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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.

"We are starting to jell together, our cohesion was good today," Bendigo general manager Matthew Allan said. "We have really improved in a few areas and our intensity was fantastic.

"Next Monday we have another home game and I'd like to think we will finish well into the finals race because we have a big chunk of home games to come which we haven't had for a while.

"So this gives us a good opportunity to make our move."

For Coburg coach Andrew Collins the game was important to show his team just where they stood.

"They were way too good for us," Collins said.

"They had (Scott) Camporeale, (Ricky) Dyson, who were running machines. Jason Cloke (four goals) was very good. He played against Chris Hyde and was too good.

"(Sam) Lonergan also was really good, (Tom) Hislop, Chris Heffernan and Adam Ramanauskas were also very good.

"We had our captain Travis Ronaldson (injured arm) out and that made a huge difference to our team."

Collins did not blame the away ground and travel as a major handicap.

"It was their (Bendigo's) first home game as well," he said.

"For us it was more of a reality check, it showed where our individuals were at.

"We had 10 AFL boys, they had 14 plus Cloke and (Ben) Jolley."

Collins expects to have Richmond forward Nathan Brown, who had limited time in his comeback game in Coburg reserves on Saturday after complications following a broken leg, to be in his firsts for the next round.

Brown is likely to line up at Coburg against Sandringham on Monday.

Bendigo, which has another home game against Box Hill Hawks that day, had two setbacks yesterday with Dean Dick suffering a shoulder injury and Richard Cole on report for forceful contact.

The Sandringham Zebras lost their first game since Round 18 last season with a shock loss to the North Ballarat Roosters by 35 points at Ballarat on Saturday.

Tristan Cartledge carried on his fine form from last weekend's interstate game in the ruck for the Roosters.

Williamstown had a six-goal win at Box Hill, with Paul Licuria a standout, while Box Hill's Richie Vandenberg suffered a serious AC joint injury.

Port Melbourne won by 26 points against improving Tasmania at Bellerive while Werribee was a 73-point home winner against the Casey Scorpions.

Geelong won by 28 points against the Northern Bullants at Preston, where Carlton youngster Jordan Russell was the Bullants' best.