Kyabram's Anthony Depasquale piled on plenty of goals on Saturday night in the Bomber’s thrashing of 2025 wooden spooner Tatura. Photos: Megan Fisher.
Kyabram used pace and pressure to savage an injury-ravaged Tatura in their third round Goulburn Valley League clash at Tatura on Saturday night.
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By foot and hand, hard running and tackling, the Bombers completely outplayed their hosts to win by a massive 160 points 26.20 to 2.4.
And only for some shoddy work around the goal front the margin could have been even more decisive.
Kyabram celebrates one of its 26 goals for the evening.
It took Tatura until the third term to kick the first of their only two goals for that quarter, and the game, as the Bombers ran riot except for 15 minutes in the second when they were matched by their hosts in general play and desperation.
But they couldn’t kick goals against the Kyabram defence where Jason Morgan and Brad Whitford led the way again, with support, and let little through.
It was the on-ball brigade, despite the absence of Mick Mattingly, which stood up again and set up the constant goal scoring opportunities.
Bohden Learmonth scans the field.
Anthony Depasquale ignited the Bombers early with the first three goals of the game and a bag of 5.6 for the match.
His first quarter contribution set up an eight goal quarter, which reflected the tempo of Kyabram’s performance for the rest of the game.
‘Dipper’ also had a stint on ball in the second half where he joined the tireless Kaine Herbert, Jack Russell, Rueben Rode and Josh Dillon to reap the ruck benefits of Zac Norris who was tireless all day against a high leaping rival in Ryan Young.
Lucca Pena latches onto Kyabram's Cooper Vick.
Herbert and Russell were top possession gatherers for Kyabram on the day, and Dillon led the way as usual in applying physical pressure as well as kicking three goals.
Kyabram also got a top game out of co-captain Aiden Robinson in attack and on the ball, highlighted with some telling strong marks.
Tom Burnett also got his share of the ball in the midfield and along with Riley Ironside helped to put more pressure on the Tatura defence.
Jake Parkinson launches from inside 50.
Charlie Isaac, promoted from the thirds, presented in attack at every chance, while Kilsyth recruit Mac Ayton did some constructive work in attack.
Ryan Young, Kitt McCamley, James Bennett, Sean McAllister, Jess Petherick and Tom Sullivan battled hard for Tatura, who will need their best side on the park each week to be a chance against some of the other strugglers in the competition.
Kyabram coach Corey Carver said after the previous week’s loss to Shepparton Swans there was a focus on pressure for this clash, and he was more than happy with what his players delivered.
Kaine Herbert was sucking them in after a roving run into forward 50.
But he predicted a back-to-reality clash this week against the unbeaten Echuca under lights at Kyabram.
Kyabram will be boosted for this clash with the return of key forward Charlie Barnett and fly-in utility star Rhys Clark, who both missed the Tatura game.
My best for Kyabram were: Kaine Herbert, Anthony Depasquale, Jack Russell, Josh Dillon, Zac Norris, Jason Morgan, Brad Whitford, and Aiden Robinson (in an even team).
Jack Sinclair hopes to move it by hand.
Reserves
Kyabram reserves remain undefeated after three rounds with a 119 points win over the Bulldogs.
The Bombers hit the ‘go’ button early and were in control for most of the game.
The telling work of Danyon Stockdale in defence, Cohan Hooper, and Sam Sheldon presented Josh and Will Wild and Danny Miller plenty of scoring chances.
Josh finished with a bag of five goals and Will, a reliable aerial target in attack, booted two.
Danny Miller, who snared three majors, also helped to keep the Bulldogs under scoreboard pressure all day.
Danyon Stockdale was a standout in defence for the Bombers and the experience of Sam Sheldon also aided the Kyabram dominance.
For Tatura, Toms Corso, Lincoln D'Augello, Christian Corso, Mitchell Jones and Ciaran Hubble tried hard against the odds.
Under-18s
There was a glimmer of hope for Tatura’s future with its under-18 side pushing the undefeated Kyabram side all the way.
The young Bombers, without stars Charlie Isaac and Jedd Turpin, got over the line by eight points in a game where both teams had turns of dictating.
The Bombers had stand out players in Oscar Carver, Riley Carver and Dylan Priest in defence, while classy on-ballers Isaiah Scoble and James Priest in attack did their bit to secure the win.
But the young Bombers will have to lift a lot this Saturday against another of the unbeaten sides in the competition, Echuca.
Tatura had eye-catchers in Caden Robbins, Rory Hearn, Anton Basile, Nicholas Sorraghan and Patrick McCarthy, who showed if they stick with the club they will probably get the chance to be fast-tracked to senior level.
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