Carver was frank in his assessment of the new-look young Kyabram side, saying the Cats were in control for longer periods than his charges and deserved the eight-point win.
But he was happy with his young team’s ability to fight back from a match-high 37-point deficit in the third term to almost steal the game with a barnstorming last term in which they kicked 5.1 to the Cats’ 1.1.
He also pointed out Kyabram’s inability to maximise their abundance of chances at the goal front, particularly early in the game, came back to haunt the team in the final wash-up.
Mooroopna’s classy players, Nahan Drummond, Coby James, Ethan Hunt, and Dan Johnston, who kicked five goals, did enough to inspire their teammates to the well-deserved win.
The Cats exploded in the early part of the third term, blowing out a 14-point half-time margin into a match-high 37-point lead with four unanswered goals, and were threatening to score a blow-out win.
The Bombers’ defence was in disarray at this stage after veteran Jason Morgan stretched a hamstring late in the second term and was sidelined for the remainder of the game.
But the Bombers showed plenty of character to dig deep — led by new ruck ace Mason Khoo, Liam Ogden, Kaine Herbert, Josh Dillon, Cooper Vick and recruit Jake Torney, Emann Ogden and Tom Burnett and young guns Charlie Barnett and Nic Jephson.
Queensland fly-in recruit Khoo was arguably Kyabram’s best player on the day and lived up to the hype he had generated from his dominance in a preseason practice game.
The efforts of Charlie Barnett and Jake Torney and Mitch Dodos in defence and left footer Nic Jephson, who kicked two inspirational goals in the challenging centre-half-forward role, were big pluses out of the game for the Bombers.
The Bombers were behind the eight ball from the start with the late withdrawals of Morrison medallist Mick Mattingly, who suffered a quad injury at Thursday night’s training session, key defender Lachie Smith, and gun Queensland recruit Bailey Tome, who was ordered to train with the VFL side Northern Bullants despite the VFL competition having a bye.
Smith will return for this Saturday night’s clash against Rochester and Bendigo Pioneers talent Archie Watt is also expected to be available but Mattingly is only a 50-50 chance.
Utility big man Aidan Robinson is also likely to miss another week along with Jason Morgan.
• The Scott Hearn Kyabram reserves side was the club’s only football winner on the day, winning in a hard-fought contest by 17 points.
The Bombers had their noses in front all game and were able to respond to all challenges put to them by the Cats.
Onballers Kaleb Williams and Liam Dillon showed the way with determined displays, with Williams’ two goals being vital to the end result.
Back from Tongala, Oliver Watt also made his presence felt in attack with a solid display capped with two goals.
Will McDonell led the Kyabram defence with a strong display and Bailey Pyke was a busy flanker working between half-forward and half-back.
Ruckman Jayden Fitzgerald also gave his usual tireless game in the ruck.
• Kyabram’s thirds went down by 10 points to the Cats in a keenly fought, even struggle.
“We had some really good players and others who didn’t contribute on he day and we made more mistakes than them which proved costly,’’ Kyabram co-coach Peter Ryan said.
‘‘But I’m confident we (joint coach Mark Patten) have a good lot of young players to work with.’’
Tyler Norman and Charlie Isaac were the standouts for the Bombers.
Onballer Norman displayed his talented kit of skills and Isaac, promoted from the Under-16s, starred at full back and received plenty of support from fellow defenders Oscar Dixon and Shaun Doolan.
Hunter Fawcett on a wing was also active and Liam Mason who rucked all day, Danny Miller and Max Carroll also put in good games.
