The John Bishop Bayside Bombers were bought back to earth in Masters AFL on Sunday, going down to Centrals Parrots at Aspley by 48 points.
The Bombers' attempt to defeat the Parrots at their cage suffered a major setback with the withdrawal of Ben Walsh, Andy Apted, Dean Wilson (6 goals last game) and Ken Taylor.
The Baysiders were kept in the game early by Centrals' poor kicking for goal and with stand-in full forward Paul Magher hitting the post in the first quarter, the score at the first break was 0.8.08 to 0.1.01.
With the in-form Bill Maslin shifted to centre half back and the ever reliable Mick Kath moving to full back and with the return of Geoff Nash, the Bomber defence stemmed the flow from the Parrotts and continuously repelled the ball out of defence but the Bombers lacked drive up forward and with very little opportunities failed to make a impact on the game in the second quarter to trail at halftime by 20 points.
Bomber big men McDonald and Bagnall controlled the centre bounces but it was the Parrots who were able to gain first use of the ball in the centre breaks.
The Bombers' third quarter was a marked improvement on the first half with Michael Tait kicking 2 for the quarter but that was to be all the Bombers could muster until after the final siren when Bill Maslin slotted one through.
It was the "ugly" Bombers this week in comparison to their last game against Coolangatta.
The Bayside's failure to complete the one percent parts of the game, the shepherds, talking, backing up and game day instructions after the stellar performance two weeks earlier was disappointing.
With a run home of games against Morningside, the Gold Coast, Wilston Grange and Moorooka, the Bombers must win all to redeem the season that could have been.
Scores: Centrals 10.15.75 to 3.9.27 Goals; tait 2, Maslin 1 Best: Maslin, Kath, Nash, Eames.
Next game August 5-6 vs Morningside at Alex Hills.