Ky jumped and mugged by Swans

The hosts won by 34 points at the finish – 17.14 to 12.10 – but the visitors really never raised hopes of a miracle comeback this time like they have produced during the season.

The Swans actually adopted what has proved a winning recipe in most of Kyabram’s wins this season – relentless running and intense tackling – to get the better of their rival and their seven successive goals opening term to two points wasn’t seen coming by the Kyabram players or the league pundits.

After that initial blitz the Bombers held their own and, in fact, outscored their rivals which was one positive out of an otherwise dismal performance.

The other positive was Kyabram’s star on-baller Mick Mattingly, despite the loss, knocked up getting possessions again and was arguably best afield despite the home team’s dominance.

The Bombers looked agonisingly sluggish at times with Mattingly the only Kyabram player to immerse himself in the game over the four quarters.

Tom Holman’s five second-half goals was also a good contribution and other players to get into the game were defenders Aidan Robinson and Cooper Vick and on-ballers in Archie Watt and Jack Russell.

But some Kyabram players looked overawed when the Swans put their foot down at the opening bounce with ruck giant Mark Kovacevic and classy and quick on-ballers Mitch Grumley, Lucas Rachele and Oliver Warburton taking control and reducing Kyabram’s defence to a rabble at times with their fierce attacks on the ball and accurate disposal.

‘‘They were too sharp for us early and played a really good brand of footy,’’ Kyabram co-coach Corey Carver said.

My best for Kyabram were Mick Mattingly, Tom Holman, Archie Watt, Aidan Robinson , Cooper Vick and Zac Norris.

• Kyabram reserves produced a strong second half to beat the Shepparton Swans in the clash between the two top teams.

The Swans kicked four first-half goals to the Bombers’ one, but in the second half the visitors kicked 7.1 to 2.1, including a match-winning third term of five goals to nil, to run out winners by 11 points.

Cooper Fawcett, Miller Griffiths, Adam Pulsoni, Ben Railton and Will Burnett sparked the revival when moved into the ruck and Danny Miller up forward.

Co-coach Scott Hearn said the Bombers were ‘‘very ordinary’’ in the first half, but played more intense and sensible football in the second half to get the desired result.

But he warned his team would need to come to play this Sunday in a qualifying final rematch at Benalla.

• Kyabram thirds should be in the right frame of mind to tackle buzz team Shepparton in their qualifying final this Saturday at Rochester after a runaway win over the Swans.

The young Bombers were in control all game and ran out winners by 110 points.

Talented Isaiah Scoble was in sparking form up forward and kicked seven goals, while Dylan Priest with three goals and and Lachy Werner with two kept the scoreboard ticking over, cashing in on the dominance of Charlie Isaac in the ruck and other classy prime movers Lachlan Carver, Tyler Norman and Cooper Learmonth.

Co-coach Mark Patten warned though the Bombers would need their A game this Saturday when they take on minor premier Shepparton, the hot flag favourite, in a qualifying final at Rochester.