peel Street end of the Eastern Oval in the second and final quarters in what was a 17.11 (113) to 4.12 (36) loss in the 5 v 6 clash in the AFL Victoria Country Championships.
The loss sends Bendigo back to the 7 v 8 game next year, where it will again play Gippsland for the fourth time in seven seasons.
Bendigo failed to match the inter-league heat Ballarat brought to the contest, and just like two years ago against the same opponent at the same ground, squandered the chance to apply early scoreboard pressure.
The Blue and Gold led by two points at quarter-time - 2.5 to 2.3 - after both sides kicked two goals apiece in the opening term.
Sam Mildren and Matt Thornton were Bendigo’s two key pillars inside 50 and both were quick to make their presence felt on the contest.
The pair took four marks apiece in the opening term and combined for five shots at goal, with Mildren registering 1.2 and Thornton 1.1.
Of Bendigo’s five behinds in the opening quarter, four were gettable set-shot misses through Mildren (two), Thornton and Brodie Filo in what took some of the early wind out of the Blue and Gold’s sails.
Bendigo’s inability to make the most of its chances would prove costly as Ballarat upped the ante in the second term and blew the game open.
While Bendigo wasted chances at the grandstand end in the first term, Ballarat’s first seven scores of the second quarter at the same end were all goals.
The match-winning burst from Ballarat started at the five-minute mark of the quarter when Daniel Tung snapped from the pocket to put the home team in front.
Ballarat wouldn’t relinquish the lead for the rest of the game as it put Bendigo to the sword, cutting the Blue and Gold apart with its run, team-work, crisp ball movement and functioning forward line.
Former Bendigo Pioneer Lucas Anderson provided the under siege Blue and Gold defence plenty of headaches with three second-quarter goals, while the lively Mitchell Phelps kicked two.
Down the other end, Bendigo’s forward line was rendered virtually non-existent as the only score it could register from 11 inside-50 entries for the term being a behind to Mildren at the 26-minute mark as Ballarat constantly rebounded.
Bendigo sorely missed the half-forward marking target in the second term of Thornton, who was shifted to the backline in an attempt to stem the tide.
Ballarat led by 41 points at half-time, 9.5 to 2.6, with Bendigo’s woes worsened by captain Jack Geary leaving the field in the second term with a concussion and potential bicep injury and not returning.
Despite trailing by 41 points on the scoreboard, Bendigo had been inside 50 as many times as Ballarat (22) in the first half.
There was no respite for Bendigo in the third quarter as Ballarat continued to assert its authority, while the Blue and Gold’s struggles inside 50 persisted.
Ballarat kicked the first five goals of the third quarter and was able to consistently hit-up targets across half-forward and inside 50, while the flat Bendigo was devoid of any confidence.
After Mildren had earlier kicked Bendigo’s second goal of the game at the 26-minute mark of the first term, Nick Stagg didn’t kick the Blue and Gold’s third until the 21-minute mark of the third quarter when he converted from a set-shot.
In between 50 minutes had elapsed, during which Ballarat kicked 12 unanswered goals.
Mitch Dole added Bendigo’s fourth goal four minutes later when he nailed a shot from 50m.
But it would be the Blue and Gold’s last goal of the match.
Bendigo failed to score in the final quarter, while Ballarat added three more goals as the final margin finished at 77 points.
Ballarat’s score by the 13-minute of the second quarter was already more than what Bendigo would kick for the entire game.
As well as Geary’s injury concerns, Filo (shoulder) also compounded a dirty day for the Blue and Gold, who smacked Ballarat 16-8 in centre clearances, but that good work was quickly undone once the ball went inside 50.
Bendigo’s best player was Thornton, who spent half the game forward and the other half back and took 13 marks.
Ruckman Tom Waters battled hard all game and was awarded Bendigo’s best on ground medal by the umpires, as did Brayden Dorrington across half-back, Justin Dorward and midfielders Lee Coghlan and Stagg.
While Bendigo struggled up forward, Ballarat constantly had options inside 50 after quarter-time and finished with nine goalkickers, led by four from Derick Micallef, who had the better of his duel with Tim Walsh.
Nathan Horbury had the ball on a string for Ballarat to be its best player.
MATCH STATISTICS:
Centre clearances: Bendigo 16; Ballarat 8.
Inside 50s: Bendigo 43; Ballarat 46.
Stoppages: Bendigo 17; Ballarat 19.
FINAL SCORES:
BALLARAT 17.11 (113)
Goal Kickers: D. Micallef 4, L. Anderson 3, D. Tung 2, S. Mc Cartin 2, M. Phelps 2, J. Bacon , G. Bell , M. Powell , R. Marshall
Best Players: N. Horbury , G. Bell , C. Currie , D. Kennedy , R. Hobbs , L. Anderson
BENDIGO 4.12 (36)
Goal Kickers: N. Stagg , M. Thornton , S. Mildren , M. Dole
Best Players: M. Thornton , B. Dorrington , J. Dorward , T. Waters , J. Hall , L. Coghlan