In spite of Lachie Smith’s five goals for the Bombers, the final count on marks inside the attacking 50-metre arc was 20-4 in Echuca’s favour — including an eight-nil count in the third term.
Rurory Kirky, Will Monaghan and Cooper Barber, who kicked 11 of Echuca’s 15 goals between them, took 11 of those as Echuca dominated the premiership quarter.
Echuca’a domination of the third quarter, after having just two more disposals than the Bombers in the opening half, came after the Bombers led by 16 points at the major break.
A 104-57 disposal count in Echuca’s favour included nine more contested possessions than the Bombers for the quarter — a statistical area Kyabram rarely loses.
In fact, Kyabram had two more contested possessions than Echuca for the game. Overall the Murray Bombers won the disposal count 323-257 (+66).
Echuca’s 69-34 uncontested possession count for the third term heavily influenced its overall marks advantage of 32 for the match.
Kyabram had two more contested marks, mainly through Jason Morgan (four), and four more intercept marks (Bill Barnes claiming five) for the match.
Interestingly it lost the weekend free kick count by just two, 30-28 in Echuca’s favour, and had only seven less inside 50s.
Echuca, however, converted 28 of its 52 forward 50 entries into scoring shots (54 per cent) and the Bombers managed just 14 scoring shots from only seven less entries.
Kyabram owned the clearances on the back of ruckman Zac Norris (10 for the match, second only to Echuca coach Andrew Walker — 11), but again lost the tackle count (64-53).
Norris also had 18 possessions, second only to Kaine Herbert’s 28 touches and season high 13 inside 50s.
Jake Parkinson was the top tackler with six, but also gave away six free kicks.
Smith’s five goals straight came from seven kicks and 12 possessions (all but one contested). He earned four free kicks and kept Kyabram in the game until half-time.
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