Plenty of positives for Bombers

The home side had more shots on goal than Echuca, but the greater accuracy and efficiency of the visitors at the goal mouth proved the difference in a dire struggle in constant rain.

Echuca’s leg speed also found Kyabram out at times and often threatened to blow the game wide open.

Kyabram kept at it and played their most productive football in the final term when the rain was belting down the hardest it had all game.

But Kyabram has to work a lot harder on opening up a forward line loaded with talented players, but which is functioning with little cohesion at the moment.

Kyabram went into the game without veteran star defender Jason Morgan, while other established stars in Brad Mangan and Zac Keogh have yet to play this season and are a few weeks away from returning.

But Lachie Smith, feared to miss several weeks after a poke in the eye at Rochester in the opening round took his place in the side and led from the front with his trademark intercept-marking skils, despite the conditions, a feature again.

He got solid support all day from Brad Whitford while Billy Barnes, Riley Ironside and Jake Parkinson tried hard in a defensive zone under siege at times from Echuca’s quick ball movement.

Onballers in ruckman Zac Norris and Kaine Herbert gave their usual all, while Tom Holman stepped up when moved into defence.

Kyabram premiership player Rhys Clark also stood out at times in attack for the Bombers in his first game on his return to the club.

His 60-metre goal in the first few minutes of the game was a gem.

Recruit Reuben Rode again impressed at times with his pace and skills.

Kyabram coach Paul Newman was not too disappointed with Kyabram’s loss and thought there were plenty of positives.

“We hurt ourselves a lot, but we certainly never gave up,” Newman said.

“They are a very good side and play a very good brand of footy.”

Kyabram is at home again this Saturday, hosting Shepparton, which was competitive in a night game against expected finalist Mooroopna last Saturday night.

Essendon VFL recruit Will Gold will make his debut for the Bombers in the clash.

— Kyabram reserves prevailed in a tight, low-scoring clash.

The Bombers got an early break with a three-goals-to-one first term and defended it determinedly all day to run out eight-point winners.

Neither Kyabram nor Echuca have any semblance to last season’s grand final sides and are stacked with many young players, which has to be good for the future of both clubs.

Some of those younger Kyabram players in Tom Gullivan, Will Burnett and Will Campbell were prominent for Kyabram for most of the game.

Noah Ryan was good day in defence with his attacks on the ball, while ruckman Jayden Fitzgerald put in all day in a solid display.

Experienced players in skipper Will Wild, Kaleb Williams and Nic Denahy also made impacts at times along with Miller Griffiths, who doubled up from the thirds game.

Tatura recruit Dylan Argus also looked dangerous up forward in an encouraging debut without any training.

Kyabram co-coach Peter Learmonth said he was happy how his side took on the challenge and never gave up.

‘‘We kept at it and were rewarded,’’ Learmonth said.

— Kyabram thirds went down to last year’s premier, but were in the game all day until the dying stages, at times dictating the tempo for lengthy periods.

But they missed a lot of gettable goals, which came back to hurt them in a 16-point loss.

Classy players in onballers in skipper Bohden Learmonth and Archie Watt and spring-heeled ruckman Angus Scoble led from the front for Kyabram and Under-16 and Bendigo Pioneers talent Tyler Norman also displayed silky skills at times.

Conan Hooper was also very busy in the first half before injury ended his game.

Jay Gentle, William Campbell, Oscar Dixon an Oskar Shortis also did some good work at times to ensure Kyabram was always on the game until the dying stages.