Riley Ironside was brilliant early with four goals to half-time and five for the match.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Kyabram Kids have passed their first serious test for the season, producing a strong last quarter to wear down a slick Mansfield in their round five Goulburn Valley League clash at Kyabram on Saturday.
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It was a goal-for-goal duel for the first three quarters and with the game up for grabs in the last term it was the young Bombers who rose to the occasion.
They kicked six last-quarter goals to the Eagles three to run out winners by a neat 20 points — 18.7 to 15.11.
And it was some of their younger players in Archie Watt and Charlie Barnett who stepped up at the goal front when needed for the Bombers.
Watt was electric with three goals in the final term and Barnett kicked two late crucial goals in the third term to provide a slender four points buffer for the Bombers at three-quarter time. He finished with a bag of four goals to continue his productive start to the season.
But in front of goals Watt and Barnett were upstaged by Riley Ironside who was brilliant early with four goals to half-time and five for the match after a seven-goal haul the previous week.
Ironside has always been a gifted player and looks at home as a forward with his pace, strength and deadly left foot. He has certainly helped fill the huge gap left by goal-kicking forward Andrew Depasquale who played his second VFL game with Werribee last weekend.
Kyabram’s Charlie Barnett stepped up at the goal front when his side needed him to.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The game was either stagnant with continual stoppages or played at lightning speed with both sides moving the ball quickly when they could get it into the open.
While Kyabram ruckmen Zac Norris and Aidan Robinson were dominant, Mansfield on-ballers and midfielders were able to generally win the ball at the centre ball-ups and stoppages in the first half and often the Kyabram defence was under the pump.
But Brad Whitford, Jason Morgan young gun Angus Scoble and Jake Parkinson proved equal to the challenge again.
The youthful Scoble was solid all day and is a player who takes no risk – when the ball needs punching away he punches it.
Mick Mattingly, Kaine Herbert, Archie Watt, Jack Russell, Mitch Gugliotti and Josh Dillon, in his first game for the season, were all able to get the majority of breaks from the stoppages in the second half to ensure the forwards had enough chances to kick a winning score.
While it was the first time the Bombers have met a possible finals side this season, it gets even tougher this Saturday when they take on reigning triple premiership winner Echuca, which rose to the occasion again last Saturday against Shepparton in the 2024 grand final replay.
Fans should note the game is at Kyabram and not Echuca as listed in most draws.
My best for Kyabram were Mick Mattingly, Archie Watt, Aidan Robinson, Riley Ironside, Charlie Barnett, Kaine Herbert, Zac Norris, Brad Whitford, Angus Scoble.
· Kyabram reserves won again, but got a wake-up call, pushed all the way by Mansfield in a low scoring slog.
The Bombers were in control early, but Mansfield with three third-quarter goals to Kyabram’s two behinds were back in the game at three-quarter time.
But with noted goal-kicker Will Wild stepping up the Bombers rallied to hold out the visitors for a 10-point win in a real arm wrestle.
Skipper and ruckman Jayden Fitzgerald led from the front for Kyabram and received plenty of support from the consistent playmakers Sam Vick, Cooper Fawcett and Adam Pulsoni.
Riley Gallivan and Danyon Stockdale led the Kyabram defence in dour fashion.
An interesting recruit in the Kyabram side was former senior premiership player Sam Sheldon, who has coached Moama for the past two seasons.
He kicked two vital goals in the low scoring affair which was a vital contribution in the low scoring battle.
The Bombers have another tough assignment this Saturday, hosting reigning premier Echuca.
· Kyabram thirds are also still unbeaten after a 58-point win over Mansfield.
The young Bombers were in control for most of the game and were able to capitalise on the dominance of Isaiah Scoble in attack and the midfield where he got a lot of support from Tyler Doolan, Charlie Isaac, Hunter Fawcett and Braith Northausen and James Hargreaves.
Charlie Isaac, back from the seniors, was workmanlike rather than dominating, while defenders Max Carroll, Nathan Kuiper, Oliver Barnett and Jack Donaldson were able to shut down Mansfield’s forward line for most of the game.
Ruckman Will McLean gave his all as usual for the Bombers.
Bombers co-coach Peter Ryan said he was pleased how his charges shared the ball and the progress many of the bottom aged players were displaying as the season unfolds.
The team has a huge test this Saturday, taking on reigning premier Echuca.
