In past weeks as Goulburn Valley League heads to the pointy end of business much has been made of Euroa’s capacity to lift in close and late situations.
The Magpies possessed an uncanny knack for elevating their efforts and swarming their opposition when time was running short at critical junctures.
However, Kyabram had other plans at the weekend on its way to a rousing 13-point victory that sets it up for a second chance against Echuca in this Sunday’s decider.
Kyabram gets the launch on Euroa - Q2 v Q3
Kyabram forward 50 entry efficiency: 17% -> 63%
Euroa defensive 50 exit efficiency: 82% -> 50%
Kyabram scores via marks inside 50: 0.0 (0) -> 4.1 (25)
Kyabram gather differential: +3 (14-11) -> +15 (21-6)
The second quarter of this game felt like the third term of the previous week’s Euroa-Seymour semi-final, where another abundance of chances around goal would leave Euroa wanting.
On this occasion, though, its ability to steer the ship later in the contest would be in vain as a shootout ensued in the final term.
The Bombers led the league this season for efficiency around both 50m arcs and stepped their decision-making up through the middle of the ground in the time their opponents typically dictate.
Restricting the Magpies to 0.1 from turnovers in the third term was vital in an area where Euroa can and often would generate an enormous impact.
Before both sides abandoned any caution and slugged at each other with a grand final chance on the line, the game still had the potential to swing either way despite Euroa’s paltry 5.14 offering in the first three quarters.
Naturally, both sides picked their offensive numbers up as the stakes raised and available time washed away.
Still, the Bombers would maintain the pace and leave Euroa ruing the wealth of missed chances it had managed to get away with the week before against Seymour.
The big story pre-game, of course, was the confirmed absence of superstar Magpie Will Hayes after he finished the Seymour game with ice on his ankle.
Hayes, a league-wide standout in the midfield and recent recipient of The News Award for 2023, was sorely missed in the Magpies’ engine room.
Hayes’ ability to get balls out of contests and create effective connections going inside 50 did not materialise for large parts of this game in his absence, with the Magpies committing nine more forward turnovers (28) than the previous week.
The monumental difference in scores generated from midfield turnovers (3.5 against Kyabram v 8.7 against Seymour) is further testament to the Bombers’ fluid efficiency with ball in hand in the critical moments plus the unfortunate absence of the pre-count Morrison Medal favourite.