In pursuit: Kyabram's Hayden Gemmill is followed by a determined Rochester captain Nathan McCarty. Like Gemmill, Kyabram found the Tigers hard to shake on Saturday after dominating the opening half of the game with eight goals to none. After half-time Rochester kicked four goals to two and kept the Bombers goalless in the final term, the Tigers tackle count of 91 to Kyabram’s 41 indicative of their combative nature throughout the Goulburn Valley League Indigenous Round match.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
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It wasn’t the ideal warm-up for what is being billed as the Showdown of the Season, but Kyabram strung together is 10th consecutive win on Saturday in readiness to tackle reigning premier Echuca this Saturday.
The Bombers were actually outscored in the second half by Rochester, a team that has won only two games this season, but the second quarter dominance set up the 43-point win in challenging conditions — rain squalls and a strong cold wind.
Kyabram kept the Tigers goalless in the first half and had a nine-goal buffer at half-time but managed only two goals in the second half. Both of these goals were kicked by Anthony Depasquale in the third term while the Tigers added four goals in the second half although they had less shots on goal.
The Bombers put the result to bed in the second term with a five-goals-to-nil scoreline but for the rest of the game Rochester was very competitive and indicated its current ladder position is not as dire as it may seem.
The Bombers again got their winning drive from their onballers and midfielders and their defence again stood up.
Ruckman Norris Zac was supreme again, particularly in the first half, along with onballers and midfielders in Liam Ogden, Kaine Herbert, Anthony Depasquale, Toby Wooller, Charlie Barnett, Reuben Rode and Tom Burnett.
Brad Whitford, who reads the play as well as any Kyabram player, and Riley Ironside were the standouts in the Kyabram defence which was without key man Lachie Smith.
They got a lot support from Jason Morgan, Will Golds, Billy Barnes and Jake Parkinson.
Anthony Depasquale, with three goals, and Tom Holman were the best of the forwards on the day and although it was not a convincing win it was what was needed as Kyabram tries to consolidate a top-two position.
Nathan McCarty, Joe Atley, Reid and Dylan Gordon, Angus Martin and Grant Fuller were among the Rochester players to show out.
Kyabram coach Paul Newman described the Bombers’ second half as being ‘‘average’’ but was more than happy with their first half.
‘‘It was hard to keep motivated in those conditions,’’ Newman said,
Kyabram will expect to have key defender Lachie Smith and utility star Rhys Clarke return for this Saturday’s blockbuster at Echuca while Bendigo Pioneers duo Mitch Dodos and Archie Watt will also be available.
My best for Kyabram were: Liam Ogden, Brad Whitford, Kaine Herbert, Zac Morris, Anthony Depasquale, Toby Wooller, Riley Ironside.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Echuca kicked eight first half goals, to Kyabram’s three, when the two teams did battle in round two of the Goulburn Valley league season.
After half-time it was five goals apiece and the reigning premier won the match by 21 points, 13.5 (83) to Kyabram’s 8.14 (62).
Kyle Mueller and Rhys Clark both kicked two goals for the Bombers and half-back Brad Whitford scored a match high 140 ranking points for his 28 disposal/11 rebound 50 match.
Bombers ruckman Zac Norris had his quietest game of the season against the three-pronged Echuca rucking brigade of Kane Morris, Lachie Watson and Liam Tenace.
Since that meeting Kyabram has not lost a game, while Echuca’s only defeat came against third-ranked Seymour (by 12 points) in round 10. All three clubs, Echuca, Kyabram and Seymour, have 11-1 win/loss records so far this season.
A player to watch include Echuca co-coach Sam Reid, who leads the competition for tackles, goal assists and score involvements. He has kicked 25 goals and has the second-most ranking points this season, behind Euroa star Will Hayes.
Echuca had 44 more disposals, comfortably won the clearance count and 11 more inside 50s in the round two match between the clubs.
• Kyabram reserves outclassed Rochester with another good team performance.
The Bombers dictated from the start and kept the Tigers goalless while kicking 18.18 to 0.3 to hold second place on the ladder.
The Bombers had prime movers in Nic Denahy, Kaleb Williams, Liam Francis and Billy McLay and up forward Will Wild with five goals, Dylan Argus with four and livewire Tom Bruhn with three and Cooper Fawcett with two applied the scoreboard pressure.
Josh Wild and Will Burnett also showed out in the runaway win.
• Kyabram thirds were pushed all the way by Rochester and only a dominant last quarter got them home by 19 points.
At the last change only four points separated the sides but the Bombers kicked 3.2 to one point in the last term to secure the win.
Bombers coach Peter Hall said a big turning point in the game came with Miller Griffiths’ move into defence in the third term when Rochester had the wind and the visitors were kept goalless.
Will Campbell, Ethan Hard and Archie Guinan were also stout defenders on the day for the Bombers while Bohden Learmonth and Danny Miller, who kicked two goals, were players to stand up on the day against very competitive rivals.
Nic Jephson and Archie Watt who have been playing in the Cootes Talent League are expected to be available for this Saturday’s clash with reigning premier and current ladder leader Echuca.
Winding up: Kyabram's Zac Norris was the highest ranked player on the field in Saturday’s match, his 18 disposal-40 hit-out match also featuring five inside 50s and four score involvements.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
