On their home turf the Bombers dominated in the first half against Benalla to build a 74-point half-time lead. But they were outplayed in the third term before another dominant last quarter delivered a 105 points win — 24.18 to 8.7.
Like the two previous big wins to start the season it was against opposition unlikely to play finals, so the significance of the win was difficult to gauge.
Of course though a win is still a win.
Some much bigger challenges await the Bombers when a more accurate guide to their capabilities will go on the line.
Last Friday the Bombers’ on-ball and midfield brigade set up an early dominance.
Kyabram’s on-ballers and midfielders Mick Mattingly, Anthony Depasquale, Kaine Herbert, Jack Russell and Eamonn Odgen in particular reaped the ruck dominance of Zac Norris and Aidan Robinson.
The relentless running machine who is Mattingly kept his foot down all day to burn off a couple of taggers in a best afield performance for the second week running.
Depasquale, Robinson, Ironside and Ogden were four-quarter contributors in a side that had 11 individual goal-kickers.
Depasquale booted four goals along with Charlie Barnett, while Ironside snared three in a team in which its main forward focus Tom Holman was held to two last-quarter goals.
Kyabram’s defence was under pressure regularly throughout the game with Jason Morgan, Jake Parkinson and Angus Scoble the busiest backmen for the Bombers.
Scoble was best of the abundance of the young talent in the side at the moment which welcomed another debutant from the thirds, Shaun Doolan, in this clash.
Another youngster, Charlie Issac, in his senior second game also had some good moments again in defence and hit targets when he got the ball.
The Bombers were again without gun defender Brad Whitford, ex-skipper Josh Dillon and Coby McCarthy, so were below top strength.
Dillon has only one match of a four-week suspension from last year’s elimination finals to serve so will miss again this Saturday when the Bombers tackle another side without a win — Shepparton United — at Deakin Reserve.
Whitford will probably return this week along with young star Archie Watt, who missed last Friday with an ankle injury, but McCarthy’s groin injury is still lingering and there is no date on his return.
My best for Kyabram were: Mick Mattingly, Anthony Depasquale, Jason Morgan, Riley Ironside, Aidan Robinson, Kaine Herbert, Eamonn Ogden, Charlie Barnett, Zac Norris
· Kyabram reserves had another big win on the back of another goal-kicking clinic from Will Wild.
Wild bagged seven goals and along with Miller Griffiths with three majors played key roles in the Bombers’ 127-point win — 21.13 to 2.0.
Griffiths was the key prime mover for the Bombers along with the consistent Ben Railton, Adam Pulsoni and Sam Vick.
The win keeps Kyabram’s unbeaten start to the season intact and the team on top of the ladder with a massive percentage.
· Kyabram thirds also remain undefeated after three rounds.
The young Bombers were in control for most of the game with their defence led by Max Carroll, Nathan Kupier and Cooper Learmonth restricting Benalla to two goals for the game.
Carroll was the standout player on the field.
Will McLean in the ruck and other on-ballers and midfielders in Lachlan Carver, Isaiah Scoble and Riley Carver also got a lot of the ball to set up scoring chances.
The only downside for Kyabram was a knock to goal-kicking forward Hamish Stewart which may keep him sidelined for two weeks under concussion protocol.
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