Kyabram sits fifth on the ladder, but is now two wins clear inside the top six with games against Mooroopna (fourth), Seymour (ninth) and Shepparton Bears (second) remaining.
Before Saturday’s game against Shepparton United the Bombers defence had only kept two teams to scores of less than 60 points — Benalla in round 10 (52 points) and Mansfield last week (44 points).
United managed just 3.4 (22) for the afternoon as the Bombers again found new avenues to goal in compiling their largest score of the season - 23.9 (147).
United didn’t score in the first quarter as the Bombers piled on nine goals in their best single-quarter return of the season.
The Bombers dominated every facet of the game, having 436 disposals (126 more than United), 60 more marks (131-71, including 20 inside 50) and 19 more inside 50 entries - all of these stats thanks to GVL Data.
By half-time the Demons had just three minor scores on the board — confirmation of just how dominant the Bombers were with their defensive output.
Running defenders Jake Torney (28 disposals) and Brad Whitford (25 disposals) worked with winger Eamonn Ogden to regularly transition the ball into attack.
The lesser-celebrated Ogden brother had 23 disposals, five inside 50s and three rebound 50s in another solid performance. His brother, Liam, finished with just 19 disposals.
The Bombers 11th-ranked opponent kicked all three of their goals in the second half (their first more than 20 minutes into the third term), but Kyabram kicked 12 of its own in the second half to send a warning shot across the bows of other finals-bound teams.
Kyabram was without Nic Jephson (Bendigo Pioneers duties), Archie Watt (school football commitments), Jason Morgan (who hasn’t played since round nine) and Zac Norris, who has been on the sidelines all season.
All four could be available for selection come finals time and if the Bombers can keep the services of in-and-under midfielder Bailey Tome the future looks bright.
Saturday was only the fourth time this season Kyabram has kicked 100 points or more, the others being the 62-point round-four win against the same opponent, a 105-point score in a 21-point win against Tatura and the 103-point tally against Benalla (a 51-point win) in round 10.
Ironside’s four-goal haul is the best of his 63 senior games. Prior to Saturday he had kicked 17 goals in a career that started way back in 2018.
He kicked five goals in 17 games in 2022, but his tally on Saturday matches the four goals he kicked in 2019 and betters all four of his remaining seasons.
The former Bendigo Pioneer did kick 28 goals in 10 games at under-16 level in 2017.
On Saturday he had 21 disposals, a season best from his seven appearances with the Bombers, four inside 50 marks and kicked a goal in every quarter.
While the goalkickers were celebrated figures in the 125-point win, it was stand-in captain Aidan Robinson and his in-form defensive lieutenant Brad Whitford who were rated as the Bombers’ best two players.
Robinson took 13 marks (10 of those intercepts) and finished the game with a massive 167 ranking points (second only to ruckman Marcus Khoo).
Khoo continued his recent run of good form, kicking a season-high three goals to go with his outstanding centre bounce and clearance work. He racked up 175 ranking points in a game that included 29 disposals, nine clearances, 33 hit-outs and three tackles.
Good news in the front half of the ground as well, leading goalkicker Anthony Depasquale starting the game in spectacular fashion with the first three goals and finishing with four.
He kicked only three behinds last week, despite contributing strongly to the win against Mansfield, but now has 54 goals for the season.
Brad Mangan continued his recent momentum with three goals, making it nine goals from the last three games after missing three games before being held goalless in his last two games.
Mangan started the season with 11 games in the first five weeks, but had kicked only one prior to his resurgence from rounds 13-15.
Last season he kicked 36 goals from 17 games, having played only two games in the 2022 season.
Bailey Tome’s numbers were as impressive as they had been in his first four games with the club, racking up 32 disposals, 10 clearances and eight tackles.
He is now averaging 154 ranking points and is elite in contested possessions (averaging 18), tackles, inside 50s, clearances and score involvements.
Of the home-grown products Bohden Learmonth continues to build his resume, 23 disposals and three tackles, while Josh Dillon (25 disposals) and Mitch Dodos (19 disposals, eight marks and a goal) is also building his case as a high-performing key-position GVL player.
