Filo said he was left gutted by the performance of the reigning premiers in the 13.14 (92) to 13.12 (90) loss.

''South Bendigo was probably an eight-goal better side over the course of the day; we just relied on talent and didn't put our head over the ball,'' Filo said.

''We've got some real concerns . . . we were just soft, which is the first time I've said that about any of the teams I've coached.

''We just got beaten by a team that was harder at the ball. 'Our guys have got a lot of soul searching to do because we were soft and scared, there's no need to beat around the bush about that.''

No more than 17 points separated the two sides in a game full of momentum swings.

But it was the Bloods who had the momentum when it mattered, kicking three of the last four goals of the game in the final nine minutes to win the thriller by two points.

After leading by 17 points at three quarter-time - the biggest margin of the game - the Bloods conceded the first five goals of the last term as the Hawks opened an 11-point lead.

The week before against the Roos the Bloods had surrendered a 17-point lead in the last term, but they weren't going to do it again.

A spurt of three goals, which included two to Zac East and one to captain John Hardinge, in the space of six minutes had the Bloods out to a nine-point lead, a deficit the Hawks could not reel in.

It was fitting Hardinge kicked the goal to give the Bloods back the lead for good at the 25-minute mark of the last term.

Playing mainly at full-forward, Hardinge was the standout player on the ground. He finished with four goals, took six marks - all of them contested - and was instrumental as the Bloods recovered from a 16-point deficit eight minutes into the second quarter to go into half-time with a 12-point lead.

South Bendigo ...............3.1 7.7 10.10 13.14 (92)

Eaglehawk .......................3.5 5.7 7.11 13.12 (90)

GOALS - South Bendigo: J. Hardinge 4, Z. East 3, B. Rohde, B. Strange, S. Bergin, B. Childs, A. Connaughton, R. Connaughton. Eaglehawk: B. Herdman 4, D. Filo 3, D. Lock 2, B. O'Sullivan, R. Threlfall, M. Gretgrix, G. Crawford.

BEST - South Bendigo: J. Hardinge, A. Connaughton, D. Jones, Z. East, R. Connaughton, G. Bowles. Eaglehawk: C. Millward, K. Robins, T. Nicolson, B. Herdman.

GISBORNE v MARYBOROUGH

In front by just five points at half-time, Gisborne put in a remarkable third-quarter blitz in its clash with Maryborough.

The Bulldogs kicked 9.5 for the term against the Pies against Princes Park.

At the other end of the field, Gisborne's defence led by Cameron Medica, Marcus Barham and Rodney Sharp held Maryborough to 2.2.

In just over 30 minutes the Bulldogs turned a five-point lead into a 50-point margin.

Gisborne coach Marcus Barham said the team started to win a lot more contests across half-forward in the third quarter.

Among the changes made by Gisborne's coaching panel at half-time was Anthony Belcher into the ruck and Jordan Barham to centre half-forward.

''In the first half we won most of the centre breaks, but fell down across half-forward a few times,'' Barham said.

''Our play in the third quarter, especially at half=forward was a lot better.''

Leader in the race for the Ron Best Medal, Jordan Barham kicked five goals for Gisborne, with Levi Moss next best on three.

Maryborough coach Shane Fisher led the Magpies' attack on four goals.

Gisborne .....................3.6 8.9 17.14 20.18 (138)

Maryborough ....................4.3 8.4 10.6 12.9 (81)

GOALS - Gisborne: J. Barham 5, L. Moss 3, R. Sharp 2, J. Duff-Teitler, M. Fitzgerald, O. Messaoudi, M. Barham, G. Bowes, S. Comerford, M. Thornton, T. May. Maryborough: S. Fisher 4, J. Bond 2, M. Brown 2, T. Cornwill, M. Jennings, M. Bilton, M. Kennedy.

BEST - Gisborne: C. Medica, T. May, G. Bowes, M. Fitzgerald, R. White, C. Summerfield. Maryborough: S. Fisher, B. Jackson, C. Skinner, G. Chadwick, A. Hurse, T. Cornwill.

