Gallery: Kyabram’s on-ballers and forwards continue to find form ahead of finals

Kyabram’s midfield heroes Liam Ogden, Zac Norris, Rhys Clark and Kaine Herbert were standouts for the home side as the Bombers booted eight goals to two after the main break.

Euroa, still not at full-strength and without a host of walk-ins, played a part in a tense and at times finals-like encounter in the opening two quarters, but just couldn’t sustain it over the duration of the round 17 clash.

Magpies skipper Marcus Varley was everywhere across half-back, while forward Nathan Stewart and fellow back Nate Trotter worked hard.

Kyabram coach Paul Newman, who told the playing group last week he will step aside at season’s end, spoke after the match about how the main focus was fine-tuning before finals.

“I just wanted our guys to be playing some consistent footy heading into finals and not fluctuating (in form),” Newman said.

“The result’s great, but I think, in terms of taking anything away from it, I don’t think there’s too much, Adam Giobbi, JD Hayes, Tristan Davies, you put some of those back in that team and it’s a completely different side.

“They’re missing some key personnel, so it’s just like you don’t take too much away from it. I think everyone (top six teams) at the moment are just trying to find their best footy.”

Grey skies cleared to provide perfect conditions at Kyabram Recreation Reserve before the opening bounce, which was followed by Mueller booting the game’s opener inside the first minute.

The home side found another one less than five minutes later and a steadier from Stewart helped settle Euroa nerves.

The Magpies’ Will Hayes converted a set shot from a 50m penalty to tie things up, but the hosts responded through Clark and Kayne Pettifer.

Hayes showcased why he is odds-on to take out the Morrison Medal with a brilliant roving effort off a ruck tap before hitting Ben Giobbi on the chest who converted the set shot.

The Magpies dominated inside 50s yet couldn’t hit the scoreboard and their hard work was evaporated when the Bombers went coast-to-coast on the gate-side of the wing which culminated in a Tom Burnett goal and a 5.1 (31) to 3.2 (20) quarter-time scoreboard.

The second quarter began in similar fashion for the Bombers with Tom Holman booting the opener, but majority of the term was played between the arcs as neither side gained ascendency and the hosts entered the break with an 18-point buffer.

Kyabram’s on-ballers got on top after the main break and a backline, without stars Jason Morgan and Brad Whitford, held the Magpies to one goal.

Two nasty clashes headlined the third term, one which resulted in Euroa’s Mitch Walters leaving the field, while Mueller was left sore after colliding with the goal post.

Pettifer turned back the clock with a sensational set shot tight on the boundary to seal the result on the eve of the three-quarter time siren.

The last quarter was marred by two large melees that will no doubt come under review from the match review officer.

Newman praised his side’s midfield and his inexperienced backline ― that featured teenager Charlie Barnett.

“We had three defenders out and had a couple in there playing defence for the first time in their life,” he said.

“Charlie was excellent, he’s just a really good kid who’s played footy at good levels. He knows what he’s doing and he’s willing to do his job and he did that which was great. Hopefully we can get some personnel back next week and we can get him back out on the wing.

“They (on-ballers) were excellent, it was probably Herbie’s best game in about month or so and when he’s getting his hands on the ball we’re a different side.

“Oggy’s worked his way into a brilliant patch of footy over the past five weeks and Rhys is just tough and he’s been unreal for us. Those three guys and then Tom Burnett, even Zac did a fantastic job around the ball.

“We were able to get a bit of ascendency around the ball for most part of the game which was pleasing.”