There aren’t too many times when a 42-point loss theoretically translates into a moral victory, but from a Bendigo Bank Cats perspective, Saturday’s six-quarter VFL practice match against the Northern Bullants at Skilled Stadium delivered that outcome.

Sixty-two points down after fielding a makeshift VFL reserves line up for the first two quarters against a Northern Bullants reserves side, Geelong fought back hard in the third quarter with five straight goals, but never looked likely to penetrate the deficit any further, ultimately succumbing 14-16-100 to 21-16-142.

But the sheer fact the Cats outscored last year’s minor premier once the respective senior line ups took to the field in the third quarter suggests the battle between the two sides was far closer than the scoreboard suggested.

As Geelong’s VFL team does not field a reserves side in the VFL, a mutual agreement is in place between Geelong and other VFL clubs to guarantee Geelong’s VFL team is given the opportunity to play VFL practice matches.

Apart from Tasmania and Geelong, all VFL clubs have a reserves team. Instead of compromising the opposing team’s season preparations, Geelong organise for a local club from the Geelong Football League to act as its VFL reserves substitute, thereby ensuring the respective VFL club’s reserves side has a legitimate practice match opponent.

Without the incentive of supplying an opponent for an opposing club’s reserves side, the Cats would struggle to find a willing VFL practice match participant.

However, due to the rescheduling of this weekend’s VFL match between Geelong and the Northern Bullants to AFL curtain-raiser status, the planned St. Mary’s-Northern Bullants VFL reserves practice match had to be abandoned.

As a result, a six-quarter practice match was drafted, with the first two quarters comprising reserves players only and the remaining four quarters to be a battle between the side’s VFL senior line-ups.

For the first two quarters, Geelong fielded a squad primarily made up of St. Mary’s players with a handful of VFL fringe players, against a perennially successful Northern Bullants squad that clearly demonstrated the difference in preseason preparations between the two teams.

St. Mary’s entered the match without a practice match to its credit and a constant battle to find suitable preseason training venues, while the Bullants run into the season has been, in comparison, largely successful and unhindered by any external influences.

Technically speaking, Geelong’s official VFL line up didn’t take to the field until the start of the third quarter, where normal transmission was restored, and the injection of AFL listed players provided immediate dividends.

After the Cats burst out of the blocks in the third quarter to score five goals with relative ease, the Bullants gathered their composure and tightened the screws.

They looked to employ their successful suffocating style of play, by pushing numbers back into the Cats forward half, and looked to counteract with authority by virtue of the wide-open space on the rebound.

The five goal to none quarter for the Cats was punctuated largely by the chaotic interchanging by Northern Bullants players midway through the term.

After the Cats recorded their second goal of the quarter, the Bullants interchanged a majority of their reserve players from the field with senior players in a frenetic 30-second block that resembled Latrobe Terrace at peak hour.

Matthew Spencer continued on from last week’s forward line dominance, as did the reinvented Todd Grima who worked hard up the field to give plenty of drive as well as playing a vital role in defence by stamping a physical presence on the contest.

Sam Hunt was amongst the best for Geelong playing from the last line of defence, showing the conviction and confidence that earned him a place in Geelong’s NAB Cup team throughout the preseason.

The versatile defender – who collected 21 touches and six marks - looked to give the Cats plenty of drive and rebound from defence, as he staked his claim for a round one recall.

In his second game back, Tom Hawkins displayed not only his strong marking attributes, but also his evasive football smarts, finishing the match with three goals and six marks in a promising performance.

On three separate occasions, the father-son managed to shrug off his respective opponent by doubling back – seemingly innocuously - into space to mark uncontested in the forward line, set up by quick transitions of football through the midfield.

Stephen Owen and Jason Davenport also contributed honestly. The former compiled 18 touches and a match high five tackles as he relished his role off half back, while the latter picked up 17 possessions and always looked to move the ball quickly and directly.

Steve Johnson’s burning desire to return to senior ranks was again evident, with the mercurial forward backing up his previous outings with another disciplined, consistent and hard working performance.

Hayden Foss was a prolific ball winner and displayed not only an uncanny ball winning ability, but also his desire to commit himself to the contest and also press hard inside fifty to put a score on the board.

His 20-disposal performance included four tackles and two goals, as he moves from strength to strength in his first season in Geelong VFL colours.

VFL-listed midfielder Jay Cheep showed his creativity as he looked to break the lines and set up many forward forays, finishing with 18 disposals and six marks, in his second game back for the season.

VFL captain James Byrne made his long awaited return and got through unscathed.

The Bendigo Bank Cats have a week off this weekend before facing cross-town rivals the Werribee Tigers in their final VFL practice match at Barter Card Oval, Werribee, on Saturday March 31 from 1.00pm.

The VFL home and away season commences on April 7, where the Bendigo Bank Cats will be out for retribution against last year’s Grand Final nemesis Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval from 1.10pm.