Between them, Brad Whitford and Riley Ironside had 34 kicks in the twilight fixture, with 28 of them finding their intended target — including all 11 kick ins that they took when Eagles shots on goal registered only a behind.
Whitford had a season-high disposal count as the dynamic duo of the Bombers defence accounted for more than half of the team’s rebound 50s.
Slightly-built Whitford had 10 rebound 50s to go with his 30 disposals (10 more than any other Bomber and four ahead of Mansfield’s Tom Dunstan) and left-footed Ironside had eight rebound 50s.
They also had five inside 50s between them as they played key roles in turning defence into attack.
Whitford took eight kick-ins and Ironside three, Whitford’s 128 ranking points his third highest of the season.
He had 28 disposals and 160 points against Echuca in round two, then had 137 points (including 29 disposals) against Shepparton Bears in round 14.
His tally on Saturday evening was second only to the tally of ruckman Zac Norris.
Norris topped the charts with 139 points, a tally influenced heavily by 11 clearances to go with his 20 disposals, six inside 50s and 39 hit outs.
Ironside was also one of the five Bombers to register a triple-figure tally,
Most of Kyabram’s key players produced at important stages of the match, ball magnet Kaine Herbert having eight inside 50s and two direct goal assists, while kicking one major himself.
One player who will hoping for a little change of luck from his past two outings is key forward Brad Mangan.
Mangan could have been a match winner under lights at Mooroopna.
He took three marks inside 50 and had 13 disposals, with the only blight on his game the five behinds he kicked for the evening.
Mangan has kicked nine behinds in the past two weeks, but in a positive sign his high leaping offside — Kyle Mueller — improved on his final home and away return of 2.4 by kicking 3.2 in the final against Mansfield.
