Despite an impressive start to the season, Kyabram coach Paul Newman hasn’t been fully convinced by his side’s form. Here’s why.
Kyabram coach Paul Newman has conceded his team still isn’t among the top teams in the Goulburn Valley league despite results suggesting otherwise.
The Bombers impressive month continued with a one-point win over Seymour at Kyabram Recreation Reserve.
The Lions nine-game winning streak came to an end with the Bombers holding on in a dramatic final few minutes.
After multiple lead changes throughout the contest, the Bombers led by one point with a couple of minutes to go after a behind from Jason Morgan.
Despite Seymour having chances late to win with the ball in their forward line, Kyabram held on.
It was the Bombers’ third win in a row against teams inside the top six after beating Euroa and Mooroopna in the previous two rounds.
“The game finished with the ball in their forward pocket,” Newman said.
“We hung on for dear life.
“We were fortunate to be in the lead when the siren sounded.”
Kyabram remain in third with the win but are now percentage from second and a game behind Echuca who are still unbeaten in first.
The Bombers only loss came against Echuca in round two.
Despite being impressive form in the past couple of weeks Newman hasn’t been entirely impressed.
“The last three weeks has been good, testing ourselves against teams who we will be competing with for positions on the ladder,” he said.
“But I still see Echuca and Seymour as the benchmark teams.
“We’ve got a lot of improvement in us.
“If we think where we are now is going to get the job done at the end of the year we are kidding ourselves.”
Newman said the biggest area of concern was turnovers.
“We turn the ball over, with silly turnovers, we are still making some fundamental mistakes,” he said.
“We’ve got to tighten that up.
“Our back six have been fantastic (in stopping turnovers costing us).
“Lachie Smith took 19 marks on the weekend (for us).”
Kyabram now has a chance to moving into the top two with winnable games coming up over the next month.
Newman said the focus would be to find more ways to attack and tighten up their mistakes.
“We haven’t been able to get huge separation (in points) on teams in attack,” he conceded.
“We think we’ve got a forward group who can put a score on the board.
“It will be great to see over the next month, just really put the foot down, and be efficient and get good shots in the 50.”
Kyabram face Shepparton United this Saturday at Deakin Reserve.
Originally published as Country footy: Kyabram end Seymour’s Goulburn Valley league run
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