The Bombers are premiers for the first time since 2019 after defeating a brave Rochester by 30 points in Sunday’s grand final at Deakin Reserve.
A dynasty of the 2010’s, the Bombers channelled the glory of old to run out 13.14 (92) to 8.14 (62) win over the Tigers, never truly headed in the two clubs’ first meeting in the GVL decider since 2016.
With the game still in the balance, a glorious third-quarter purple patch from Tom Holman and starring performances from co-coach Kaine Herbert and Mick Mattingly laid the groundwork for Kyabram’s fifth flag this century.
“I’m rapt, stoked for the players who worked their backsides off all year,” Carver said.
“But like any club, it goes way back to preseason.
“You hope that your structures and your system work.
“They've all bought in, so I couldn’t be happier for them.”
With former Kyabramite Garry Lyon watching on, co-captain Aidan Robinson and Zac Norris won the toss and opted to kick to the Skene Street end.
In dreary conditions, it was a flying Drew Lloyd who fired the first shot, turning a strong pack mark into the first goal of the grand final.
A sharp left foot snap from Liam Ogden opened the Bombers’ account, but leading Tigers’ goal-kicker Hugh Hamilton pulled the lead back with his first of the day in general play.
With the ball pin-wheeling between the arcs, Nicholas Jephson was waved in front of Ky’s goal after a 50-metre penalty, and Kaine Herbert swooped on a Tom Holman dropped mark to extend the Bombers’ lead to 11 points.
Mick Mattingly rose to the occasion, while Jason Morgan chopped off some probing Rochester entries.
Anthony DePasquale roosted a 50-metre set shot tucked up near the boundary line to extend the lead further, and Kyabram went into the first change with a three-goal buffer.
Archie Watt and Herbert worked in tandem out of the Bombers midfield, with the ascendancy confirmed after Coby McCarthy was caught high and kicked truly to get Kyabram out to 24 points.
Rochester had the ball parked inside its arc but couldn’t capitalise until Hugh Hamilton snapped truly on his left against the flow of play to keep the Tigers in the game.
Ogden was the recipient of another 50-metre penalty goal, but Rochester weren’t going away, with Wil Hamilton taking a big mark on half forward and booting Rochester back into it again.
But Herbert continued to be dominant around the stoppage, allowing Jephson another mark and goal.
The half-time score favoured a Kyabram side showcasing a professionalism that had defined its entire season - 7.8 (50) played 5.1 (31).
When play resumed, however, it was the Tom Holman show.
The Kyabram key forward booted two goals in as many minutes to kickstart the quarter, finishing with three for the term after Mattingly found him flying inside-50.
It was a purple patch that turned the tide of the game, with an Ironside major from the Nixon St pocket sending the Bombers 43 points clear after 11 minutes.
Mitch Trewella, Cooper Hamilton and Lloyd continued to toil for the Tigers, but Holman, supported by a rampant Herbert and a rising Brad Whitford, had the result all but confirmed at the three-quarter-time siren,
Rochester made a late dash, but couldn’t find the big sticks, booting 2.10 to Kyabram’s two straight, Holman finishing with four goals and Coby McCarthy rubber-stamping a red and black flag with his second.
The AFL Victoria Country Medal was awarded to Herbert, while the Wilf Cox Medal recipient was none other than Mick Mattingly.
“Superstars” was how Carver aptly described them.
“Kaine and I have worked together for two years and he’s just a gun,” Carver said.
“Mick puts in so much work behinds the scenes as our assistant coach.
“A lot of the structural stuff that we put into place was on the back of him, so we work really closely the three of us along with our other off-field assistant coaches.
“Tom Holman got to work in that third quarter, which was huge, straightened us up and probably got the momentum going.
“We just had a really good on ball group who we could rotate fairly heavily.
“Most clubs might only have three or four and we had five or six that we could just keep rotating through.
“The back six were amazing today, they just held up all day.”
A brave Tigers were best served by Lloyd, O’Keefe, Trewella and the Hamilton brothers, rising from significant recent heartbreak to challenge for the league crown once again.
But cheered at Deakin Reserve as Norris and Robinson brandished the premiership cup, a familiar sight to the Bombers’ faithful who will no doubt be celebrating Kyabram’s sweet 16th GVL premiership.
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