Pumped: Kyabram's Rueben Rode celebrates a goal during the preliminary final win over Euroa.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
It will be Kyabram to face Echuca in this week’s Goulburn Valley League grand final in a repeat of the 2019 decider.
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The two arch rivals will square off on Sunday after the Bombers held off an inaccurate Euroa 13.12 (90) to 10.17 (77) in a frenetic and drama-filled contest.
Spectators got their money’s worth in a see-sawing 10-goal final term ― that edged into the 35th minute ― but it was Kyabram’s work after the main break that gifted it the win.
Kyabram, in its first preliminary final since the 2014 loss to Shepparton Swans, came out to kick five goals to two after Euroa led by five points at the first change.
The Magpies were wasteful with their chances during a 2.7 second quarter, even if it was hard to keep track of after the Deakin Reserve scoreboard abruptly stopped working halfway through the term.
It was only fitting that the Bombers’ players from that 2014 preliminary final, Liam Ogden and Rhys Clark, led the way with standout performances.
Euroa gun Ben Giobbi was sent off during the third term after he received a yellow card and that hampered the Magpies’ ability to restrict the Bombers’ momentum.
But for as much as those two caught the eye Kyabram fans will take much joy out of watching special teenager Archie Watt in defence.
The 16-year-old, amidst the tension and chaos of the final quarter, showed compsure beyond his years with three intercept marks as Euroa tried to pull off one of its trademark comebacks.
Stand the mark: Kyabram's Anthony DePasquale.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Dishing it off: Euroa's Marcus Varley.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Just out of reach: Kyabram's Zac Norris.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Precision: Euroa's Jett Trotter.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Head over the ball: Euroa's JD Hayes.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Caught: Euroa's Jett Trotter is tackled by Kyabram's Nic Denahy.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Crunch: Euroa's Darby Wilson.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
But the fast-finishing Magpies from the first two weeks of the finals series didn’t return and it was Kyabram that punched a ticket into next week’s decider by 13 points.
“It’s good reward for the boys, they deserve to be playing in a grand final and now we give ourselves a chance,” Kyabram coach Paul Newman said post-match.
“I’m proud of them for being able to give themselves a chance. The boys just cracked in all game and I’m so proud of them.
“It’s a hard way to come into a grand final, Euroa are one of the form teams ... they had some of their personnel back ... I’m rapt for the boys.”
Both teams were without key personnel, with Euroa’s Erish Uthayakumar a late withdrawal due to illness.
Kyabram was without key pillars Lachie Smith (calf) and Jason Morgan (ankle), while the Magpies missed superstar midfielder Will Hayes (ankle).
Euroa’s JD Hayes was a standout early in the game, while Marcus Varley played another important role in defence.
The loss completes Scott Rowan’s journey at the helm of the Magpies in what has been a memorable five years in the role and consisted last year’s grand final appearance.
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