Bendigo Gold news

Carter’s back for Bendigo Bombers

By Robbo June 28, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

NICK Carter will play his first game in more than two months for the Metricon Bendigo Bombers this Saturday.

A calf injury has kept the former skipper out of the Bombers side since the loss to Port Melbourne by 40 points at TEAC Oval on Saturday, April 28.

But after extensive rehabilitation, Carter is set to make his long-awaited return when the Bombers take on Tasmania at Bellerive Oval in round 12 of the VFL this Saturday.

While he hasn't been out on the field, Carter has still had a significant role to play for the Bombers in his absence through his position as assistant coach to Matthew Knights.

'‘What I have been able to learn over the past six or seven weeks sitting in the coaches box has opened my eyes a little to the importance of effort and sticking to the game plan," Carter said yesterday.

‘‘Hopefully, that, and coupled with my fitness, I can perform okay this weekend.

Scorpions’ run stings Bombers

By Robbo June 25, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers' inability to win a close game reared its ugly head again at the Queen Elizabeth Oval yesterday.

Going into the last term of their VFL clash with the Casey Scorpions, the scores were level at 47 apiece after an arm-wrestle for the first three quarters.

But the Bombers fell away in the final quarter when the game had to be won, losing 10.12 (72) to 8.8 (56) to end their three-game winning streak.

Bendigo's lack of ability to win games still up for grabs in the final quarter has been glaring since the start of the 2006 season.

Already this year, the Bombers have lost games to top sides Sandringham and Williamstown by seven points or less, which has cost them the chance to be pushing for a position in the all-important top four.

Instead, Bendigo is now sitting in ninth position on the ladder and with plenty of work still to do if it's to return to the finals.

Last year, the Bombers played in five games decided by less than a goal - and lost them all.

Bombers’ star gains a real kick out of playing

By Robbo June 15, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

ADAM Ramanauskas says he isn't thinking about a return to AFL football, he's just content to be getting a kick with the Metricon Bendigo Bombers.

The possible return to the Essendon senior side of Ramanauskas has been a talking point this week, but the man himself is content to bide his time in the VFL with Bendigo.

Ramanauskas has made an inspirational return to football this year as an Essendon rookie after enduring a recurrence of cancer in his neck and a serious knee injury in the past two years.

The 26-year-old member of Essendon's 2000 premiership side has played five games with Bendigo this season, and is relishing the chance to just be back out on the football field, even if it's at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, rather than the MCG or Telstra Dome.

'‘It's just enjoyable playing footy again, to be honest," Ramanauskas told The Advertiser yesterday.

‘‘Things are going along okay; I'm just trying to do my part and not let down the younger fellows.

‘‘Being one of the older guys, I have to show a bit of experience out there and try to help them out as much as I can.

‘‘At the same time, I'm competitive like everyone else and I want to win.

Bombers blitz Hawks

By Robbo June 12, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser

THE Metricon Bendigo Bombers yesterday soared to a third consecutive victory when they thrashed the Box Hill Hawks by 62 points in their VFL clash at the QEO.

After trailing by five points at the midway mark of the third quarter, Bendigo dominated from there on.

The hundreds of fans at the traditional Queen's Birthday holiday weekend clash included Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd.

On-field it was a spin out of a tackle by Bendigo captain Simon Rosa to snap a right-foot goal at the 17-minute mark of the third term that put the red and black back in front.

In a matter of minutes the lead was 21 points after Grant Weeks was on the end of a Chris Heffernan pass, Kepler Bradley was free in a marking contest.

A crucial target in the Bombers' attack, Bradley then passed to an unguarded Kyle Reimers in the goalsquare to complete the hat-trick of goals.

The Bombers' turnaround could be attributed to many factors, but one of the most telling was Lachlan McKinnon's tap-outs at the centre bounces.

Bombers' team-mates Ricky Dyson, Heffernan, Jay Nash, Sam Lonergan and Adam Ramanauskas continually put the ball inside the 50 m arc.

When Box Hill did go forward they often found Courtney Johns, Andrew Lee and Richard Cole in the way.

Bombers' unity starts to develop

By Robbo 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.

Ramanauskas joins party as Coburg crashes

By Robbo June 04, 2007
From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

ADAM Ramanauskas and old Essendon mates Chris Heffernan and Scott Camporeale helped the Bendigo Bombers burst the Coburg Tigers' bubble with a resounding 52-point home win yesterday.

With Jason Cloke kicking four goals, the Bombers belied their ladder position - Coburg had won six straight and was six rungs higher than the ninth-placed Bombers before yesterday's game.

With Richmond emergencies Chris Hyde (beaten by Cloke) and Jack Riewoldt (two goals) having quiet afternoons, Bendigo again showed it was an improving outfit in its 19.10 (124) to 10.12 (72) triumph, coming on the back of a strong win at Frankston in the previous round.

The Bombers led by only 20 points at halftime but cleared out in the second half, kicking 4.1 to 0.5 in the third term and six goals to four in the last.

Bombers at home in Bendigo

By Robbo June 04, 2007
From The Age
Reported by Sean Cusick

BENDIGO ended Coburg's unbeaten five-match run, hammering the Tigers by 52 points in their first home match since August last season.

The Bombers clearly relished the return to their home turf at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo, after drought conditions forced the transfer of their previous home fixtures to Windy Hill.

Coburg kicked the first three goals and looked set to shoot as high as second on the ladder with another strong win on the road.

But after Bendigo wrested back control in a tight first half, it destroyed the Tigers in the second half, kicking 10 goals to four, with Kepler Bradley (12 marks and two goals) providing a focal point, while Courtney Johns played another exceptional game in his experiment at the centre half-back.

Bombers thump Insipid Tigers

By Robbo June 03, 2007
Reported by Michael Robinson

It was a beautiful cool winter's day as Bendigo finally hosted their first VFL game at the Queen Elizabeth Oval for 2007.

A crowd of around 3000 saw an even first fifteen minutes until the Bombers broke away as the midfield began to dominate. The Bombers went into quarter time with a 14 point lead.

The second quarter also was even until the Bombers kicked a late goal to outscore the Tigers by 4 goals to 3 and increase their lead to 20 points at there main break.

The third quarter was the decisive one was Bombers held Coburg goalless and kicked 4 of their own to lead by 40 points at the last change.

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