Because that’s how long key defender Joel Donehue lasted before succumbing to the effects of food poisoning in the unseasonally hot conditions.
A blow compounded the night before by the withdrawal of Daniel Coates through injury.
‘‘Being down one on the bench in the very warm conditions did make it difficult,’’ LG coach Danny Teskera said.
‘‘Daniel could have probably got through the game, but we didn’t want to risk making things worse.
‘‘Given Joel’s importance to the team, it probably put a bit more stress on the defence.
‘‘But a person’s health and safety is always going come first.’’
From the first siren, the Bombers looked the weaker of the two sides.
In the end, their lack of polish came back to hurt them.
‘‘We made too many simple errors, and made them at crucial times,’’ Teskera said.
‘‘At the end of the day, we got caught out too many times in transition. A side with good skills like North Bendigo are always going to punish you.’’
And it is these mistakes where Teskera wants to continue to guide his younger players.
‘‘We win or we learn,’’ he said.
‘‘While we want to be winning, it’s all about developing as a group.
‘‘At times this season we will be more focused our our performance rather than the result.’’
As part of this guidance, the Bombers will continue to expose younger members of the club to senior football, with several already making the most of their opportunity.
‘‘Guys like Tom Brereton and Charlie Hancock have made the step up with ease,’’ Teskera said. ‘‘They’re only going to get better with the more games they get behind them.’’
The Bombers will next face Elmore away from home.
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