In 2022 the Bombers were beaten in the first week of the finals, by Mansfield, ending the season in fifth place with 10 wins, seven defeats and a draw.
Last year they won their first final on the back of an Angus Scoble best on ground performance, but suffered an 80-point loss in week two of the finals against Shepparton Bears.
That team featured several players who have been promoted to senior ranks this season.
Last year’s captain, Bohden Learmonth, has become a regular senior player, while Nic Jephson has flourished as a key forward at the top level and despite moving to Tongala, Angus Scoble has also featured at Coates Talent League level on three occasions.
Tyler Norman and Oscar Dixon have also played senior football, while performing well when in under age ranks.
The standouts, however, have been Carver (son of senior coach Corey) with 24 goals in 14 games, along with Hamish Stewart (43 goals so far this season).
Carver kicked four in the win against United on Saturday, after kicking three against them earlier in the year.
He has also played four reserve grade games and kicked two goals in one appearance with Lancaster’s under 18 team when the Bombers had a bye.
With Kyabram’s under 16 team in 2023 he kicked a goal a game and was among the best players on the ground in 14 of the 15 games. He has continued to develop after playing two under 18 games last year and representing the GMJL twice at under 16 level.
Stewart kicked three goals against united on Saturday - the ninth time he has kicked three or more in a game. He kicked 12 against Tatura in round seven and also made a cameo with Stanhope’s under 18 team where he kicked three goals again.
Captain Oscar Dixon has played an extraordinary 24 games this year, including three at GVL senior level, eight reserves and 13 under 18 games.
He kicked two goals in the team’s ninth win on Saturday, only his second game of the season where he has hit the scoreboard.
Kyabram now sits fourth, one of three teams (Rochester and Mooroopna are the others) to have achieved this mark, and they sit two games clear of seventh-ranked Seymour.
Charlie Isaac is another to turn heads, despite still being eligible for under 16 football. He has played all 15 games with the Bombers’ Under 18 team and been among the better contributors in more than half of those.
Vice captain Cohan Hooper missed six games early in the year, but has been in great form for the last month of football. He played only two games with the under 18 team last year.
Kyabram lost to its opponent of this weekend, Mooroopna, by 20 points in round one, but beat its round 17 opponent Seymour by two points.
It lost by 66 to its final home and away round opponent Shepparton Bears earlier in the season.
Senior players Jephson, Watt and Norman could return if the senior team is knocked out of the finals and the first two are freed of Coates Talent League duties.
