After six games without a win, the Bendigo Pioneers are back in the hunt for the NAB League finals after defeating the Geelong Falcons in Ballarat on Saturday.
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A six-goal to one second quarter was the catalyst for the Pioneers' 13.5 (83) to 7.12 (54) victory.
"We got a couple of players back into the side that had been unavailable for a couple of weeks and it was a nice team effort by the boys,'' Pioneers coach Rick Coburn said.
"In particular our backline led the way. They were strong all day.
"Will Wallace was back in the side after an ankle injury, Sean O'Farrell was back in the side and James Schischka played down back and those three gave us great experience and a really steady structure in defence.
"Ben Worme was our running half-back and he gave us plenty of drive."
Worme had 19 kicks and seven handballs to lead the Pioneers' possession count.
Schischka collected 20 touches, while in-form midfielder Riley Wilson had 20 possessions and one goal.
In attack, Josh Treacy was a standout with four goals.
The win puts the Pioneers one victory outside of the top eight.
"We think all of our games in the back-end of the season are an opportunity for us,'' Coburn said. "We've set ourselves up to finish strongly."
Pioneers 4.2, 10.5, 13.5, 13.5 (83) d Geelong 2.2, 3.4 5.9, 7.12 (54)
Goals - Pioneers: J. Treacy 4, Z. Murley 2, R. Clarke, S. Mitchell, F. Ellis Castle, A. Cole, J. Dick-O'Flaherty, R. Ironside, R. Wilson. Best - Pioneers: W. Wallace, B. Worme, J. Treacy, J. Schischka, R. Wilson, N. Walsh.
The Pioneers host the Murray Bushrangers at Victoria Park in Echuca next Saturday. The game is the curtain-raiser to the GVFL senior clash between Echuca and Rochester.
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