On Saturday afternoon Kyabram travelled to Mansfield for a crucial battle for both sides.
Heading into the match, the Bombers were in sixth spot on the ladder and the Eagles were in seventh, both on 24 points.
With finals on the line and the weather at its most miserable, the stage was set for a tackle-focused and contested duel.
Despite the poor conditions, the scoring flowed in the opening term as Kyabram started the match well, booting 4.4 to Mansfield’s 3.1.
The Bombers extended their lead further in the second quarter to make it 16 points at the main break.
The conditions were cold and wet and there was limited clean disposal.
Both sides instead used the old bash ’n’ crash and surge the ball forward game plan.
In the second half, the scoring dried up.
Mansfield failed to kick a goal in the third term, while Kyabram dominated but was unable to convert that ascendancy into goals, instead booting 2.7 for the quarter.
Facing a 33-point deficit at three-quarter time on the soaked Mansfield ground, the Eagles required a walking-on-water style miracle to steal victory from Kyabram.
The contest became even more of a gruelling arm wrestle in the last term, with only three shots on goal combined from the two sides.
The final scores finished 6.8 (44) to 10.15 (75) in Kyabram’s favour.
Kyabram coach Corey Carver said his players knew Saturday’s game against the Eagles was a must-win match if they wanted to play finals in 2024.
“It was huge,” Carver said.
“It was one of those matches, and we sort of had one against Euroa last week that we dropped, so it was important this week to get the win.
“It was one of those old ‘eight-point game’ scenarios.”
The conditions couldn’t have been more gritty and tiresome for both sets of players.
Carver said his side had to change its game plan to a more contested style for matches such as Saturday’s.
“It was a hard slog,” he said.
“It was really wet in Mansfield; it was about two degrees and there was water all over the oval.
“We had to change our game plan up a bit.
“Tackling was number one; we said we would go to work on the tackling and the pressure because you know it is going to be contest after contest.
“That was the main focus just to get as many bodies around those repeat stoppages and just work and get it forward all the time.”
In this almost elimination-style match, Carver said that he had a good mix of players who stood up and performed well when it mattered.
“Brad Whitford was great; he played a really good game down at half-back intercept marking,” he said.
“Marcus Khoo was really good in the ruck.
“Bohden Learmonth is just a young guy and he probably played his best game for the year; I thought they were probably our best three.”
In round 15, Kyabram will host Shepparton United, while Mansfield will travel to Benalla.
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