Nick Jephson was cast in the unusual role of centre half-back in a 37-point Kyabram Under-16 Goulburn Valley league elimination final win against Euroa at Tatura on Saturday.
Jephson was assigned the role on Euroa’s Murray Bushranger forward Cohen Paul.
The Kyabram skipper had missed four weeks with ankle problems up until returning for the final home-and-away game of the season.
Kyabram went into the game as underdogs, having lost way back in round seven to Euroa by 19 points.
The Bombers won the game 14.12 (96) to 9.11 (59), will of the wisp forward Max Carroll kicking five and strongly-built full-forward Archer Guinan kicking four.
The Bombers were missing five key playmakers from the team that lost mid-season to Euroa, including Xavier College midfielder Archie Watt.
Watt was best afield on Saturday, the red haired midfielder playing just his sixth game of the season.
He played with the Bombers while on holidays, playing four successive weeks between rounds 9-13 before also playing the final home-and-away game.
Watt finished fourth in the college first 18’s best-and-fairest, a rare feat for a 16-year-old.
But it was the heroics of Jephson that earned the praise of his coach, cast in a different role and carrying an injury.
Jephson and Paul had played together earlier this year in the NAB Under-16 Futures League competition with the Murray Bushrangers.
Paul played three games in the competition and was among three Euroa stars who attracted the attention of Kyabram coach Peter Hall.
Cohan Hooper was assigned to another of the Euroa Bushrangers’ stars, Darby Wilson, while Will Creevey — who made his senior GVL debut in round 12 this year — was also blanketted by the Bombers.
Creevey was Euroa’s best player in nine of his 12 games with the team before Saturday’s elimination final.
Kyabram, kicking with the wind in the opening term, trailed by two points at quarter-time. They had double the scoring shots, but Euroa’s three straight goals was enough to give it an advantage.
The Bombers led by nine points at half-time and dominated the second half to the tune of nine goals to four to secure their place in week two of the finals.
Kyabram gave away eight 50-metre penalties for the match, resulting in three Euroa goals.
Coach Peter Hall said the team’s discipline would need to improve for it to continue into the latter rounds of the finals series.
He praised the small brigade of the forward line, Max Carroll and Lachie Carver, among the Bombers’ best.
UNDER-16 SCOREBOARD
Shepp Swans 8.14 (62)
Mooroopna 7.4 (46)
GOALS, Shepp Swans: C. Phillips 2, K. Anderson 2, M. Grumley 2, E. Telford 1, J. Samkakai 1, Mooroopna: L. Adams 2, J. Osborne 1, O. Emanuelli 1, R. Osborne 1, W. Emanuelli 1, X. Chandler 1.
Euroa 3.0, 4.3, 5.7, 8.11 (59)
Kyabram 2.4, 5.6, 10.10, 14.12 (96)
GOALS, Euroa: B. Fraser 2, D. Wilson 2, B. Hepworth 1, R. Hill 1, S. Leigh 1, W. Creevey 1, Kyabram: M. Carroll 5, A. Guinan 4, A. Watt 2, A. Scoble 1, C. Learmonth 1, L. Mason 1.
Echuca 0.3, 3.9, 4.12, 8.16 (64)
Shepparton 0.0, 0.2, 2.4, 8.9 (57)
GOALS, Echuca: I. Watson 3, A. Donchi 1, A. Watson 1, L. Oellermann 1, Shepparton: N. Cooper 2, J. Dowling 1.