Three of Kyabram’s eight “close-calls” this season have been against teams the Bombers will face in the final month of home away competition.
Wins in two of these games will guarantee the Bombers a place in the finals, given they beat their major challenger for the last place in the top six – Mansfield – two weeks ago.
Conversely, two of the team’s biggest wins of the season came have against the Bombers opponent from last weekend, Shepparton United, when they managed two of only four 100-point plus scores for the season.
Along with the weekend’s 23.9 (147) total and the 20.9 (129) they scored against United first time round, the 105-point score against Tatura in round seven and a 103-point total against Benalla are the only other games where the Bombers have posted a triple figure tally.
In that first United game the Bombers produced one of their highest statistical returns of the season, having 110 disposals in a second quarter where they kicked another 2024 season best – eight goals.
It was also the Bombers’ second highest disposal count of the season (358, the Bombers average is a tick over 340 a game), with co-coach Kaine Herbert topping the list with 35 possessions.
They only bettered that on the weekend in the 125-point win against Shepprton United where they racked up a massive 436 disposals (including 127 to United’s 78 in the final term).
Against Mooroopna, who the Bombers will play this weekend, in round one they had just 327 disposals (47 less than their opponent). In that game the Bombers came from the clouds in the final term to almost steal the game.
They won the inside 50 count 21-4 in that last quarter and won the free kick count 11-4.
Bombers officials will be hoping Cats gun Ethan Hunt is still on duty with Footscray Bulldogs in the VFL that round. He has only played two GVL games this season, one of those against the Bombers when he amassed 171 ranking points with two goals, nine clearances, 35 disposals and seven inside 50s.
That Mooroopna game kick-started a run which saw the Bombers lose by eight points, win by two (against Rochester), lose by three to Euroa and – in round six against their second last opponent of this season – win by six points against Seymour.
Other close calls have come against Shepparton Swans (a 13-point win), Shepparton (a 14-point loss), Rochester (an 11-point loss) and Euroa (a 16-point defeat).
The Seymour game saw the Bombers stop in the last term. They lost the disposal count 109-61 and finished with 72 less disposals for the game despite winning by a goal.
Seymour had three of the top four ranked players on the ground, ball magnet Nathan Beattie collecting 38 disposals on the way to 170 ranking points (his tally bolstered by four tackles, seven clearances and eight marks).
Kyabram’s final opponent of the season is second-ranked Shepparton, which had to rely on star ruckman Ash Holland and on-baller Adam De Cicco to produce their best in order to scrape home for a 16-point win.
Holland amassed 206 ranking points as he dominated Marcus Khoo. Holland won the hit outs 52-20, laid 10 tackles, had seven clearances, kicked a goal and was credited with a massive nine one percenters in the win.
De Cicco had 40 disposals, nine tackles and nine clearances.
Kyabram will be hoping to again unleash the highly physical Bailey Tome on the Bears. He had 26 disposals, 12 clearances and five tackles in that game, one of only five he has played for Kyabram this season.
LAST TIME THEY MET
R1 – Mooroopna d Kyabram 13.8 (86) to 11.12 (78)
The stars: Ethan Hunt (35 disposals, nine clearanace and two goals); Daniel Johnston (11 disposals, five marks, six goals); Liam Ogden (29 disposals, 10 inside 40s, 156 ranking points); Marcus Khoo (23 disposals, 40 hit outs, six clearances).
R6 – Kyabram d Seymour 13.8 (86) to 12.8 (80)
The stars: Nathan Beattie (38 disposals, eight marks and a goal); Liam Ogden (26 disposals, nine clearances and 131 ranking points); Dylan Scopel (10 marks, 25 disposals, five rebound 50s; Anthony Depasquale (four goals, six marks, 11 disoposals).
R9 – Shepparton d Kyabram 12.9 (81) to 9.13 (67)
The Stars: Adam De Cicco (40 disposals, nine tackles, nine clearances); Ash Holland (18 disposals, 10 tackles, seven clearances, 206 ranking pooints); Archie Watt (28 disposals, 11 marks, one goal); Bailey Tome (26 disposals, 12 clearances, five tackles).