Kyabram 10.14 (74) d Echuca 7.10 (52)
Almost a year to the day from the end of the hottest streak in country football, Kyabram was once again on top of the mountain.
The club claimed its third fl ag in four years, completing its third undefeated season, and taking its four-year record to 83–1 with victory against Echuca.
Inaccurate kicking from both sides kept the scores lower than they perhaps should have been.
Jake Reeves, in what appears to be his final match with Kyabram, claimed his second Wilf Cox Medal as best-on-ground in the game in a match here he and opposing ruckman Kane Morris were named best for their respective sides.
Pat Wearden was also brilliant in claiming the AFL Victoria Country Medal, while Morrison Medallist Mick Mattingly was his typical best.
Young midfielders Darby Henderson and Noah Wheeler gave it their all, but despite getting the better of Ky in the final quarter, the gap between the two sides was simply too much, as it had been all year.
Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said his side would be back.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board and hopefully we’ll come back and be back next year.”
Kyabram’s co-coach Paul Newman, having taken his team to yet another flag, could not speak highly enough of his team.
“I’ve been spoilt with the group of players, the support from them, good friends that have come back and helped like your Jake Reeves’ and what not. There’s plenty of heart and huge efforts across the four years.”
The season, and seemingly the coaching career of Kyabram’s favourite son Newman came to an end, with the best team in country football standing at the top of the mountain once again.
RUMBALARA V TONGALA
Round eight, 2019 at Tongala Recreation Reserve
Tongala 10.16 (76) d Rumbalara 10.8 (68)
The Blues and Rumba are two sides who never seem to intercept one another.
When one side is hot, the other seems to be at the other end of the ladder.
But as the Blues made their charge towards an eventual grand final berth, they took on a Rumba side with plenty to prove.
Clayton McCartney was a force to be reckoned with, booting six goals in a best-on-ground performance for his side.
But a star performance from Brayden Nevett to go with three goals from Makenzie Ryan was more than enough for the Blues.
The margin could have been far bigger — Tonny kicking 16 behinds and Rumba eight — but the key points were the ones that ended up next to the Blues’ name on the ladder.
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