Kyabram displayed some true fighting spirit to continue its impeccable recent record against Mooroopna on Saturday.
But the hard-earned 19 points-win was soured with a injury to veteran star defender Jason Morgan, who missed most of the last half after being kneed in the back in a pack marking duel.
He was still awaiting scans yesterday to assess the damage, but Kyabram coach Paul Newman expects him to miss the next two rounds at least.
In control early after kicking the first five goals of the day, the Bombers found themselves under the pump at three-quarter time after the Cats had kicked five goals, four unanswered, in the third term.
The Cats had their tails up in the third term and it was only two late goals from Kyle Mueller and one Tom Holman that allowed Kyabram to take a slight lead into the last stanza.
With the game up for grabs it was Kyabram who stood up. A long goal by Will Gold early in the term from an angle gave the visitors the breathing space and momentum to regroup and secure the hard-earned win.
It was the example set by on-baller Liam Ogden, forward Kyle Mueller and ruckman Zac Norris, who were key players in inspiring the win.
The success gives the side a great chance to hold third place on the ladder with two winnable games, against Euroa this Saturday and Benalla, to complete the home-and-away season.
Norris worked tirelessly in the ruck all day and created many chances for alert teammates, many which were seized on by Ogden.
Ogden was well supported in the midfield by Rhys Clarke and Tom Burnett, who put in committed games amid a finals-like atmosphere.
Whenever Kyabram badly needed a goal the man the call ‘The Wiz’, Kyle Mueller, obliged.
He won the hard ball and was rewarded with five goals, which could have been eight or nine had he kicked straight.
Tom Holman was also a reliable go-to target, particularly in the second half, with some strong grabs and two vital goals.
Kyabram’s defence stuck to its guns all day, even though it had to play the last quarter and a half without its rock, Jason Morgan.
But Aidan Robinson got the job done on danger Cats forward and former AFL player Jackson Trengove, who he kept to two goals. He got support from Riley Ironside and Brad Whitford.
The Bombers have another serious test this Saturday, hosting another finalist, Euroa.
Kyabram’s best were Kyle Mueller, Zac Norris, Liam Ogen, Rhys Clarke, Tom Holman, Jason Morgan (until injured).
- The second-placed Kyabram reserves had one of their biggest wins for the season, thumping Mooroopna by a massive 156 points.
The Bombers set the mood early with an eight-goal first term and it was mainly one-way traffic from then on.
Skipper Will Wild showed the way with a 10-goal haul, while Jake Gascoyne slotted four in a dominant team display, with 11 individual goal-kickers.
Senior player Reuben Rode was electric on his return while onballers in Kaleb Williams, Liam Francies and Liam Dillon, alongside Will Burnett, Adam Pulsoni and Jack Millar, were the players to keep up a non-stop smorgasbord of chances to their forwards.
The Bombers have lost only two games so far this season and get a chance to even up one of these losses when they host Euroa this Saturday.
- Kyabram’s thirds let a handy half-time lead be reeled in by Mooroopna and suffered a seven-point loss.
The Bombers played some good footy at times but let themselves down under pressure and suffered the consequences.
Sam Marland, Nick Jephson, Jay Gentle and Bohden Learmonth were keys to Kyabram leading early and keeping the Bombers in the game.
Ruckman Angus Scoble again had to take on much taller opponents and did it manfully while Bailey White was also a danger around goals and booted three in the low-scoring affair.
- Kyabram’s under-16 team has made an 11th hour entry into the finals in the Goulburn Murray competition with an impressive win over Shepparton Notre Dame Bears Maroon at the Kyabram Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
It was a clash to decide fourth place and Kyabram rose to the occasion with a convincing 50-point win.
Spearhead Hamish Stewart set the mood early with a strong gab and a resultant goal, which led to four quarters of impressive team football which reaped a handy reward.
Hunter Fawcett was on fire in the centre and Lachlan Werner, Isaiah Scoble, Lachlan Carver and Tyler Norman were all in the thick of it all day with plenty of willing helpers.
Mobile Marley Gordon also stepped up in attack to play a big role in the win.
Kyabram now meets Mooroopna in an elimination final at Mooroopna this Sunday, starting at 1pm.
- Another Kyabram side, St Augustine’s, also clinched a spot in the Goulburn Campaspe League’s under-14 competition on Sunday with a win over the Shepparton Swans.