Armchair ride: Kayne Pettifer and Tom Holman chair milestone man Jason Morgan off the ground at Tatura on Saturday. Morgan was instrumental in the 22-point victory. Apart from a stint with Coburg in the VFL and the occasional match with the Goulburn Valley league’s representative side, he has always worn the red and black of Kyabram.
It was a fitting milestone game in a wonderful career.
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Jason Morgan might be on the worst side of 35 years, but looked like an eager teenager as he ticked off his 250 games anniversary with the Bombers on Saturday against Tatura with a vintage best-on-ground performance.
In fact the club’s four-time best-and-fairest winner was so dominant and influential in a key defensive role it could be argued the Bombers might not have won without him.
With his trademark aggression at the ball and strong aerial work he thwarted a plucky Tatura for the four quarters and almost every time the home side threatened Kyabram’s supremacy.
Kyabram coach Paul Newman said was happy with his team’s endeavour and the Morgan-led defence in particular.
The Bulldogs looked in for a long day when their first goal came 14 minutes into the second quarter after the visitors had scored the first five goals of the game.
But the Bulldogs fought back determinedly to hold their own in the second and third terms.
Kyabram always held a two or three-goal buffer and was good enough to answer whenever Tatura threatened, which was quite often in the second half.
Apart from Morgan’s memorable milestone game there were some other pluses out of the 22-point win for the Bombers.
New recruit, Essendon VFL player Will Golds, did enough on debut with 24 possessions to show he will be an asset and add to Kyabram’s versatility.
On Essendon’s VFL list, it was the first game he has played this the season
Goalkicking star Kyle Mueller was able to get three goals and hand off a couple of others to hint he is starting to find the form that has made one of the league’s top goalkickers during the past few years.
Hayden Gemmill was another established player to lift on recent form, suggesting better things to come while on-baller Liam Odgen also turned in his best game for the season since returning to the club.
Ogden along with ruckman Zac Norris, the ever-reliable Kane Herbert, Toby Wooller and first-gamer Will Golds were the main prime movers for the Bombers.
Norris again dominated the ruck and virtually did what he liked all game.
Kyabram’s youngest player Charlie Barnett at times also displayed his undoubted skills on a wing and should only get better.
Livewire Reuben Rode sparked to life in the second half while Brad Whitford, Billy Barnes and Jake Parkinson gave Morgan support in the back half although at times the Kyabram defence was caught out by Tatura’s quick ball movement.
Tatura did enough to show they are a team to be respected this season and recruits in Brodie Meyes, Harley McCarthy, Daniel Weetra and Ethan Penrith showing they are good GVL players, while club stalwarts Michael Archer and James Nihill were the pick of the locals.
Kyabram went into this game without key defender Lachie Smith, nursing a back disc bulge and two the other star players in Brad Mangan and Zac Zeogh.
But this trio along with fly-in player Rhys Clarke are all expected to be available for this Saturday’s clash with Mooroopna, which will pose a healthy dilemma for the Kyabram selectors.
A trim Mangan looked good in his return in the reserves game in which he kicked four goals.
My Best for Kyabram were: Jason Morgan, Kaine Herbert, Zac Norris, Liam Ogden, Charlie Barnett, Hayden Gemmill, Brad Whitford.
— Kyabram reserves continued their impressive start to the season with a big win.
Tatura kicked the first goal of the game, but from then on it was mainly one-way traffic with the Bombers kicking 13 unanswered goals in one period and eventually running out winners by 126 points.
Brad Mangan’s much-anticipated return was impressive with a four-goal haul, while Cooper Fawcett and Dylan Argus also bagged four majors and were dominant in Kyabram’s forward half.
These players were able to capitalise on the efforts of ruckman Jayden Fitzgerald and Brendan Brasier and onballers in Nic Denahy, Billy McLay and Liam Dillon, who were busy all day.
Captain Will Wild was also dominant at both ends and thirds skipper Bohden Learmonth, Adam Pulsoni, Tom Bruhn, Reuben Stranger all got into the action at times in an team impressive effort.
— Kyabram thirds did not play because Tatura does not have a thirds team, but will be back in action at home this Saturday against Mooroopna.
— Kyabram’s Under-16 side got on the winning list with a big win over Euroa.
The young Bombers dominated and won 164 to 6.
Jed Turpin and midfielder Lachlan Carver with five and three goals respectively showed the way along Hamish Stewart who started in defence and the forward and kicked four goals.
Ruckman Charlie Isaac and Isaiah Scoble were other players to show out in a dominant display.
This Sunday Kyabram will be in action at Echuca’s Victoria Park against the home team, starting at midday.
Marking machine: Jason Morgan produced a typical strong marking game for Kyabram in his 250th game on Saturday, taking eight intercept marks (five of those contested) and having 11 intercept possessions. He was among only four players to register triple-figure Ranking Points totals.
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