SOME would say that home ground advantage isn’t really a thing.
Kyabram Fire Brigade’s Daniel Kent doesn’t think so anyway.
‘‘It’s not something I really buy into, personally.’’
Kent believes the best team on the day will win a game of cricket.
‘‘You both have 11 guys playing their best trying to win a game of cricket at the end of the day.’’
Moama will be hoping there is a home ground advantage for the Magpies.
Because this belief has seen Kyabram take a calculated risk in the opening week of Goulburn Murray Cricket finals.
Finishing on top of the ladder, the Flames had the choice of grounds for their match with Moama.
Against conventional wisdom, the Flames chose to play the game on Moama’s home ground, rather than Northern Oval.
GMC operations manager James Stokes admitted the league were surprised.
‘‘We had the games pencilled in — Ky would host at Northern Oval, Tongala would host at the Tongala Recreation Reserve,’’ he said.
‘‘So when we got the phone call saying Ky were choosing to play in Moama, I have to admit it surprised us.’’
Kent said it was a decision influenced by how well the ground at Moama plays.
‘‘We believe Moama is the best wicket in the comp, and the best ground for that matter,’’ he said.
‘‘We think it suits the way we bat, and we have had some pretty good results there.’’
Saying it suited the way the Flames bat would be an understatement.
When the Flames last played A grade at Moama, they scored 6/439, with Dale Shaw making 191 and Jayden Rosin an unbeaten 106, in a game the Flames won by 286 runs.
‘‘We are also thinking along the lines that if we are lucky enough to win the game then we will have a bit of a dress rehearsal on the ground that we will be playing the grand final at the next week.’’
The previous match the Flames played at the ground was the 2017/18 grand final, where they defeated Rochester United.
‘‘We really enjoy the ground, and think that it will advantage us on game day.’’
The move to Moama opens the door for Ky’s B grade side to play at Northern Oval.
The Flames have been involved in a draw, but are otherwise undefeated at the ground.