GVL Data | Examining Kyabram’s breakneck opening term

May 15, 2024

Spearhead: Kyabram's Anthony Depasquale was in the middle of everything during a fast and furious first quarter. Photo by Aydin Payne

There was absolutely no Mundy-mania to be found during the first term of Seymour and Kyabram’s Goulburn Valley League clash.

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It was as if the visitors to Kings Park came out with a point to prove, the spotlight having been on their opponents in the build-up.

But the Bombers put the focus squarely on themselves in a hurry, shell-shocking Lions players and observers alike with seamless movement — and one dominant target up forward.

The first 20 minutes felt like an Anthony Depasquale victory parade, with the emerging mid-forward getting on the end of seemingly everything and making his chances count.

Bombers launch in the first quarter

Marks inside 50: 9-1

Centre clearances: 7-2

Inside-50s: 16-5

Scores from marks inside 50: 6.2 (38) - 1.1 (7)

Scores from midfield turnovers: 4.3 (27) - 1.0 (6)

The numbers paint a clear picture of what transpired.

Very few hit-outs were to advantage on either side in the opening term, and Seymour actually swept the four clearances around the ground, but resetting in the middle was Kyabram’s best friend.

It’s not like the Bombers had a monopoly on possession — they only won the disposal count by 11 — but lethal efficiency out of the middle was the name of the game in the opening half-hour.

The Depasquale show brought a hat-trick of majors, with the appointed GVL representative brilliantly following up his bag of five a week prior against Mansfield.

The Lions eventually acted on the need to give Depasquale much more attention, with the live-wire held to just two more score involvements after quarter time for what was still a game-high total of seven.

This type of early blitz was exactly what the Bombers needed, and not just because the 39-point buffer at the first change was eventually reduced to six by the final siren.

Kyabram saw dents made — significant ones, in some cases — to their statistical dominance in the above categories.

By day’s end, Seymour had actually produced more from marks inside 50 while closing to within one point on midfield turnovers, largely a product of the repeat recycling of possession after a series of desperate final-quarter Kyabram clearing kicks.

The Lions also overturned the inside-50 dominance, winning the category by five with a 39-23 turnaround in the final three periods.

The overarching theme was taking the chances that presented themselves, and Kyabram provided another elite-level glimpse into what the side is capable of if let off the leash.

Simply put, Tatura beware on Saturday.