Kyabram has turned around a rare down-patch of form in time to be cherry ripe for finals action.
Anecdotally ― and from the outside looking in ― the traits which have made the Bombers so good for so long can be boiled down to a few key points.
Their toughness at the contest, their work rate without the ball and their supreme collective football IQ all combined to produce a red and black outfit which has been a dominant force in Goulburn Valley League for a decade.
With the advent of GVL Data though, we no longer have to rely solely on anecdotal observations ― and the numbers certainly back them up.
A round 13 loss to Echuca by 37 points ― followed by a round 14 defeat at the hands of Shepparton by 20 points ― effectively scuppered Kyabram’s chances of a top two finish in 2023.
Despite the Bombers remaining a mathematical chance to climb into second spot, they will realistically finish third and need to win a cut-throat elimination final if they are to get another shot at glory.
It made it all the more important that they turn around their performance in the areas which were exposed by Echuca.
A thumping 11-goal win over Tatura in round 15 was a tonic of sorts, but after a week off the clash against fellow top-six side Mooroopna was a more relevant test of Kyabram’s newfound momentum.
Paul Newman’s side passed with flying colours.
Although the final score of 9.13 (67) to 7.4 (48) told the story of a gritty win, it was the underlying statistics of the triumph which showed that, when it comes to the big games, the Bombers are back to their bullocking best.
Kyabram was +22 for contested possessions, +3 for hard ball gets, +9 for intercept possessions, +11 for contested marks and +6 for intercept marks against Mooroopna.
It was also +13 in clearances, +25 in inside 50s, +81 in overall pressure, +9 in chases and +30 in pressure acts.
And when it came to tackles (+42), forward 50 tackles (+23) and midfield tackles (+23), the Bombers also dominated.
As comprehensive as Kyabram was in these categories againsts the Cats, Echuca was as well against its fierce rival in round 13.
Kyabram won the intercept possessions and intercept marks (both by one) against the Murray Bombers, but relinquished ascendancy in all of those other key categories.
The Bombers were -27 in contested possessions, -25 in hard ball gets, -2 in contested marks, -15 for clearances and -28 for inside 50s.
They were also -21 in overall pressure, -13 in pressure acts, -7 in tackles (-9 forward 50 and -7 midfield) and -5 when it came to chases.
Whether Kyabram gets another crack at Echuca this season remains to be seen ― but if it does, Paul Newman’s outfit will be armed with the knowledge of what it needs to do.
A TALE OF TWO KYABRAMS
Kyabram v Echuca, Round 13
Contested possessions: -27
Hard ball gets: -25
Intercept possessions: +1
Contested marks: -2
Intercept marks: +1
Clearances: -15
Inside 50s: -28
Overall pressure: -21
Pressure acts: -13
Chases: -5
Tackles: -7
Forward 50 tackles: -9
Midfield tackles: -6
Kyabram v Mooroopna, Round 16
Contested possessions: +22
Hard ball gets: +3
Intercept possessions: +9
Contested marks: +11
Intercept marks: +6
Clearances: +13
Inside 50s: +25
Overall pressure: +81
Pressure acts: +30
Chases: +9
Tackles: +42
Forward 50 tackles: +23
Midfield tackles: +23