KYNETON v KANGAROO FLAT

Kangaroo Flat's key forwards Tyrone Downie and Justin Maddern nailed six second half goals each, and all 12 of the Roos' majors after half-time, as their side cruised to a 104-point win at the Kyneton Showgrounds.

Downie ended the round 13 clash with nine majors in a superb display of precision marking and kicking.

For most of the contest, Andrew Gladman and Brendan Hehir controlled the Roos' back half, while Shannon Geary, Nick Lang and Ryan Doherty kept their forwards supplied with plenty of the ball.

The Roos had five goals on the board at the first change, kicking towards the scoreboard end on a bleak and breezy afternoon.

The Tigers just couldn't goal in the second term as Cook and Cameron Tate were offline.

Downie (2) and Nathan Meade scored goals as the Roos extended their lead to 55 points by half-time.

The Tigers nailed three of the first four goals in the third term, with Ben Edmonds, Erwin and coach Cook on target.

Downie and Maddern, who was goalless in the first half, kicked three goals each as the visitors led by 75 points.

The Roos' key forwards added three more each in the gloom of the last term.

Downie's seventh capped off one of the plays of the day.

Courageously running with the flight of the ball, Downie marked on his shoulder centimetres from the goal line - and potted the major from point blank range.

Kangaroo Flat .................5.3 9.6 15.8 21.9 (135)

Kyneton .................................0.3 0.5 3.7 4.7 (31)

GOALS - Kangaroo Flat: T. Downie 9, J. Maddern 6, J. West, N. Meade, M. Holt, P. Lobb, W. Bell (only names supplied). Kyneton: L. Erwin 2, B. Cook, B. Edmonds.

BEST - Kangaroo Flat: T. Downie, A. Gladman, J. Maddern, R. Doherty, S. Geary, N. Lang. Kyneton: B. Ruffell, D. Ciunik, J. Reardon, B. Dryden, E. Massina, B. Thaw.

CASTLEMAINE v SANDHURST

On a dismal day, played on an equally dismal Queen Elizabeth Oval surface that was a boggy mess after hosting two BFL games for the weekend, Castlemaine defeated Sandhurst 7.14 (56) to 1.10 (16).

The 40-point victory was the first time for the season the Magpies strung together consecutive wins.

The first quarter was played almost exclusively in Castlemaine's forward line, with the Magpies having the ball inside their 50m arc 21 times to the Dragons' six.

The inside 50 count remained just as lop-sided by the end of the game, finishing 59-32 in favour of the Magpies.

After Brody Culpitt kicked his second goal, and the Magpies' fifth for the game at the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, Castlemaine led by 35 points.

However, the Magpies wouldn't register another goal until the last quarter.

Sandhurst kicked its first and only goal of the game at the 15-minute mark of the second term when Oliver Stoltz kicked truly after marking 10m out.

The deadlock of goals in the second half was broken when Castlemaine captain James O'Brien snapped from 30m out 12 minutes into the last quarter.

Dustin Martin's goal on the run for the Magpies 12 minutes later was the only other major scored in a dull second half.

Scott Timmins was the Magpies' best as he was rock solid in defence all day, along with Mark Ramsay, another fellow recruit to Castlemaine this year.

For Sandhurst, which has now had 12 goal-less quarters this season, defenders Malcolm Borchard and coach Kieran Nihill, David Millard and youngster Nick Stagg played well.

Castlemaine ......................3.6 5.9 5.10 7.14 (56)

Sandhurst ...........................0.2 1.5 1.7 1.10 (16)

GOALS - Castlemaine: B. Culpitt 2, D. Martin, J. O'Brien, D. Tylor, J. Cordy, O. Cross. Sandhurst: O. Stoltz.

BEST - Castlemaine: J. O'Brien, D. Martin, M. Ramsey, S. Timmins, L. Walters, J. Cordy. Sandhurst: K. Nihill, D. Millard, M. Borchard, N. Stagg, J. Cozens, L. Watts.

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