Paul Newman’s boys will need to lift a lot from what they displayed in the final home and away round against wooden-spooner Benalla last Saturday to avoid a sudden end to their premiership aspirations.
The Bombers won comfortably enough in the end — 31 points — but struggled for three-quarters to shake off their determined hosts, who were cheered on by club premiership players from the past.
But Newman was not too concerned about Kyabram’s performance.
‘‘There may have been a bit of self-preservation given we couldn’t go anywhere on the ladder,’’ he said.
Certainly, Kyabram’s inaccuracy at the goalmouth didn’t help its cause with Brad Mangan and Kyle Mueller the main culprits, each with a string of behinds.
But Kyabram didn’t play with the authority of a team seeking another premiership and will — and can — do a lot better this Saturday against Mansfield at Mooroopna in a twilight elimination clash.
Key playmaker Rhys Clarke will return for this game but defence general Jason Morgan, nursing broken ribs from the Mooroopna game, won’t.
And there is some doubt on the availability of onballer Liam Ogden with some hamstring concerns.
Morgan was missed in Kyabram’s defence on Saturday where Lachie Smith was a standout early and Aidan Robinson and Jake Parkinson were steady all game.
Robinson played a fine defensive game on former AFL star Jarrad Waite, restricting him to one goal for the game.
For the Bombers, Ruben Rode was electric and arguably best afield in the first half and onballers in ruckman Zac Norris, Kaine Herbert and 17-year-old young gun Archie Watt were key playmakers.
Norris and Benalla skyscraper Josh Marchbank had an absorbing ruck duel all day with both big men doing a lot of telling work for their team.
Under-18s talent Watt again showed he is a gifted, skilful player with a big future in only his third game at senior level.
He started in attack and was later switched onto the ball and gathered 18 possessions.
Anthony Depasquale and Will Golds, both kicked two goals at crucial stages, along with Kayne Pettifer, in a team that had 12 individual goalkickers on the day.
Toby Wooller and Liam Ogden also showed out at times.
My best for Kyabram were: R Rode, A Robinson, K Herbert, A Watt, A Depasquale, Z Norris, J Parkinson.
– Kyabram’s reserves will also need to lift on what was produced on Saturday to avoid being belted by the unbeaten Seymour in the qualifying final on Sunday at Rochester.
Like the senior team, the Bombers made heavy work of disposing of Benalla, a side whcih has won only two games for the season.
The Bombers gradually wore down their fast-starting rivals to win by 31 points.
Benalla players surprised Kyabram early with their endeavour and ball movement and it took its inspirational skipper Will Wild to get them back into the game.
Wild ended with six of Kyabram’s 13 goals and reaped the benefit of dominant onballers Liam Francis, Kaleb Wlliams and Liam Dillon and winger Josh Wild.
In defence, Riley Gallivan and Noah Ryan were stalwarts and played huge roles in rallying teammates with their ferocious attacks on the ball.
Seymour has been the standout side of the season and the Bombers will need step up a rung or two to be a chance to cause an upset.
– Kyabram thirds will meet Mooroopna in a cut-throat elimination final at Benalla on Sunday after a comfortable win over Benalla.
The young Bombers made a flying start and were in control for most of the game in a 76-point win.
The Bombers had standout players in onballers Angus Scoble and skipper Bohden Learmonth and Miller Griffiths.
The gifted Scoble, changing from the ruck up forward with Declan Hallett, capped a dominant display with five goals.
Baily Pyke, Ben Railton, Archer Guinan and Declan Hallett were also multiple goalkickers for the winners.
The Bombers also had a star in defence in Ethan Hart, who played arguably his best game for the season and received solid support from Oscar Dixon and Will Campell.
The young Bombers will be looking to even the score in their elimination final against Mooroopna, a side which narrowly beat them three weeks ago.
One welcome inclusion will be Nic Jephson, who played with the Bendigo Pioneers on Sunday.
– Kyabram’s Under-16s bowed out of the premiership fight last Sunday week, but not before stretching the hot favourite Mooroopna.
The young Bombers went down fighting by 13 points with Lachlan Carver, Oliver Barnett, Josh Francis, Hunter Fawcett, Jack Donaldson and Hamish Stewart leading the way.
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