They join Port Melbourne, Collingwood, the Coburg Tigers and Sandringham as round one winners and will play the Box Hill Hawks next Sunday at Box Hill City Oval.
Coach David Teague shares his thoughts on the match and how some of the Carlton-listed players performed.
This sort of win first up in the season shows the boys have got a bit of character.
They fought it right out, especially when Bendigo got in front, which is sometimes the straw that breaks the camel's back, but they kept fighting and scored two goals late in the game to win by nine points. It was a great effort.
We started the game well. Our pressure and our defensive efforts were really good and we kept them to three goals in the first half, but we dropped away in the third quarter and allowed them back into the game.
They kicked five goals to one in the third quarter to get right back into it. We were a couple points down at three-quarter time but the boys fought out the game really well.
Andrew Carrazzo played his first game for the year and was a little rusty. He got plenty of the ball and his work rate was right up there; his fitness wasn't really an issue, but his touch wasn't quite there and he didn't use the ball as well as we would have liked.
However, he was very important for us in our victory.
His availability for next week will really depend on the senior match committee but he's one or two games away from his best at the moment. Whether they want to take him straight in or wait only time will tell.
From the other Carlton-listed players, Dennis Armfield was the standout. He had 34 possessions from half-back and he ran and took on the opposition. With his speed and the way he ran out the game, if it wasn't for him, we would have lost the game.
He kept us in it when they were coming back at us and he gave us some drive all afternoon.
He had his second pre-season this year so his body is used to it now and he understands what's required at AFL level after playing some games last year. He played some good footy in the NAB Cup but it's tough to get a spot at the moment.
He's probably one that has been squeezed out but he did everything he could to show that he's ready to go if Carlton needs him.
Brad Fisher played again and he was okay. He competed in the air and gave us an option when he took a couple of strong marks late in the game, which were important to us.
He probably didn't have his best day but he definitely helped contribute.
It was also good to see Chris Yarran play his first game. He looked lively and copped a bit of a knock at one stage but fought out the game, which shows some good spirit and toughness in his body, so that was a pleasing sign.
He kicked a couple of goals for us, which was good. We always thought if we got the ball in his hands inside 50, we were a good chance to score.
Northern Bullants 3.2 6.6 7.9 13.11 (89)
Bendigo Bombers 1.2 3.3 8.5 12.8 (80)
Northern Bullants
Goals: B. Fisher 2, G. Bentley 2, A. Gianfagna 2, S. O'hAilpin 2, C. Yarran, D. Ellard, D. Boundy, S. Hampson, J. McCorkell
Best: D. Armfield, S. O'hAilpin, G. Bentley, D. Ellard, J. McCorkell, J. Bannister
Bendigo Bombers
Goals: J. Williams 3, S. Weekley 3, R. Magin 2, T. Bellchambers, J. Neagle, P. Scanlon, N. Lovett-Murray
Best: J. Flaherty, C. Hooker, P. Scanlon, S. Crameri, T. Slattery, B. Carroll
