Kyabram’s Tom Holman’s strong hands were too good as Echuca’s Jaxson McMinn look to spoil. Photo: Jordan Townrow
Kyabram has surged to the top of the Goulburn Valley League ladder after a grandstand finish to beat reigning premier Echuca at Kyabram on Saturday.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
A bumper crowd watched the Bombers fight back after conceding the first four goals of the game to swarm all over the visitors for a 36 points win after scores were locked
Kane Morris and Jason Morgan battle it out.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
up at three-quarter time at 72 points apiece.
But seven last quarter goals to Echuca’s two blew out the final margin.
The turnaround in the game came when Kyabram ruckman Zac Norris got on top and onballers in Mick Mattingly, Kayne Herbert, Archie King, Jack Russell and Josh Dillon won the ball at the stoppages and presented the team’s forwards the chances to kick a winning score.
Kyabram's Thomas Burnett gets boot to ball.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Mattingly was superb again, winning kicks all over the ground with his boundless work ethic, hard running and tackling in another dominant display.
And when he gets the Sherrin the big bonus is he hits targets.
Herbert was also key prime mover for the Bombers as was Norris who turned in his best game for the season. Kyabram’s defence after struggling early was able to limit Echuca to just six goals in the second half while the Bombers added 14, seven in both the last two quarters.
The majority of goals came from key forward Tom Holman and Charlie Barnett, each with four, Archie Watt with three and Mitch Gugliotti and Riley Ironside with two each.
Kyabram's Jake Parkinson pressured by Echuca's Baxter Slater.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Barnett is enjoying a breakout season up forward with his strong marking and accurate kicking highlights of his game.
Archie Watt also showed his wares again and like the previous week kicked the goals from which Kyabram gained its winning momentum.
While Kyabram’s defence was in a bit of disarray early Jason (The General) Morgan and Brad Whitford inspired fellow defenders particularly Cooper Vick, Jake Parkinson and Oscar Dixon to tighten up and reduce the Echuca scoring opportunities.
Hugh Byrne and Sam Edgar were dangerous forwards for Echuca with eight of its 12 goals and former ruck ace Kane Morris playing forward picked up three goals although well held by the evergreen Morgan on the day.
Two of Kyabram’s young guns Angus Scoble and Nic Jephson missed the game.
Kyabram’s Zachary Norris gets his kick away despite the efforts of Leo O'Brien.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Scoble was called up by the Bendigo Pioneers and Jephson is still trying to throw off a quad injury which has sidelined him for the last three games.
But other youngsters in the side in Watt, Oscar Dixon, Mitch Gugliotti, Adan Pulsoni and Bohden Learmonth all did some good work to go towards the win.
Statistics were interesting with Kyabram’s 70 inside 50m entries for the game which was twice as many as Echuca’s.
And despite the authority of Kyabram’s win in fairness the visitors had their problems before and during the game.
Four players from the team that whipped Shepparton the previous week including key players in Tenace and Valentine were missing, star centreman McHale was only on the ground briefly and another of their key prime movers Sam Reid also copped an injury early and had no impact on the result.
Kyabram co-coach Corey Carver acknowledged this when summing up his team’s win.
But you can only beat what is out on the ground and Kyabram did it manfully and professionally in their first win over the reigning premier since the 2019 grand final.
Kyabram has another winnable home game this week against Mooroopna when it attempts to win its sixth successive game to start the season.
My best for Kyabram were: Michael Mattingly, Kaine Herbert, Zachary Norris, Brad Whitford, Jason Morgan, Charlie Barnett, Tom Holman, Archie Watt.
Cooper Vick.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
· Kyabram reserves also preserved their unbeaten record with a resounding win.
They were tested early but took control as the game progressed and ran out 70 point winners — 14.11 to 4.1.
Will Wild again proved a reliable target up forward with five goals and reaped the rewards of prime movers in Will Burnett, Sean Dillon, skipper Jayden Fitzgerald and midfielder Cooper Fawcett.
In defence Riley Gallivan and Danyon Stockdale and David Coulthard let little through with determined displays while Sam Sheldon and Miller Griffiths did a lot of constructive work.
· Kyabram thirds also had a win in the early game to make it a memorable day for the footballers of the club.
Leading 7.1 to 2.4 at half-time Echuca fought back to kick five second half goals to Kyabram’s two in the third term to leave only a kick in it at the final siren.
Charlie Isaac dominated the second half when moved into the ruck and Josh Francis, James Hargreaves, Oliver Barnett and Lachlan Carver all stood up under pressure to supply the chances for their team to kick a winning score.
Key forward Hamish Stewart’s three goals was also a vital contribution in the dour struggle.
The young Bombers have another finals contender in Mooroopna to meet this week at Kyabram.
12°C