In relying less on the high marking and long kicking attributes that made the team so dominant during the 2010s the Bombers have moved from seventh to third on the list of the GVL’s highest disposal teams
In 2023 the Bombers averaged 300 disposals and despite finishing as grand finalists were outside the top six in the statistical category.
However, they did have number one status in two of the five marking categories – for contested and intercept marking.
This season the team is third — behind Echuca and Mooroopna — in regard to total disposals, but is fifth and sixth respectively for contested and intercept marking.
Given the team no longer has arguably the two best exponents of these disciplines in recent memory, Lachie Smith and Jason Morgan, in its ranks the result is not surprising.
Smith is now playing suburban Melbourne football, while Morgan has played only six games this season.
Underlining how significant a shift it has been in the Bombers’ game plan is the team’s status as the number one team for total marks and uncontested marks.
That is in keeping with the significant increase (almost 50) in its weekly disposal count.
In 2023 Kyabram was seventh on the list for uncontested marks and third for total marks, Seymour and Echuca the competition leaders in both these areas.
Behind the Bombers this year, as the league’s most prolific marking teams, are Seymour and Shepparton.
The split between kicks and handballs is another statistic where Kyabram’s 2024 team has had a major shift.
The Bombers are ranked number one for kicks in the league, but are only fifth for disposal by hand.
Last year the Bombers were only the fourth highest kicking team and were seventh when it came to handball.
One statistic that hasn’t changed for the Bombers is their standing for tackling, again sitting ninth for the defensive skill set in 2024.
The Bombers have relied heavily on Anthony Depasquale in attack this season and, as a result, have only three goal-kickers inside the top 50 for total goals.
Depasquale leads the competition with 61 goals, but only Brad Mangan (21 goals from 11 games) and co-coach Kaine Herbert is averaging a little more than a goal a game (17 for the season) to be ranked 30th in the goal-kicking.
They have dropped from the second highest inside 50 team to ninth this year, but with ruckman Marcus Khoo filling the shoes of last year’s best-and-fairest Zac Norris the Bombers are the second best centre clearance team in the league.
However, overall the team is eighth for clearances.
Norris was particularly effective at throw in clearances where the Bombers were ranked second last year. This year they are equal seventh in this category.
From a simple scoreboard point of view the Bombers are the league’s third most prolific scoring team this season, but are sixth when it comes to points against.
With two home and away games remaining it looks like a sixth-placed finish is on the cards for the Bombers, if results go as expected, meaning a elimination semi-final with Rochester is on the cards in the first week of the finals.
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