The Bombers jumped out of the blocks at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday, slamming home 7.5 to 1.1 in the opening quarter to effectively end the contest before it had a chance to settle.<\/p>\n
Coach Corey Carver admitted it was a refreshing change.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething we haven\u2019t been doing. We\u2019ve traditionally been slow starters a little bit, so I just thought energy was high, and we moved the ball really well,\u201d Carver said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the get-go, we moved the ball really swiftly, and we defended really strong. Things just sort of clicked in the first quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first break set the tone, and while the Eagles had their moments with the breeze, Kyabram\u2019s defensive structures and ball use never wavered.<\/p>\n
For Carver, the response carried extra weight given Mansfield had pipped them by a solitary point back in round 16.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe said a few times, in both times we played them, they were really solid base defence and offence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe reviewed pretty strongly during the week just to make sure we were good to go against a really quality side. Once we were rolling and the energy was up we just had to maintain it, which we were able to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kyabram\u2019s scoring dominance was lopsided across quarters. The Bombers outscored Mansfield 89\u20137 in the first and third terms combined, but the second and fourth were actually a dead heat at 43 points apiece.<\/p>\n
Carver wasn\u2019t reading too much into that split.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a breeze, so there\u2019s probably a couple of goal breeze going one way, which would indicate that,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just had to defend really strongly, particularly into it. We were able to do that, which was good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bombers\u2019 forward half was again led by Tom Holman, who bagged five goals.<\/p>\n
His presence has been central to Kyabram\u2019s finals surge.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis form\u2019s great. He\u2019s playing really well at the right end of the year,\u201d Carver said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis hands were good, and once he one-out against his opponent, he\u2019s a pretty strong chance of marking it because he\u2019s got such good hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis forward craft\u2019s good, his stoppage work in our forward 50 is really good as well. Hopefully he has one more game like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the win, Kyabram earn a week off and await the result of Rochester versus Echuca to decide their preliminary final opponent. For Carver, it\u2019s about recovery and preparation, not relaxation.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecovery early\u2026 then we\u2019ll have a strong session Thursday with that weekend off. It\u2019s all business along, certainly no rest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just get a little advantage, those sore spots that guys have got, handy to have a week. It\u2019ll be good for a couple of our older guys particularly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s Rochester, Echuca, or even Mansfield again, the Bombers know their next challenge won\u2019t be straightforward.<\/p>\n
But after an 82-point September statement, Kyabram look every bit like a side ready to charge into another grand final.<\/p>\n