KYABRAM returned to the pinnacle of Goulburn Valley League football on Sunday with a five-goal grand final win against Rochester, after four seasons in the premiership wilderness.
Kyabram lost only one game in four seasons between 2016 and 2019 – being the 2018 grand final to Shepparton – but was not about to make that same mistake against the Tigers in the 2025 edition.
On the back of a 10-minute surge from key forward Tom Holman, who had been unsighted before taking four Inside 50 marks in the third term, the Bombers led by almost 10 goals at one stage.
They eventually finished 30-point winners, 13.14 (92) to 8.14 (62), with Rochester surging late but converting just two of 12 final-quarter scoring shots.
All five of Holman’s marks for the game were taken Inside 50.
The match opened with intensity – Josh Dillon earned the first free kick but missed, while Archie Watt won the opening clearance and notched the first of many Inside 50s for his afternoon.
Cooper Vick was tasked with containing Tigers livewire Drew Lloyd, who had the crowd on its feet with a spectacular first quarter goal.
Sam Sheldon had the job on Sean Williams, as the deepest defender, while Hugh Hamilton attempted to drag Aidan Robinson away from his favourite intercept marking territory in another interesting battle.
At the opposite end Rochester’s Ryan O’Keefe was outstanding early, supported by Grant Fuller and Matt Kellett to double-team the dangerous. Holman had kicked 5 goals in both previous 2025 finals’ games and in the last 3 home and away games kicked 11 goals (making 21 in five games going into grand final).
O’Keefe had a game high 14 Rebound 50s, took 8 marks (3 intercepts) and had 26 disposals.
Despite Kyabram’s dominance, they registered five behinds before Anthony DePasquale snapped truly at the 23-minute mark. A 50m penalty against Lloyd gifted Jephson a goal from close range, and Kyabram led by 11 points at quarter time.
In the second term, Coby McCarthy came to life and kicked a brilliant goal from a set shot into a tricky wind after a high tackle, celebrating with a double cobra.
McCarthy finished with 28 disposals and seven clearances to go with his two goals.
Brad Whitford defended brilliantly, despite having only played 12 games this year, including the last two finals, after missing the last four home and away rounds. Whitford had 12 Rebound 50s for the game, 33 disposals and took 3 intercept marks.
It was Tigers star O’Keefe, however, who was the best defender (at least in the first half). He denied a certain goal with a mark on the line and kept Holman in hand until his breakout third term.
Bailey Wileman worked hard defensively on Watt, but also had stints on Herbert, Mattingly and Russell as no matter which way the Tigers mid-field looked there were smooth running stars.
Ruckman Hamish Hopppell was forced to drop back into defence and didn’t have the same influence at stoppage and with his aggressive follow-up play as he had during the season.
Hooppell and Ramage had a combined 38 hit outs, 10 less than Norris, who had 18 disposals and was the best ball winner of the big men on the ground.
Mattingly and Trewhella were both busy for their respective teams, but Mattingly’s foot skills had greater impact than the handball game of the Rochester on-baller who was named the Barry Connolly Medallist as the best finals player for 2025.
They were the two of the four highest ranked players on the ground (ruckman Norris and Kaine Herbert were the others), Mattingly’s 168 points including 10 tackles, 4 clearances, 6 Inside 50s and 36 disposals. Trewhella had 13 clearances, had 141 ranking points, also collected 36 disposals and had 4 tackles.
A late goal for the Bombers extended the margin to 19 points at the half.
The third quarter was a masterclass from Kyabram. Mattingly exploded into action, with disposals across every line, at one stage starting in the back pocket before suddenly popping up in the forward pocket to deliver a centred ball to Holman.
Holman kicked three goals in 10 minutes, all from contested marks, and missed a fourth that he should have kicked after a pinpoint pass from Herbert.
Ironside added his 50th goal of the season, and Kyabram’s defensive musketeers – Morgan, Robinson and Whitford – were impassable.
Morgan had a game high 6 intercept marks, 19 disposals and finished with 105 ranking points (one of nine Bombers to rack up three figures).
Jephson missed a long shot, and Herbert and Watt continued to dominate clearances. By three-quarter time, Kyabram led by 40 points, having doubled Rochester’s score. At that point it was 27 scoring shots for Kyabram to the Tigers’ 10.
Watt had 24 disposals, 7 Inside 50s, 6 clearances and 5 tackles for the game.
Rochester threw everything at the Bombers in the final term.
Heine was moved to full forward and looked dangerous, while Hugh Hamilton pushed into the centre after having kicked two goals in the first three quarters. Heine had 18 disposals (17 kicks) and 5 Inside 50s for the game.
He was probably the quietest of the three Hamilton brothers, with twin brother Cooper doing his bit against the odds in the mid-field and Wil Hamilton taking one of the marks of the day running back with the flight and converting from 55 metres.
Cooper finished with 20 disposals, 10 tackles, 5 clearances and 113 ranking points. Wil took nine marks for the game.
Despite the high mark count Wil Hamilton had his colours lowered to veteran Jason Morgan on the day, but showed glimpses during the day that he could have been a matchwinner given the tide swinging the other way.
Rochester went into the game without key defenders Andy Henderson and Dylan Gordon, as well as ruck-forward Mitch Cricelli, but we will never know if their presence would have been the difference.
Sean Williams kicked his second goal as the rain started and in almost darkness, as the Tigers had 14 Inside 50s to Kyabram’s two midway through the term.
Poor conversion – 2.10 for the quarter – meant they couldn’t close the gap. Kyabram switched into a defensive mode in the final term, protecting their lead, and gliding to the finish line.
Despite Rochester’s late dominance, Kyabram’s earlier work was enough. Jason Morgan, turning 40 next month, was hot on the heels of Mattingly and Herbert as one of the best players on the ground.
He took several intercept marks, while co-captain Zac Norris was the best big man on the ground and had Robinson to fall back on when he tired. They had the best of it when it came to the ruck, while Herbert, despite close checking from Wileman, remained influential and never stopped running.
The umpires – James Meek, Jack Norris, and Andrew Moore – were barely noticeable, officiating with calm authority. They awarded Herbert the AFL Vic Country, while the media selected Mick Mattingly as the Wilf Cox Medallist. He was presented with his medal by Brian Cox, son of Wilf, while Rochester’s Mitch Trewhella was named the Barry Connolly Medallist for best finals player.
Kyabram’s average winning margin in 2025 was 71 points. On Sunday, they didn’t reach that mark, but they didn’t need to. They were simply too good, too composed, and too well-drilled. The Bombers are back.
