Kyabram prevailed, albeit only just, in a nail-biting epic clash with the previously unbeaten Seymour at Kyabram on Saturday.
With 67 seconds to go veteran Kyabram veteran defender Jason Morgan drifted forward to take an uncontested mark on the 50 metres arc and the resultant behind proved the winner in the clash with the Bombers getting home by a point in a what was an entertaining and absorbing tussle from start to finish.
Kyabram coach Paul Newman said he was rapt with Kyabram’s win, particularly as he felt Seymour had set the tempo of the game for most of it.
‘‘I was really proud of how we kept coming back and finally getting the win,’’ Newman said.
Both teams took turns of dictating play for small periods with Kyabram establishing the largest lead — an 18-point break — at the start of the third term after Kyle Mueller and Will Golds had kicked successive goals.
But the Lions hit back and the rest of the game was almost a goal-for-goal duel until the final siren.
The Bombers had to dig deep for the last 10 minutes after winger Nic Denahy was yellow carded, leaving the Bombers with 17 men for the dying minutes.
But they dug deep to rise to the occasion to snare the win in the pulsating finish.
SMITH BACK TO BEST
Bombers’ 2022 best and fairest Lachie Smith was back to his very best across half back for Kyabram on Saturday.
He took an amazing 19 marks, including seven (five intercepts) in the opening quarter. He racked up an extraordinary 150 ranking points for his 21-disposal performance and was backed by by Essendon VFL recruit Will Golds (139 points) with a 31-possession, three-goal game.
Smith also took seven marks in the tense final quarter and finished with 10 intercept marks for the match. Last season he took 94 intercept marks for the season, the most in the competition by more than 30, despite playing most of the second half of the year in attack (where he kicked 30 goals).
Full GVL Data statistical information on page 23 today.
This was a game played at a frenetic pace with both sides playing offensively for most of the contest.
Goals win games, but saving them can be just as vital and Kyabram’s defence led by Lachie Smith, Riley Ironside and Jason Morgan got plenty of support in containing the quick-moving rivals to a losing score.
Smith turned on another of his intercept-marking clinics with his best game for the season.
He took 19 marks — yes 19 — and 10 of them contested, along with 21 disposals for the game.
Ironside, with 20 disposals, was also inspiring, particularly with his dash and accurate disposal. He even drifted forward to hurt Seymour on the scoreboard.
And speaking of goals, recruit Will Golds and Kyle Mueller were able to thread through three each, mainly from difficult angles.
Golds again showed he is a class act and along with Kaine Herbert, ruckman Zac Norris, Liam Ogden and young gun Charlie Barnett and the electric Reuben Rode were able to hold their own against a lethal Seymour midfield in which Ben Rigoni was a tireless and inspiring player all day.
Norris again dominated the ruck for four quarters to continue his stellar season, while Rhys Clarke and Anthony Depasquale also did a lot of telling work.
The Bombers went into the game without the star of the Euroa win Tom Holman and also Jake Parkinson while Zac Keogh’s expectant return again did not eventuate.
Veteran Kayne Pettifer was also off the ground early with a leg injury, which may keep him sidelined for some time.
Keogh will make his long-awaited return this Saturday when Bombers tackle Shepparton United this Saturday at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve.
Tom Holman and Jake Parkinson will also be available and maybe Brad Whitford.
But Will Golds may be recalled by Essendon’s VFL side.
My best for Kyabram were Lachie Smith, Will Golds, Zac Norris, Kaine Herbert, Riley Ironside, Jason Morgan and Charlie Barnett.
– Kyabram Reserves suffered their second successive loss, beaten by an impressive Seymour side by 46 points.
It took the Bombers until the last quarter to register their first goal and they were restricted to just two for the game.
But they never shirked an issue and never allowed a blow-out result.
They just couldn’t penetrate Seymour’s water-tight defence with Dylan Argus and Jayden Fitzgerald the only goalkickers.
Onballer Billy Mclay was a standout for the Bombers and young defender Riley Gullivan played with plenty of determination with a lot of support from Luke Smith.
Liam Dillon also produced his well-known grit and Adam Pulsoni also showed out in a team that was under immense pressure all game.
– Kyabram’s Under-18s scored a decisive win at the finish with most players contributing.
Miller Griffiths with four goals and Bailey White and Nic Jephson with three each kept the scoreboard ticking over for the home side.
Jephson, captain Bohden Learmonth, Adam Scoble, Danny Miller, Declan Hallett and Jay Gentle made significant contributions to the win.
– Kyabram’s Under-16s went down by a point to the Shepparton Swans in a dour, low-scoring battle at Princess Park on Sunday.
There was only a kick or two in it on the scoreboard, but the Swans had more shots on goal.
Josh Francis was a standout for the Bombers while James Hargreaves and Hamish Stewart also produced top games.
Will McLean, Lachlan Werner and Oliver Barnett also did a lot of good work.
