The Bombers’ mentor is backing the form his charges produced after the main break against North Warrnambool Eagles – which transformed an even ledger into a massive 15.17 (107) to 6.8 (44) win – to hold them in good stead for next Sunday’s first semi-final against South Warrnambool.

After struggling to make the most of a significant wind advantage early in the third quarter, the Bombers booted five goals in a row to break the Eagles’ spirit, taking an unassailable 51-point lead into the final term.

The deficit proved too great for the Eagles, who didn’t manage to kick a single goal in the final quarter.

“The last quarter – it was a six goal breeze, really – to keep them goalless into that was a really good effort and probably our best quarter of football,” Dare said.

“We just kept running and working, had a lot of the play – even with the breeze – up our end. I was really, really happy to have that sort of game going into next week.

“South is a very good side and it’s going to take another effort like that to get that win, but I think if we come with that same mentality, that willingness and that relentlessness to work for each other and play the way we did – especially in that second half – I think we’ll win.”

The Bombers rued wasted chances in the first term, kicking just five goals from 11 scoring shots.

The Eagles failed to register a score for the quarter, but co-coach Graeme Twaddle was unperturbed at the quarter-time address, instead lauding his charges’ efforts in keeping the Bombers to five goals.

His confidence was justified early in the second term, with the Eagles quick out of the blocks, booting four goals in the first 12 minutes before the Bombers were able to slow the damage somewhat, and the teams went into half-time on 39 apiece.

Slick work out of the centre paved the way for the Bombers’ onslaught of goals at the back-end of the third term, while they also shared the load on the board, producing 11 goalkickers for the afternoon.

Just 2.9 was scored at the social rooms end for the entire match – and it all belonged to Cobden, which worked relentlessly for four behinds in the second term, before Dare and Foster broke through for the only goals at that end in the fourth quarter.