Recruit Mackinley Ayton looked good against Mansfield.
How can a team be beaten by 66 points one week and win by 100 points the next?
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You’d better ask the Kyabram footballers that question because that’s what they have managed to do.
Thomas Burnett looks to get by Samuel Guppy.
Brushed aside by Shepparton the previous week and looking more vulnerable on Saturday with other players added to its lengthy injury list, the Bombers responded in stunning style to dispose of the visiting Mansfield by 17 goals.
Of course, a turnaround of that proportion usually has something to do with the strength of the opposition.
Like Kyabram, the Eagles from the high country went into the game badly diluted, with a lot of key players also on their injury list.
Kaine Herbert chips it forward.
Everything pointed to a tight contest that didn’t eventuate.
The Bombers made their intentions clear from the start with fearless attacks on the ball, a pressure Mansfield couldn’t cope with.
Co-coach Corey Carver demanded more intensity from his charges than they offered the previous week and got it, with a lot of spare change.
Joshua Dillon hangs on to a low one.
Sparked by premier ruckman Zac Norrris, Riley Ironside, Rhys Clark, Charlie Barnett and Charlie Isaac, the Bombers ignited to kick seven first-quarter goals while their defence led by Brad Whitford and Cooper Vick held the Eagles to one.
Mansfield did fight back in the second term, but still trailed by 46 points at half-time.
The Bombers upped the ante again in the third to kick another six goals while keeping their opponents goalless.
Then another seven goals to three in the last term blew the winning margin out to three figures.
Zac Norris wins the hit-out for the Bombers.
From the previous week, the Kyabram defence lost Jack Sheldon (broken finger) and Aaron Hayes (hamstring) who joined key defenders Jason Morgan and co-captain Aiden Robinson on the lengthy injury list.
The big difference from Saturday to the previous week was the increased input from Kyabram’s fringe players.
Charlie Isaac from the thirds presented at every chance early up forward, marked strongly and did well in the ruck in the last term.
Jack Russell sends it inside 50 for Kyabram during a triple-digit win over Mansfield. Photos: Jordan Townrow
Bohden Learmonth celebrated his 50th senior game with the club with his best of the season and, on the opposite wing, Tongala recruit Jack Sinclair also got himself involved.
Another newcomer Mackinley Ayton also stood out at times and booted two goals.
Ben Railton was on debut for the Bombers and attacked the ball with a lot conviction.
Veteran Sam Sheldon didn’t gain a lot of possessions, but it’s what he does with them that counts, and he also contributed to the win.
Proven stars in the side also stood up and contributed to the huge difference between the teams.
Bohden Learmonth latches on to it.
Zac Norris rucked tirelessly for nearly the whole game and if he didn’t free the ball up from the stoppages himself, helped other on-ballers and midfielders Jack Russell, Kaine Herbert, Josh Dillon and Coby McCarthy do it.
Russell and Herbert were slow starting but ran riot as the game progressed to become dominant players.
Russell has become one of the team’s most consistent performers.
The classy left footer Rhys Clark also displayed his silky skills and bobbed everywhere all game.
His efforts included the mark of the day.
Miracle Man Brad Whitford also imposed himself on the game in defence and got good support from Cooper Vick who added some rebound in a defence which was gutted by injured players.
Charlie Barnett was the most potent of the forwards with five goals and Riley Ironside, Anthony Depasquale (3 goals), Charlie Isaac, Rhys Clark, Kaine Herbert and Mackinley Ayton (all 2 each) were multiple goal-kickers in the team which had 11 individual goal-kickers on the day.
Coby McCarthy looks to hit a target.
Coach Carver said the focus all week was on pressuring their opponents and he was delighted with what transpired.
“We wanted players in our forward zone to apply more tackles and increase their intensity and we achieved that,“ he said.
It was a win Kyabram badly needed and sets it up for clashes at home against Shepparton United and Mooroopna after a general bye this Saturday.
My best for Kyabram were Zac Norris, Rhys Clark, Jack Russell, Kaine Herbert, Brad Whitford, Charlie Barnett, Cooper Vick, Josh Dillon and Riley Ironside.
Rhys Clark steams in to goal.
Reserves
Kyabram’s reserves also had a runaway win.
The Bombers got a flying start and kicked 10 goals in the first half while keeping Mansfield goalless.
Will Wild with five goals, Tom Bruhn with four and Ash Quinn and Danny Miller, each with two, were able to capitalise on the efforts of the hard-working Noah Ryan and Hunter Fawcett to set up the win.
The Bombers included a blast from the past in the team in Steve Thomson, a former player who won a Kyabram District League medal playing with Lancaster.
He hadn’t played for two seasons, but put his name on the goal-kicking list for the game.
Under-18
Kyabram’s thirds were also comfortable winners after a slow start.
Kyabram led by only four points at half-time, but kicked 9.6 to 3.2 in the second half to win by 36 points.
The Bombers played big man River Freeman and Zander Quinn on match permits from Nathalia, who had the bye in the Murray Football League, rather than promote under-16 players to make up the numbers and both played well.
Freeman, an imposing skyscraper ruckman, who plays seniors at Nathalia and also with the Murray Bushrangers, made a big impression.
Kyabram had other good players in on-ballers and midfielders Isaiah Scoble, Tyler Doolan and Echuca recruit Van Lowry, while Jedd Turpin with three goals was the best of the forwards.
Bombers coach Mark Patten said his charges were slow starting, but gained momentum as the game progressed and played some good football.
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