The Bombers moved up a rung from sixth to fifth with a solid second half against Euroa on Saturday to book their spot against the Swans at Euroa on Sunday.
The ledger this year between the two sides is one win each, so the Bombers are capable of keeping their season alive against a side that can be very good and very ordinary.
On Saturday, Euroa tested Kyabram in the first half with a fast-moving, fierce-tackling display that left the visitors down by a kick at half-time.
But the Bombers rallied after the long break and, with seven second-half goals to the home team’s three, ran out 28-point winners.
Co-captain Aiden Robinson kicked four unanswered goals for Kyabram at the end of the second term and start of the third quarter to take his side to new heights when the game was in the balance.
He finished with a match-winning five goals.
Ruck ace Zac Norris had a much taller opponent to battle with, but seized total command in the second half and along with other on-ballers Kaine Herbert, Jack Russell and Reuben Rode and Jack Russell were prime movers in the win.
Norris also kicked a vital two goals when interchanging at full-forward with Robinson, while Charlie Barnett also kicked two goals in a glimpse of a return to his potential match-winning ability.
Young Charlie Isaac again showed out at stages and presents at every chance in the forward line.
He is going to kick bagfuls of goals for Kyabram in the future.
Kyabram’s defence was again led by Brad Whitford and Jason Morgan who got solid support from Aaron Hayes.
Coby McCarthy and Mack Ayton also did some telling work in the win.
The Bombers were without Rhys Clarke, Josh Dillon, Jack and Sam Sheldon and Tom Burnett, but the big plus for the Bombers going into the elimination final is they are expected to return for this Sunday’s cut-throat clash.
My best for Kyabram were Kaine Herbert, Zac Norris, Aiden Robinson, Brad Whitford, Jack Russell, Rueben Rode and Jason Morgan.
Reserves
Kyabram reserves finished the home and away season on a high with a runaway 127 points win.
They now meet Echuca in a qualifying final at Rochester this Saturday.
The pleasing part of Kyabram’s win at Euroa on Saturday was the efforts of younger players in Oskar Shortis, Cohan Hooper and Tom Bruhn.
Bruhn was impressive in Kyabram’s forward line where he was a reliable target and finished with a bag of six goals.
Experienced Jarryd Pertzel and Ash Quinn also did a lot of positive work in Kyabram’s forward half, while ruckman Brenton Brasier continued his fine season with another dominant display.
The Bombers will need to play at their best to overcome Echuca in the qualifying final at Rochester which has not lost a game this season.
Thirds
Jedd Turpin was the talk of the town after helping himself to an incredible tally of 16 goals for Kyabram thirds in their thumping win over wooden spooner Euroa.
Teammates continuously sought him out for a big game and he responded in spades.
The Bombers dominated all game with Cooper O’Neill, James Priest, Ben Chapman and Mitch Wilson, the players who did a lot of work setting up Turpin to run amok at the goal front.
The Bombers now face Shepparton United in an elimination final at Euroa this Sunday in a bid to keep their season alive.
Kyabram’s finals venues
SATURDAY
Kyabram reserves v Echuca (at Rochester, at 3.15pm)
SUNDAY
Kyabram thirds v Shepp United (at Euroa, at 9.30am)
Kyabram seniors v Shepp Swans (at Euroa, 2pm)
