BEATING Geelong is a feat the Bendigo Pioneers have rarely achieved in the past decade of the TAC Cup football competition.
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The Pioneers line-up of 2015 faces a big task in the Anzac Day clash with the Falcons at Craigieburn.
Bendigo's intensity led to a goalscoring spree in the second quarter of its latest clash with Dandenong.
"That's the template to follow," Pioneers' coach Brett Henderson said of a quarter in which the team forced turnovers and capitalised.
"The intensity has to stay at that sort of level and for longer.
"We have shown we can play great football."
Henderson said pressure was a must against a Falcons' line-up that "loves to use the corridor" and back its skills.
The Pioneers regain Sandhurst's Tommy Cole from commitments with the AIS AFL Academy.
Also back are key position players Rhys Free and Jesse Muscatello.
Golden Square's Sam Harper is an inclusion along with first-game players Riley Hogan from Strathfieldsaye and Will Lowe from Colbinabbin.
Hogan and Lowe add to the Pioneers run and skill through midfield or off half-back.
Maryborough's Billy Mahony and Castlemaine's Braidon Blake are injured, and Gol Gol's Kobe Mutch is in New Zealand playing for the AIS AFL.
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