At half-time at Princess Park Shepparton on Saturday, Kyabram was holding a 10-point lead against the Shepparton Swans after a dourly fought, low scoring first half.
Scores were 4.6 to 3.2 but the reigning premier looked as if it was poised to break the game wide open.
At three-quarter-time the scores were 5.6 to 12.14.
The game had been broken wide open, but not by the home team and defending premier.
In one brutal quarter of relentless running and taking complete control in the midfield the Swans embarrassed the visitors by piling on 9.12 for the quarter to Kyabram‘s solitary goal.
It was champagne football at its best.
Not too many sides, if any, have been able to dominate Kyabram like that in recent times.
The nine goals the Swans kicked were all unanswered and for a period of 45 minutes from the start of the third term into the last quarter the Bombers were kept goalless.
It was most un-Kyabram like but it was a timely reality check.
While it made up some of the lost ground in the last term, which led to a loss by 24 points 15.7 to 10.13, it was just its third defeat in two seasons.
In the first half the Bombers held their own just about everywhere.
Zac Norris was controlling the ruck and on ballers and midfielders Kaine Herbert, Jack Russell and Rhys Clark were getting their hands on the ball and hinting of better things to come.
The defence, led by Jason Morgan and Brad Whitford with support from Cooper Vick and Jack Sheldon, was doing the job expected of them and up forward skipper Aiden Robinson and Anthony Depasquale and Charlie Barnett were looking dangerous.
But when the Swans tidal wave hit with such ferocity few Kyabram players could keep themselves above water.
Despite Norris’ ruck dominance the Swans ran over the Bombers with their mobility and relentless pressure.
The Warburtons, Ethan and Oliver, Lucas and Rachele, Max Clohesy, and Enrique Goggin, took complete control and the Bombers were to put it bluntly, found wanting.
Probably the Swans deserved more credit for the way they played and dominated rather than how disappointing Kyabram was when the game was up for grabs.
Ky co-coach Corey Carver said Kyabram’s third quarter fade-out was disappointing, but he wasn’t displeased with his charges’ efforts for three quarters.
‘‘In the vital stats we were in front for three of the quarters but we were completely outplayed in that third quarter,’’ said Carver.
The one thing Kyabram should learn from their loss is that if the current team wants to turn around its form it will have to do so with most of the players who played in this game.
There are no match-changing players in the reserves or thirds who could be promoted a make an impact.
The Bombers have a night game this Saturday night against wooden spoon candidate Tatura at Tatura so it should provide the chance for the side to get some confidence, and premiership points, back.
Premiership defender Jake Parkinson will return for his first game and reserves players Cooper Fawcet and Ben Railton will be considered for promotion.
My best for Kyabram were: Jason Morgan, Kaine Hebert, Jack Russell, Zac Norris, Brad Whitford, Cooper Vick.
Reserves
Kyabram reserves had to work hard again to get the four premiership points but rose to the occasion to win by 33 points.
They were seriously challenged by the Swans at times but always had the answers.
Ruckman Brendan Brazier tuned in a blinder with top support again from skipper Jayden Fitzgerald while Ben Railton was busy in the midfield and hard at it all day.
Cooper Fawcett, Danyon Stockdale and the experienced Sam and Tom Sheldon were in the flow for most of the game at opposite ends of the ground.
Sam marshalled the defence and Tom returned from Queensland to play his 100th club game and didn’t disappoint up forward with three vital goals in the low scoring affair.
Under-18s
Kyabram thirds again looked slick, crushing the Swans by 102 points with a good brand of constructive football.
It wasn’t until the last quarter the Bombers defence led by Oliver Barnett and Riley Carver leaked the first and only goal for the match to their hosts.
Classy on baller Charlie Isaacs and Isaiah Scoble were also influential players for the Bombers while Cooper O'Neill and Antonio Depasquale and Wil Harrison made their presence felt in the runaway win.
Bailey Samuels, Max Stockdale and Charlie Perkin were also fine contributors for the winners.
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