The final score — 20.20 to 3.2 — probably didn’t do justice to the home team’s endeavours, but the Bombers had all the answers again.
Firstly they had to overcome the loss of two of their defensive pillars, Jason Morgan and Jake Parkinson, before the game and then the uncanny Brad Whitford hobbled from the ground in the first term with a hamstring pull to leave the defence potentially vulnerable.
Whitford now looks to have a battle to be ready for the finals.
Tom Holman, who has played forward all season, but is no stranger to defence, proved a ready made replacement for Morgan, who is nursing an Achilles twinge, while Cooper Vick, Angus Scoble, Oscar Dixon and Jack Sheldon stepped up magnificently to restrict Benalla to three goals for the game.
But it was Kyabram’s on-ball brigade that again set up another scoring spree.
Led by ruckmen and co-captains Aidan Robinson and Zac Norris and running machines Mick Mattingly, Kaine Herbert, Archie Watt, Eamonn Ogden and Jack Russell, the Bombers again played fine offensive football.
Watt and Ogden in particular brought the crowd to its feet at times with exciting bursts of explosive play.
The Bombers blooded another two debutants in Coby McCarthy and thirds star Lachy Carver and both displayed encouraging signs.
Skilful youngster Carver looked at home and was besieged by teammates after kicking his first goal at the top level late in the game, while former Murray Football League medallist and Tongala and Mooroopna star McCarthy gave hints of his talent at times and will benefit greatly from the hit-out.
Riley Ironside again proved his value in attack this season with a game-high four goals, while Archie Watt and Charlie Barnett each bagged two goals.
Anthony Depasquale slotted one goal and set up a few others with exciting aerial work, particularly early in the game.
The Bombers had no passengers and their pressure and running power were too much for the home side.
Kyabram hosts another battler, Shepparton United, in its last home game for the season this Saturday before a bye.
It then faces a tough run against fellow finalist Mansfield, Echuca and Shepparton Swans — all away games — in the countdown to the finals.
My best for Kyabram: Mick Mattingly, Archie Watt, Jack Russell, Kaine Herbert, Eamonn Ogden, Aidan Robinson, Zac Norris, Riley Ironside, Cooper Vick, Angus Scoble.
• Kyabram reserves conceded a solitary point while kicking 28.11 against an undermanned Benalla.
The extra bonus for Kyabram was the appearance of multi-premiership player Liam Ogden, who made his first appearance for the season after an overseas tour.
It was one-way traffic for most of the game, with Mitch Gugliotti and Cooper Fawcett active in attack with four goals each.
Gugliotti, Ben Railton and Billy McLay were the main prime movers for the Bombers, with their defenders getting little work.
• Kyabram thirds were facing an embarrassing loss at three-quarter time against the second-last rung holder, but rallied in the last term to get up to win by three points.
The Bombers were 14 points down at the last change, but kicked 4.4 in the final stanza to Benalla’s 2.2 to pinch the win.
Hamish Stewart stepped up late in attack and Hunter Fawcett bagged three to help spark Kyabram’s revival.
Key playmakers for the Bombers were Charlie Isaac in the midfield, Tyler Doolan, Josh Francis and Lachlan Werner, who was evasive on a wing.
Co-coach of the Bombers Peter Ryan breathed a sigh of relief at the final siren after the near miss.
“They jumped us at the start and had the first three goals on the board before we even touched the ball, so it was good effort to fight back and get the win,” he said.
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