A second half surge had Kyabram hit the ground running in Goulburn Valley League, storming to a 38-point victory over Rochester at Moon Oval.
The Bombers showcased their class and experience as the game went by, leaving coach Paul Newman largely pleased with the way his side carried itself during the 12.14 (86) to 7.6 (48) victory.
“We knew that Rochy are a young developing team – they’ve got a bit of a plan over the next couple of years – and we knew they were going to come out with enthusiasm and have a real crack, and they certainly did that,” Newman said.
“I was just rapt with the way we were able to grind it out over four quarters.
“We spoke about it at half-time; I thought our tackling pressure was fantastic all day, and if we could keep applying that it would break the game open late.
“We got our noses ahead at the end and were able to get a few more, so it was pleasing to finish off that way.”
In a game which celebrated the union of both towns following floods which ravaged Rochester six months ago, the theme of ‘recover and reconnect’ had a great crowd grace Moon Oval.
Kyabram drew first blood following a number of wasted chances from the host, but Kyle Walters soon swung back the momentum for Rochester with a hooked effort over the shoulder from the pocket midway through the opening quarter.
The Tigers pushed on and took the lead for a glancing moment in the second, but the Bombers would come out swinging in the third and fourth terms.
The class of Kaine Herbert was evident, with the silky on-baller controlling proceedings and feeding his forward outlets, namely Anthony De Pasquale.
The youngster found another gear as he killed the game dead with four majors – the majority arriving in the final quarter – while debutant Reuben Rode gained plaudits from Newman for his efforts.
On the opposite front, Rochester’s Joe Atley was at his industrious best in the midfield, while graduate Charlie Palmer worked tirelessly in the ruck.
Though his side wasn’t quite at Kyabram’s level on the day, Tigers coach Ash Watson had plenty of positives to take away from the occasion.
“I was stoked with today, particularly the first half, to be competitive against that Ky outfit, a really respected team who are going to be pretty high up there at the end of the year,” Watson said.
“I couldn’t be happier with the effort that they produced, we stuck to our game style in that first half for sure.
“They were just too classy in the end and probably had a few more seasoned bodies than us.
“But to see all the community here today, to reconnect together was probably the bigger picture for our town for sure.”