GVL | Mansfield continues its winning ways defeating Kyabram

By Daniel Webb

Aug 21, 2022

Goal scorer: Mansfield’s Cam Arnold kicked four goals on Saturday. Photo by Zac Standish

Mansfield continued its strong charge to the Goulburn Valley League finals on Saturday, convincingly defeating Kyabram.

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The Eagles were too good across their home park in the round 17 encounter, with a massive third term setting up the 17.12 (114) to 9.9 (63) win.

Early on things were close, with the visiting Bombers holding it up to the home side and taking a five-point lead into the main break.

Play continued in this fashion when the teams came out for the third term with Kyabram drawing first blood before an onslaught from Mansfield saw the game flipped on its head.

This momentum remained well into the final quarter, with the Eagles holding on to second spot on the ladder with one game remaining.

Mansfield coach Chad Owens said it was a good win for the side.

“We were down at half-time and then had to come back which was good,” he said.

“We sort of just had to fix a couple of things to be honest, we weren’t doing a lot wrong I didn’t think, we just had a couple of areas we needed to tidy up in and then as a result we were able to run away with it.”

The home side outscored the visitors by 38 points in the third term to move into the box seat for the win.

Cam Arnold played a key role with his four-goal haul, while Tom McDonagh and Brett Mahoney also stood out.

“Tom McDonagh was huge, the service he gave out midfield was really good and Corey Rich through the middle was really good, Jayden Howes off the back flank was really important and Lachie Christopher,” Owens said.

“Tom Dunstan and Will Foster’s forward pressure was really good for us as well.

“We’re certainly hitting form at the right time of the year.”

The win is Mansfield’s sixth in a row, with the side undefeated since a one-point loss to Seymour in round 11.

This holds the side in great stead for the finals series, with a win against Tatura in round 18 all that is needed to secure second spot on the table.

“We certainly don’t take Tatura lightly,” Owens said.

“It’s Paul Kirby’s last game as coach so we’ll have to make sure we do a really good job over there.”

The loss leaves Kyabram in danger of missing finals, with the sixth-placed Bombers level on points with Seymour and four points behind Mooroopna and Rochester.

Lachlan Smith once again stood out for the side with five goals, while Jason Morgan, Josh Dillon and Thomas Burnett were named the side’s three best.