Retired players back to fill in
THE Bombers’ ins and outs were popular discussion points among Kyabram Football Club fans and in GVL circles on Saturday.
The most disappointing news was that Kyabram’s power forward Brad Mangan’s worst fears were true — that the knee injury he received in the Echuca game was a season-ending ACL.
Former senior premiership captain and club stalwart Josh Vick made a return to the seniors for the Benalla game after playing some reserves games to help out with numbers.
Gun utility Lachie Smith (hamstring), co-captain Tom Sheldon (groin) and leading goalkicker Kyle Mueller (suspended) were all unavailable for the Benalla clash, which fully tested the Bombers’ depth.
Vick plans to help out when needed in the reserves but showed he could still be a valuable senior player with his defensive skills, so no doubt will have pressure put on to change his thinking.
The other player to raise eyebrows among the Bombers’ faithful on Saturday was the appearance of premiership ruck hero Jake Reeves in the reserves.
Reeves announced his retirement at the end of Kyabram’s 2019 premiership year but made what is believed to be a one-off appearance to play a game with his brother, under 18 player Mitch Heywood.
The Bombers would love Reeves back on a permanent basis but he suffered a pulled hamstring in the game which has probably ended any comeback plans.
Bears need players
AN SOS has been launched by
Shepparton Football Club for more players to help it field a reserves side.
The club with the most GVL premierships (20) has failed to raise a reserves side in four games this season, and being a proud and successful club it is rather embarrassed by its dire situation.
Club president Mark Washington said since the COVID-19 restrictions some players had found other hobbies and hadn’t returned to playing football, and his club wasn’t the only one battling for numbers.
Rochester failed to form a thirds team this season, the first time in its history.
It is estimated the Bears will need six or more recruits to enable them to field a reserves team and are appealing for former players and anyone who just wants a game to head to the club’s website.
The shortage of players is affecting a lot of clubs in the Goulburn Valley area, with KDFL club Tallygaroopna having to forfeit its reserves game against Stanhope last Saturday.
Holman relishes the pressure
THE most recent of Kyabram’s 30 players to reach AFL level, Nick Holman, is assembling some impressive stats with the Gold Coast Suns.
Not so much in disposals, but in pressuring rivals.
He had 27 pressure acts in the Suns’ upset win over Collingwood two weeks ago.
Holman has done it the tough way, re-establishing his AFL career after being originally drafted by Carlton and playing nine games for the Blues over the 2014-15 seasons.
After two impressive seasons with Central Districts in the SANFL League in Adelaide in 2016-17, he was picked up by the Gold Coast Suns in the 2018 rookie draft and has now played 53 games with the Suns.
Young Roo coming on in leaps and bounds
KALON Reid is a young Kyabram District Football League player to watch.
The 17-year-old St Augustine’s student raised eyebrows two weeks ago when he kicked five goals for the Girgarre thirds against Merrigum before being taken from the ground to play in the seniors.
He didn’t disappoint in the stepup in standard, either, bagging another five goals in a beaten side to take his haul for the day to 10.
Kalon made his senior debut for Girgarre in round two against Ardmona
He was also Girgarre’s equal leading goalkicker with two majors in a ’Roos team badly beaten by Dookie United last Saturday.
Interest is high in Three Bros
KYABRAM’S Peter Hall had a big weekend as a trots trainer and owner.
Hall prepares the three-yearold trotter Three Bros which had his first start for the stable at last Friday night’s Bendigo meeting and delivered in spades.
The son of American stallion Dejarmbro, which was making his debut for Hall and having just his fourth race start, finished powerfully to beat a small field of rivals in dashing style after a quiet drive from Josh Aiken.
Three Bros is well bred with his grand-dam the former top racemare Right Interest which won 18 races and more than $200,000 in prizemoney earnings.
Hall plans on giving Three Bros another start before being sent to train for the NSW Foundation series by leading NSW mentor Luke Mccarthy.
Hall enjoyed another win last Saturday night when Flingitandwingit, a trotter he bred and still has an ownership in with fellow Kyabramite John Lilord and Benstud’s Craig Judd, saluted at Queesland’s Albion Park.
It was the trotter’s second successive win at the track.
Flingitandwingit is now less than $1000 short of winning $100,000 in prizemoney with his 12 career victories and 10 placings.
Another Kyabram trots trainer, Paul Railton, has also enjoyed success in the past week producing a longshot winner at the Kilmore meeting last Thursday night.
Four-year-old mare Malhana Muscles was given the run of the race by Railton and sprint-laned to victory at tote odds of nearly 17/1.
Malhana Muscles, which is by the former top trotter Down Under Muscles, was having just her second start in a race.
Direct breakthrough on track
MERRIGUM horseman Luke Bryan completed a successful day at the Gunbower meeting producing the consistent Gallifrey Direct for his maiden win.
The four-year-old Changeover gelding had top-four finishes at his previous three starts and it was just a matter time before he broke his duck.
Reinswoman Tayla French used Gallifrey Direct's barrier two draw to lead throughout and hold on to beat Caesraion and Lethal Lover in blanket finish.