Kyabram will be looking to put on a show for its home fans on Friday night as it hosts Rochester in the club’s first home game of the Goulburn Valley League season.
The round two clash is sure to be an entertaining one, with Kyabram coming off a scrappy 11-point victory over Tatura, and Rochester looking to bounce back after a disappointing 54-point loss to arch rival Echuca.
It was a battle of defences at Tatura Park last week, with neither side able to kick clear of the other.
Kyabram ended up with the win and took home the four points, however both sides will be looking to improve on their performance in this week’s matches.
Bombers coach Paul Newman said it was exciting to get back home for a Good Friday clash.
“Being under lights as well we’ll be expecting the town and the supporters to come out in droves so hopefully she’s a big crowd and the boys can put on a solid performance,” he said.
Newman said he was confident a number of players would bounce back after a quiet round one, with a lack of football over the past couple of years having an impact.
“We’re obviously looking to improve a fair bit, especially when we’ve got the ball in our hands,” he said.
“We think we’re a bit better than sort of what we were able to dish up last week, Tatura were fantastic defensively as well and put us under a lot of pressure but it’s just an opportunity for some guys to come out and maybe write the wrong a little bit of last week.
“We’re just at a stage where we’ve just got to lower our expectations a little bit just at the minute.”
Kyabram will be looking to develop a few youngsters this season, with their progress likely to impact where the squad finishes on the ladder.
Newman said watching the fresh faces improve made 2022 an exciting time to be around the football club.
Kyabram will face a hungry Rochester side on Friday night, with the Tigers searching for their first win of the season.
Newman said it was important the Bombers continued their winning start.
“When we looked at it at the start of the year the Rochies are the teams that we sort of thought we would be around so we just need to make sure we win these games,” he said.
In squad changes for Kyabram, Jack Sheldon will return from injury for his first game of the season in a Bombers shirt while Billy Barnes goes out after suffering a serious back injury in round one.
Kyabram and Rochester clash at the Kyabram Recreation Reserve on Good Friday, beginning at 6.45pm.