This Saturday Kyabram hosts Seymour — one of only two sides still unbeaten in the GVL after six rounds — and gets the chance to make another statement that it is a serious flag contender again.
After a confidence-boosting win over last year’s grand finalist Euroa at Euroa in its last game, the Bombers could be close to full strength and arguably more potent for this much-anticipated blockbuster.
The only established Kyabram senior players to miss will be in-form utility Tom Holman and defender Brad Whitford.
Holman will be in Darwin to watch his brother Nick play his 100th AFL game and Whitford is nursing a strained hamstring from the Euroa game and is likely to miss the next two games.
Under-18 star Archie Watt, who was impressive in his senior debut against Euroa, has returned to school in Melbourne and won’t play.
But premier aerialst Lachie Smith, who has been a battling a foot injury and withdrew from the GVL side at the weekend is also expected to be ready to go again.
Billy Barnes, Hayden Gemmill and impressive recruit Will Golds, who all missed the Euroa game are all expected to be available along with tough onballer Zac Keogh.
Keogh is expected to play his first game for the season after battling a persistent knee injury, which ended his season prematurely last year.
Kyabram coach Paul Newman was happy with his team’s improved effort to beat last year’s runners-up Euroa two weeks ago, but is well aware it will probably have to raise the bar again to get another win.
“They are obviously a very good side, probably the most even overall in the league, and we’ll need to be at or close to our best to be a chance, but I’m confident we will give it a good crack,” Newman said.
— Kyabram Under-I6 footballers failed to kick a goal after half-time and suffered a 20-point loss to Mooroopna in their Goulburn Murray Junior League Under-16 clash on Sunday.
The young Bombers had 4.7 on the scoreboard at half-time while restricting the Cats to 2.1 in the clash at the Kyabram Recreation Reserve.
But in the second half Mooroopna kicked 4.5 while restricting the home to three behinds in a disappointing fadeout.
The Bombers were best served by Hamish Stewart in attack and defence while Cooper Learmonth, and Oliver Barnett were also solid in defence.
Lachlan Carver turned in another top game in the midfield and Tyrell Gallivan also showed out.
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