June 11, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser
IT has taken almost half-a-season, but Metricon Bendigo Bombers coach Matthew Knights is now starting to feel a real sense of unity and cohesion within his team.
After a frustrating start to the season when the Bombers won just one of their first six games, Bendigo has now strung two victories together on the trot.
The Bombers will chase their third win in succession today when they host the Box Hill Hawks at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in what is now their traditional Queen's Birthday match.
Should Bendigo beat the Hawks, the Bombers can move to as high as sixth on the ladder after nine rounds.
"If we play to the same level in regards to our structures and the way we took the game on against Coburg last week, we're confident we will do well," Knights said.
"The boys have got a taste or it now, and probably the best thing that has happened over the past month is we have balanced our side out.
"Simon Rosa, James Flaherty and Courtney Johns have now played three or four weeks together down back.
"In the midfield, it has been good to bring (ruckman) Lachlan McKinnon back in the mix with Ben Jolley, Sam Lonergan and the like.
"And up forward, we're starting to get Grant Weeks playing with Kepler Bradley, and Aaron Connaughton and Shannon Geary have spent time up there.
"The boys are starting to get to know each other's game, and that's vitally important."
The Bombers have beaten Coburg (52 points) and Frankston (23) in their past two games.
Last week's win over Coburg at the QEO was the Bombers' biggest victory since they defeated Port Melbourne by 62 points in round 13 of the 2005 season.
"We have won two in a row, so that's a positive," Knights said.
"But we're going to have to string together more than two in a row to make a run at it.
"This game against Box Hill is of huge importance to us, and you can't afford to drop games like this at home."
Like the ninth-placed Bombers, the Hawks - who beat Bendigo by one point in the corresponding match last year - find themselves outside the top eight.
Box Hill sits in 11th position on the ladder on just two wins, but Knights isn't fooled by that.
One of the Hawks' two wins came two weeks ago against the top-of-the-ladder Geelong by 15 points.
"Box Hill is a very talented football team; they have a lot of the young Hawthorn raftees in there, plus Matthew Ball, Kristan Height and Nick Smith, who are very good VFL players."
Today's senior game starts at 2pm, following the reserves at 11.10am.
