Bendigo Gold news

The AFL second-tier review committee has presented five recommendations on the status and direction of the VFL.

Among the recommendations, approved by the AFL Commission and supported by AFL Victoria – the governing body of the VFL – are "alignments between AFL and

VFL clubs will continue to be a key component of elite football in the state".

There had been some exploration earlier this year of a national reserves competition that would replace the various-state based competitions, including the VFL, which would have put grave doubt over the future of the Bendigo Bombers.

However, a national reserves competition has now been ruled out, and the review committee recommendations support Bendigo's alignment with Essendon.

"We were never worried because we thought it was heading this way from all the feedback we've been getting along the way," Bendigo

Bombers' acting general manager Peter Lodewijks said yesterday.

Why is it so important? Firstly, the Bombers are playing their arch-rival North Ballarat, and the bottom line is no Bendigo sporting side likes losing to their Goldfields foes.

And secondly, the Bombers simply need to keep winning games of football to hold their position in the VFL's top eight.

After belting Tasmania by 96 points at Bellerive Oval last Saturday, the Bombers have climbed up to seventh on the ladder after 12 rounds.

However, a loss against the Roosters at Stawell this Sunday could relegate the Bombers to as low as 10th on the ladder, such is the evenness of the competition.

'‘We have made significant ground in the past five weeks, but we're still in a very precarious position in that bottom part of the top eight," Knights said yesterday.

‘‘We still have to make every post a winner and I have no doubt this is the biggest game we have played this year.' ‘We are playing against North Ballarat, an arch rival, and they are sitting above us on the ladder.

‘‘Each week becomes fairly huge for us now and every game becomes like a mini-final." Both sides go into this Sunday's clash in terrific form.

"We are confident that in the second half of the year we can improve and make a bit of a run at the top group," coach Matthew Knights said.

"I have always had the aim in the VFL that you should be aiming to finish in the top four in a 13-team competition.

"I don't think you are worth your salt as a coach if you are not aiming for the top four.

"If you do achieve that, great, and you aim high. If you don't, then you reassess.

"We have won four of our last five games and dropped the other one against the Casey Scorpions (16 points).

"Our form line in the last month has been significantly better and during that time we have boosted percentage."

Bendigo (five wins) has moved up to seventh but is still two games behind Coburg Tigers (fourth) and North Ballarat (fifth) and half a game behind Port Melbourne (sixth).

Tomorrow's Round 13 game against North Ballarat is at the neutral Stawell venue.

"It is pivotal with North Ballarat sitting in the upper echelon of the ladder," Knights said. "They have strung three consecutive wins together and their form line is pretty decent. It is great to play in a country town to show VFL football, we are looking forward to it."

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.

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.