GVL finals | Kyabram advances after major Mansfield scare

Forward maestro Kyle Mueller had an enormous impact after the break with all three of his goals coming in the second half, while Zac Norris and Kaine Herbert played to the lofty standards expected of them all over the ground and Lachie Smith was rock-solid in defence, hardly beaten one-on-one all night.

Ben Christopher stood up when Mansfield needed answers with three goals and multiple key contested marks, while Sam Thomson was also effective going forward, showcasing his pace when the Eagles had the ball on their terms.

The Bombers came out firing, the third-placed qualifiers solely dictating the opening 25 minutes before a pair of Mansfield goals earned it a somewhat flattering quarter-time scoreline.

The first 15 minutes of the second term felt the inverse of the first as Mansfield moved the ball freely and capably through the wings, getting dangerous forward Cam Arnold more involved, although he would miss two consecutive set shots from the right pocket.

The Eagles would only spend two minutes of the quarter in front, though, courtesy of a mercurial Will Golds snap against the run of play to maintain equilibrium for the Bombers.

Back-to-back majors for Mueller fuelled a game-high 67-41 lead, but much like the first term, inaccuracy and inefficiency inside forward 50 allowed Mansfield the time it needed to steady and launch yet another rally.

Having led the Goulburn Valley League in marks inside 50, Christopher clunked two in succession and delivered his third goal just before the siren to keep the margin at an even kick.

Norris started to blow the centre contests apart as the intensity lifted in the final half-hour, even as Kyabram saw its entire advantage waste away with Ari Croxford-Demasi’s goal on the run handing Mansfield another slim lead.

Mueller and Tom Holman were feeding off the wealth of opportunities out of the midfield, the latter providing the two late goals needed to remove all doubt.

Though it was a thrilling contest, victorious Kyabram coach Paul Newman lamented the necessity of the feisty battle that unfolded.

“We should have been five goals up (at quarter-time), I reckon,” Newman said.

“We just kept them in the hunt ... they made the most of their chances at the other end.

“Fundamentally, we did a lot of stuff we need to be better at, especially over the next couple of weeks.”

Newman especially praised the efforts of his star ruckman Norris for helping to set the dominant tone on which Kyabram opened the game.

“He (Norris) was out on his feet at the end of the game,” Newman said.

“He was excellent ... marking the ball early, when the conditions were good ... (he was) probably a real difference in the game.”

Mansfield will have the off-season to rue the 1.5 it generated in a dogged final-quarter effort.

Outgoing Eagles coach Chad Owens was “proud” of his charges and had nothing but appreciation for how “brave” they were in mounting a gallant fightback.

Kyabram’s reward for survival is a meeting with minor premier Echuca this weekend, having now earned a double chance in the GVL finals race.