Gallery | Kyabram slays Goulburn Valley League giant Echuca in gruelling contest

But opposing players and supporters will have deep-seated scarring from Kyabram’s imposing run of four flags and six grand finals from 2013-19.

On Saturday, the Bombers' stirring come-from-behind 17.17 (119) to 13.6 (84) victory against the Murray Bombers turned the heat up on this year's premiership race.

The round six clash between Kyabram and Echuca at Kyabram Recreation Reserve was the perfect test for an up-and-coming undefeated Bombers outfit.

Echuca had only lost to three teams on four occasions since its reign of terror began in 2022.

In front of a vocal home crowd, Kyabram started the match in a frenzied but scattergun manner.

The Bombers were in control of the play, but each entry inside 50 landed in the lap of a man donned in green.

On the other hand, the visitors were clinical as they counter-attacked, with Echuca scoring the first four goals of the match.

Kyabram kicked its first goal thanks to a smart finish from Riley Ironside in the final moments of the quarter to provide some reward for effort, but already the Bombers were down 9-27.

Two quick goals in the opening minutes of the second term to the Bombers had the lead cut back to six, however, the cogs began to turn once again for Echuca and within a flash the visitor was back out to a four-goal lead.

A position the Murray Bombers don’t usually drop away from.

Star Echuca midfielder Jack McHale left the ground injured with a leg complaint and didn’t return, adding to the Murray Bombers' growing injury list with Ben Reid and Liam Tenace already missing.

A five-minute purple patch from Kyabram young gun Archie Watt saw the agile speedster have three set shots and boot two as he inspired his side back into the contest to be down by 11 at the main break 41-52.

Echuca’s Hugh Byrne was on track to be the player of the match halfway through the third term as he threatened to tear the game apart.

Byrne was taking contested marks for fun, including a spectacular hangar on the shoulders of a Bombers defender, and had booted four goals — two from tight angles.

However, while Byrne and Kane Morris (three goals) did it at one end, Kyabram’s Tom Holman (four) produced a Stuart Dew-esque performance in the third term.

A smother inside 50 that led to a goal, followed by two set shot snags had the big and bustling Bombers key forward roaring after a slow start to the match.

Kyabram was running rampant to finish off the third term, but Echuca’s defence was holding on with elite pressure and structure forcing the Bombers wide and taking long-range shots.

As the match official hovered his finger over the siren, Kyabram sent one final shot from outside 50 forward from Charlie Barnett (four goals).

The ball sailed through the uprights and all of a sudden the scores were tied at the final change of ends, 72 apiece.

In the final quarter, Kyabram’s midfield mix of Mick Mattingly, Kaine Herbert and Watt ran riot as the Bombers belted their rivals in a flag-ambition stamping performance.

Kyabram coach Corey Carver said even when his players were four goals down, he backed them in to spark what turned out to be a 10-goal turnaround.

“To be honest I’m not really sure (what caused the swing), we just stuck at it,” Carver said.

“That trust in what we had been doing, but against such a good side (like Echuca) you are always fearful that they might pull away on you.

“It probably took till the last quarter for it to really open up for us."

The Bombers' two key pillars in attack Holman and Barnett were arguably the difference makers in the second half.

Carver said his forward line mix was growing in connection with each passing match.

“In the second half, once (Holman) started clunking them he became so hard to stop," he said.

“He works so hard for us, he does all the grunt work for us in the forward line and that all probably goes unnoticed.

“(Barnett) had an injury-interrupted season last year, but he has relished the opportunity this year and he marks the ball at the highest point; he has a crack.

“He is probably top two or three in the goal-kicking now, which is a good effort.”

Aside from some players featuring in the VFL or Coates Talent League, Carver said his team nearly had a clean bill of health.

“Coby (McCarthy) with his hips and his groins, we are hopeful for (a return) later in the season for him,” he said.

“Nic Jephson we hope to get back next week — Nic has a quad (injury).

“Other than those two injuries we aren’t too bad on the injury front.”