Kyabram playing coach Paul Newman in quest for perfection

IT WILL be business as usual this week before his side runs out on Sunday and attempts to complete a perfect season, says Kyabram playing coach Paul Newman.

IT WILL be business as usual this week before his side runs out on Sunday and attempts to complete a perfect season, says Kyabram playing coach Paul Newman.

Close to perfection: Kyabram coach Paul Newman is not changing anything this week as the club goes into the Goulburn Valley league grand final undefeated. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Rochester is all that stands in the way of the undefeated Bombers and a Goulburn Valley league premiership, but Newman said the playing group was feeling no extra pressure with the favourite’s tag.

“We’re looking forward to a good contest on the weekend but we know fate is in our own hands,” he said.

“We believe that if we play to our potential, like we have all year, it will go a long way to winning that game.”

Kyabram is the second side in three seasons to enter the league’s decider with a perfect record intact. However, on the last ­occasion, an undefeated Benalla was beaten by Shepparton Swans by three points in 2014.

Newman said he would play in the grand final after playing only nine games for the year. He returned to the Kyabram line-up a fortnight ago in the semi-final win against Benalla, kicking five goals.

The coach also confirmed gun forward and this year’s league leading goal-kicker Kayne Pettifer would return for the final showdown after he sat out the semi-final.

Echuca’s Simon Buckley was named the Morrison medallist as the Goulburn Valley’s best-and-fairest winner with 20 votes on Monday.

Seymour’s Jason Cole, who was best-on-ground for Vic Country this year against Vic Metro, and Rochester’s Steven Stroobants tied for second with 18 votes each.

Pettier and teammate Lachlan Smith topped the voting for the Bombers with 11 votes each.