Kyabram footballers can be good, bad and both in the same game.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Last Saturday they were both, but because their bad was much worse than their good they suffered a loss to a surging Rochester.
The good Kyabram appeared in the first half at Moon Oval, Rochester when the visiting Bombers outplayed their host with a gritty brand of football which the home side had its worries coping with.
The determination and class of players like ruck ace Zac Norris, Josh Dillon, super veteran Jason Morgan, Kaine Herbert, Jack Russell, Riley Ironside and young talent Charlie Isaac had caught Rochester off guard and the Tigers were trailing by 16 points.
This margin should have been a lot larger only for poor kicking for goal.
At the long break there was no hint as to what was to follow, a third-quarter barrage which produced seven unanswered goals and swept the Tigers to a 14-point three-quarter time lead.
It was familiar to what the Shepparton Swans inflicted in one match-winning quarter against the Bombers earlier in the season.
After its third term dominance, Rochester added a further three goals to one last term which got it over the line by a comfortable 24 points at the finish.
It was a costly loss, as the Bombers dropped from fifth to seventh place on the ladder with top teams Shepparton and Echuca to play in its remaining five home and away games.
When Rochester switched on Kyabram couldn’t hack it with them for pace and accurate ball movement.
Rochester took control at the centre bounces, where Mitch Trewhella led the way, and at both ends of the ground where forward Hugh Hamilton kicked five goals and full-back Dylan Gordon saved as many.
The big plus out of the game for the Bombers was the performance of thirds star Charlie Isaac who took on a defensive role in the absence of Brad Whitford and met the challenge head on.
Apart from the ever reliables in Morgan, Norris, Herbert, Dillon, Russell and Ironside, other Bombers to the catch eye at times were Cooper Vick, Tom Burnett, co-captain Aidan Robinson and veteran Sam Sheldon.
It was Ironside’s 100th game for the Bombers and he has established himself as a classy, versatile danger player who adds to the team’s goal-kicking power.
The Bombers again went into the game minus a host of injured players, but hopefullty several will return to the side for their next match against the winless Tatura after this weekend’s general bye.
My best for Kyabram were Jason Morgan, Zac Norris, Kaine Herbert, Charlie Isaac, Riley Ironside and Jack Russell.
Reserves
Second-placed Kyabram reserves had to work hard for a win over a highly-competitive Rochester.
The Bombers defended a slender lead for most of the game and were able to hold on to win by two points and retain second place on the ladder on percentage from Shepparton.
It was a dourly-fought low-scoring contest for four quarters, in which Ash Quinn and David Coulthard were Kyabram’s only multiple goal-kickers with two each.
Coulthard started in defence where Max Carroll was arguably Kyabram's best player before moving forward.
Danny Miller, Noah Ryan, Hunter Fawcett and permit player Brodie Easton were the key playmakers for the Bombers while ruckmen Jayden Fitzgerald and Brenton Brazier held their own.
Under-18
Kyabram thirds also had to work hard to achieve a 37-point win over a competitive Rochester.
There was only a goal between the teams at half-time, but the Bombers kicked five second-half goals to the Tigers’ two to establish a decisive winning break at the finish.
Bombers coach Mark Patten was pleased how his players applied themselves and kept their opponents under constant pressure all game.
Classy vice-captain Tyler Doolan in the midfield, ruckman Will McLean and defender Tyrell Gallivan were the Kyabram standouts who received a lot of support from Isaiah Scoble, Will Turpin and Dylan Priest.
The young Bombers held third place with the win and are now preparing for their next assignment against an improved Tatura.