However, the remaining 20 per cent of the match proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Calder's four-goal burst to start the second quarter and a three-goal surge encompassing the end of the third term and start of the final quarter undid the Pioneers' good work and the visitors scored a 13.14 (92) to 10.12 (72) victory.

"Calder is a good side, in really good form and you can't afford to have lapses,'' Pioneers' coach Rick Coburn said.

"We had little lapses in each quarter. We played good footy at times, but our ball use wasn't as clean as we'd like it and that's all Calder needed to get a nice enough break on us to control the game."

There were periods in the first half where the Pioneers had chances to put scoreboard pressure on the Cannons, but poor kicking and decision making going inside 50 hurt the home side.

"We didn't give our forwards the best service all day, particularly in the first half,'' Coburn said.

"We tried to pull the trigger more and be more aggressive with our ball use, but we weren't clean enough for long enough with the ball to make Calder defend for long periods."

Midfielder Jeremy Rodi was the Pioneers' best ahead of defender Riley Ironside and bottom-age duo Noah Walsh and Sam Conforti.

The 10th-placed Pioneers (4-8) are away to the Northern Knights and Greater Western Rebels and then home against the Gippsland Power in the final three rounds of the home and away season.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.