Bendigo Gold news

Bendigo, emerging as a premiership threat after a slow start to the season, clinched a place in the final eight but lost Adam Ramanauskas (back) in the opening minutes and Courtney Johns in the second quarter.

"Hille really started the game well. His centre-bounce work was outstanding," Bendigo coach Matthew Knights said.

"Late in the game he had some important touches, even in general play, and assisted us.

"Peverill was just a tireless worker all day.

The Bombers won 16.10 (106) to 15.9 (99) at Casey Fields, and with one round left in the home and away season now sit in seventh position on the ladder with 32 premiership points.

It's the first time the Bombers have found themselves sitting in the top-eight since way back in round five.

The Bombers will host joint flag-favourite Geelong in their final game this Sunday, but regardless of the outcome, they can't be dislodged from the top eight and can finish as high as sixth.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Bombers, who after six rounds sat in 11th position on the ladder with a 1-5 record.

"I'm really proud of the players because when you are 1-5 to start the year, it's a long way back from there," Bombers coach Matthew Knights said.

"To be 7-4 since that period, and the four games we have lost have been by minimal margins (16, 10, 15 and 33 points), we have been rewarded for our consistency by having a large percentage (109.10), which has been important in this tight season.

METRICON Bendigo Bombers coach Matthew Knights believes the next two games will be an ideal dress rehearsal for his side, should it be successful in snaring a berth in the VFL finals.

The Bombers have two games left in the home and away season, against the Casey Scorpions and Geelong, and are guaranteed a return to the finals if they win both games.

But it won't be easy, starting with the Scorpions at Casey Fields tomorrow.

The Scorpions have won six of their past seven games, and included in that run of good form was a 16-point victory over the Bombers at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in round 11.

Geelong has been one of the most consistent sides all season.

The Cats sit second on the ladder with a 12-4 record, and along with Sandringham, are joint flag-favourites at $2.50.

From Bendigo Advertiser

FOOTY fans have been denied the chance to see Collingwood star Nathan Buckley make his long-awaited comeback in this Sunday's VFL clash in Bendigo.

Earlier this week, the Collingwood skipper and joint Brownlow medallist in 2003 declared he would comeback after long-term hamstring injuries at Bendigo's Queen Elizabeth Oval.

It's not another injury setback that has derailed Buckley's run, but a decision by the Metricon Bendigo Bombers board to switch the game.

The battle between Bendigo and Williamstown will now be played at the home of the Bombers' affiliate, Essendon's Windy Hill.

Bendigo Bombers general manager Peter Lodewijks said on-going concerns about the condition of the QEO led to the round 18 clash being switched.

"In our opinion, the ground is in a bad state," Lodewijks said.

There were six matches contested by All Seasons Bendigo Football-Netball League clubs on the QEO last weekend.

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."