Football
19 May, 2026
Bombers bounce back against Kees
An undermanned Noradjuha Quantong side returned to the winners’ table in round six of the Horsham District Football Netball League with a decisive victory over Kalkee on Saturday May 16. Playing at Kalkee, the Bombers kicked 13.13 (91) to Kalkee’s 6.8 (44).
The visitors dominated possession early before finally kicking their first major through Judah Hobbs 10 minutes into the game, then kicking an additional three goals to finish the quarter up 27-1.
The Bombers continued their momentum, scoring the first three goals of the second quarter, before Ben Lawson, playing his 250th senior game for Kalkee, finally got the Kees their first goal.
Entering the second half with a 48-15 lead, the Bombers continued to capitalise on forward 50 opportunities, extending their lead to eight goals.
Back-to-back goals from Clint Burdett and Andy Devereaux briefly got the Keed back in the contest but the Bombers finished the quarter strongly to lead 82-35 at the final break.
Both teams struggled to hit the scoreboard in the final quarter, with the Bombers comfortably holding on to win by 47.
Declan Phyland led Noradjuha Quantong with three goals while Judah Hobbs, Dylan Shelley, Tyler Puls and James Gregg each kicked two.
Along with the goal kickers, backs Dyson Parish, Wade Francis and Zachary Kelly were among the best on ground for the winning side.
Andy Devereaux was Kalkee’s best with his four-goal performance while Paddy Mills, Matt Magee and Matt Nield all contributed good efforts in the side’s loss.
With nine players out, Bombers coach Damian Cameron said he was very happy to get away with a win in tough conditions.
“I was still confident with the team we had but to get the win with that many out was great,” Cameron said.
“We changed our game style and game plan to suit the conditions and with the side that was going in, which is sometimes a pretty hard thing to nail straight away, but we got a lot of it right.
“Especially in the first half, we were able to hit the scoreboard enough and limit a lot of their forward presses.
“I was stoked with how we went in that first half, and then it was a bit more even in the second half but we managed to nullify them scoring too much and seal the win.”
Asked about the backline’s performance, the Bombers coach applauded their work across the game.
“A lot of our backline could have been named in the best,” Cameron said.
“Dyson Parish was really, really good, and Zach and Nigel Kelly are always solid.
“Even our smalls in Brandon Ellis and Ash Lawson had great games.
“If you’re getting a lot of your backline players named among the best, you’re setting yourself up pretty well.”