With skipper Jack Geary, key forward Travis Baird, key defender Brayden Dorrington and midfielders Brad Eaton and Dale Lowry all watching from the sidelines and eight players on the park with less than 12 senior games of BFNL footy under their belt, it would have been understandable if Square went down to a South Bendigo team desperate to claim a scalp.

The way Golden Square plays under coach Bernie Haberman it doesn't matter which 22 players pull on the blue and gold jumper. The system doesn't change and, more importantly, the buy-in from the players in that system doesn't falter.

The Bulldogs worked harder for longer and wore down the Bloods in trademark fashion – 13.14 (92) to 11.10 (76).

The defensive zone was hard to crack, the Dogs laid 98 tackles and every one of their 22 players played a role.

Jon Coe made his name in the BFNL as an elite defender. In Geary's absence, Coe played in the centre where his contested ball work was first-class.

In Trav Baird's absence, Jayden Burke took on the role as Square's premier forward and his strong hands in difficult conditions and work ethic were superb.

Golden Square's willingness to work harder was epitomised by Burke.

After taking a strong mark on the half-back flank halfway through the second quarter, the former Williamstown and Bendigo Pioneers key position player ran hard inside 50 and made multiple leads before eventually getting clear to mark in the forward pocket.

He calmly slotted the goal to steady the ship after the Bloods had kicked the previous major.

Midway through the final quarter the Bloods were still nipping away at the Dogs, but it was Burke who stood up in the key moments to seal the points.

He took a mark on the lead and kicked truly before two minutes later snapping a goal over his right shoulder.

Even 16-year-old first-gamer Alex Jenkyn gave the Bulldogs a spark.

The lightly-built small forward had limited possessions, but when he did touch the ball something positive happened.

He kicked 3.1 on debut and played a major hand in another goal in the first quarter.

In the rooms after the game, an elated Haberman labelled the win as good a win as he's been involved in at the club.

In contrast, South Bendigo coach Brady Childs kept his players out on the ground for 15 minutes after the final siren.

With the race for finals spots between the top six teams so tight, the Bloods let a golden opportunity slip and the coach wasn't happy.

Yes, South Bendigo was without its best player – ruckman Kieran Strachan. If the Bloods want to be treated as a genuine finals contender that was a game they had to win and they fell short.