Harvey said the players' attitude as much as anything else had cost the Braves a chance to contend for third sport on the SEABL south conference leader.

Instead they are locked in battle with North West Tasmania Thunder for fourth spot, ahead of a crucial match against the third-placed Dandenong Rangers next weekend.

The Rangers (10-6) lead the Braves (9-8) on the ladder by one win, but have played one less game than the defending national champions.

After winning four straight games and five of their last six, Harvey said the Braves had simply lost their swagger against the Blues.

"We were outplayed, out-hustled and out-rebounded," he said.

"They wanted it more and it showed.

"I just don't think we came out ready. 

"Frankston, obviously with a change in guard of their coach, really came out hungry.

"They average 78 points a game and they scored 97; we had 32 stops, our worst number for the year and they killed us on the rebounds.

"I thought we trained harder during the week than we played on the night."

The Braves were not without their chances, leading by five points at quarter time and on two occasions during the match by seven points.

But it was the Blues, who finished stronger, outscoring the Braves' 47-36 in the second half.

Bendigo was led by import C. J. Aiken, who capped a massive game with a Braves season-high 34 points and 18 rebounds.

Adam Doyle was next best on the stat sheet with 16 points and six assists.

Import Alex Francis led Frankston with 23 points and eight rebounds, well-aided by Nathan Buss with 16 points and eight rebounds.

With the Blues heading into the match at 4-12, it was a game the Braves certainly let slip, as they have don a few times this season against lower-ranked opponents.

"When our backs against the wall we seem to challenge oursleves and go to the next level," Harvey said.

"Maybe we have to think that every team we are playing is Mount Gambier, is Nunawading, or Hobart.

"We went out and thought it was all going to happen, but it didn't."