‘Ky Kids’ stay serious

One Kyabram player proved the main difference in the result: Anthony Depasquale.

The young man they call ‘DPak’ continued his match-winning form with a bag of seven of Kyabram’s 16 goals, with a couple of misses as well. Most came from strong leads and marks and he is rapidly becoming a marquee GVL player.

Kyabram again showed its willingness to promote its talented youngsters, with Tyler Norman, on debut from the under-18s, quickly demonstrating he is a player with a lot skills and ability.

Reserves stalwart Josh Wild also made his senior debut, which he earned with his consistent form, and held his own in defence.

He joined his brother, reserves captain Will Wild, again promoted and who chipped in with two vital goals.

Josh became part of a new-look defence without key pillars Jason Morgan and Lachie Smith.

Morgan played in attack and was one of eight goalkickers Kyabram had on the day.

But Kyabram’s defence, under a lot of pressure at times, had stars in Jake Torney and Cooper Vick in particular, with Aidan Robinson doing well again.

After a patch of five unanswered Tatura goals early in the first term, the Bombers hit back with Depasquale and Liam and Eamon Ogden, Torney, Robinson and young gun Nic Jephson leading the comeback.

Will Burnett also battled hard in the ruck for four quarters, with support from Mitch Dodos, particularly in the second half.

Queensland recruit Jackson Griffiths again was steady and continues to play under the radar, gathering possessions.

Whenever Kyabram was threatening to take over the game, Tatura persisted, and led by skipper Mitchell Elliott, with a lot support from Tyler Williams, Curtis Ryan, Ryan Young and Will Russell, was able to get on top in the third term again when kicking with a chilly breeze and get the result back in the melting pot by three-quarter-time.

In fact, in the third term the Bulldogs kicked 4.7 to Kyabram’s 3.2 and it could have been a lot closer at the last change.

But in a dourly fought last term, Kyabram kicked two goals to Tatura’s one to keep the visitors at bay.

The Bombers lost star onballer Kaine Herbert in the first term with a leg injury and went into the game without 10 players who would be in their best side, so it was a plucky effort.

In saying that, the Bulldogs also had big name players missing.

Hopefully some of the Kyabram’s wounded will be looking to return after the general bye this weekend, or soon after, with successive games against Shepparton Swans and then the unbeaten ladder leader Shepparton.

My best for Kyabram were: Anthony Depasquale, Liam Ogden, Cooper Vick, Jake Torney, Nic Jephson, Eamonn Ogden.

Reserves

With former coach Paul Newman showing the way with a five-goal haul, a new look Kyabram reserves side continued its winning streak with a 10-goal win.

Newman bagged five goals and handed off a few others, and reaped the benefits of great service from onballers and midfielders in Liam Dillon, Kyabram’s best four-quarter contributor, Noah Ryan, Bailey Pyke and Brendan Brasier.

Bailey White crumbed well and kicked three goals and Jake Reeves snared two.

In defence, Riley Gallivan was reliable again and thirds player Lachlan Carver showed he is a class young act at times.

Thirds

Kyabram thirds co-coach Peter Ryan praised Tatura for a fielding a side, despite it falling heavily to the young Bombers on Saturday.

‘‘They should be commended for getting a side out on the ground at this stage, regardless of the result,’’ said Ryan, whose young Bombers kicked 35.19 while keeping their rival scoreless.

Tall young talent Hamish Stewart led the scoring spree at full forward with a 12-goal haul and also handed a few off in an unselfish display.

Midfielder Lachlan Carver drifted forward to kick six goals in a classy display while Mac Carroll kicked four goals and Charlie Isaac three in a side that had nine individual goalkickers.

Whenever Tatura went into attack its players couldn’t penetrate the Kyabram defence led by skilful defender Max (Nugget) Carroll and Josh Francis, who were unstoppable.

Ryan said he was particularly happy with Kyabram’s third quarter, when his players really shared the ball around and kicked 13 goals for the term.