Kyabram's Archie Watt has played one senior game with Kyabram this season, having debuted in 2023. He had 27 disposals and was the Bombers’ best player against second-ranked Shepparton.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Kyabram football fans will have the chance to see some of the Goulburn Valley’s best young talent in the final eight rounds of the season as the Bombers face off against the seven other teams that are engaged in the battle for six finals positions.
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Kyabram sits sixth on the ladder with a 6-5 win-loss record, fresh from a 25-point loss to Echuca and will this weekend face off against third-ranked Rochester.
Following that challenging bout it has Euroa (seventh, equal on points with the Bombers), in a game that could go a long way to deciding who grabs that last spot in the finals.
In the final five weeks the Bombers have fifth-ranked Mansfield, second-bottom United, Mooroopna (fourth), Seymour (still in the hunt for finals, in eighth position) and second-placed Shepparton.
Kyabram has blooded half-a-dozen youngsters into senior football ranks this season and intermittently will have the services of Xavier College star and Bendigo Pioneers regular Archie Watt.
Watt, still eligible for under-18 football, produced his best statistical return at senior GVL level three weeks ago against Shepparton.
It is the only game he has played with Kyabram this season, having played five games with the Pioneers and completed his school football commitments.
Watt had 27 disposals and amassed 133 ranking points by taking 11 marks (five of those inside the forward 50m arc) and kicked a goal. He had two clearances, five inside 50s, laid three tackles and also pushed into defence where he was credited with three rebound 50s.
Mansfield has four young stars in its line-up that Bombers fans should keep a look out for, in particular Riley Northcott who has a 17-disposal, 8-mark game to his credit this season.
Seymour’s list of debutants this year is long and impressive, eight players having appeared for the first time at GVL senior level.
One familiar football name to Kyabram District League fans will be William Le Deux, whose family is well known at Nagambie.
Le Deux kicked two goals and had 13 disposals on debut for Seymour.
His performance, however, has been overshadowed by Lewis Lubeck — 15 goals from 10 games in his debut season.
Lubeck kicked five goals in round 10 against United, taking three marks inside 50 and racking up 110 ranking points.
He had 16 disposals and even laid three tackles.
Mooroopna has had Oscar Emanuelli and Caden Ratcliffe debut this season, the former playing four games and the latter eight games this season.
Emanuelli’s round 10 match against Euroa resulting in 19 of his 22 disposals finding a teammate.
He took eight marks and laid three tackles in that game, kicking a goal to cap a terrific performance.
Shepparton’s Daniel Meek played in that same round, making only his second senior appearance, collecting 20 disposals and taking 11 marks. He had six inside 50s and 93 ranking points in a sign of big things to come.
Bombers fans will be able to appreciate this handful of GVL Young Guns, and more, in the final eight games of the season.
Watch the GVL Data page of the Free Press for more details about the statistical returns of the competition’s stars in the final two months of the 2024 season.
