COULD four brothers currently donning the Kyabram football reserves jumper be a ‘first’ in the club’s 127-year history?
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When the Kyabram reserves took the field against Seymour last Saturday four brothers - Will, Josh, Matt and James Wild - were in their line-up.
It’s only the second time all four have played together in the same team - the first time against Echuca in round two.
You may have to go back to the 1980s before finding four brothers pulling on the Kyabram guernsey but never together in the same team.
They were the James brothers - Alan, Peter, Darryl and Glen - who played at junior and senior level with the club in the 1980s.
Back in the 1920s there were also several James boys - relatives of the 1980s brothers including the one-game Richmond wonder Billy - who played with Kyabram but records suggest never in the same team in the same game.
Kyabram’s most famous footballing brothers were the Vick boys in the 1950s.
Bob, Alan and Alf formed the Kyabram half-back line for a long period, including the 1958 premiership side.
The Cox brothers - Brian, Ray and Geoff - all played in the 1960s but Ray believes the only time they may have played together was in a practice match.
Old Bomber could re-join squadron
●Will there be a reunion of Kyabram Bombers’ Golden Oldies in the near future?
Eyebrows were raised and tongues were wagging when a high profile former club champion joined in Kyabram’s training session last Thursday night.
Dual Kyabram senior premiership skipper Josh Vick, who has played a couple of games in the reserves this season, would welcome this player with open arms as he had a close relationship in those premiership triumphs.
Nelson, 98, almost as old as Lions
●The serious countdown to Stanhope Football Netball Club’s centenary celebrations has started.
To be held on the weekend of May 14-16 the club is encouraging all former players, coaches, administrators and supporters to join in and make it a memorable weekend.
A social get-together on the Friday night will usher in the celebrations.
Saturday night is the big night with Teams of Eras to be named and a book launch on the club’s history.
There will also be some special surprise presentations at a sit down dinner function.
One of the organisers and club stalwart Gavin Poole said former coaches of the club have been contacted to attend.
One former coach who has indicated he’ll be there is Kevin Rigby, who coached the club in 1960 in its GVL days.
One thing is probably certain about the reunion.
Club stalwart Alec Nelson will be hard to beat for the honour of being the oldest former player to indicate he will attend the reunion.
Alec, an encyclopedia on the club’s history, is approaching his 99th birthday.
Those who haven’t booked for the Saturday night function are asked to do so by this weekend by phoning one of the organisers Gavin Poole on 0427 572 372 so catering arrangements can be finalised.
Spotlight on wooden spoon battle
●Not many games which could determine which club gets the dubious honour of finishing last on the ladder will demand as much attention as this Saturday’s fifth round Ardmona-Longwood clash.
Both clubs have been battlers in the Kyabram District League for years and will see it as their big chance to put a badly needed win on the board.
The Shane Crawford-coached Ardmona played another celebrity player in former Carlton tagger Anthony Franchina in last Saturday’s heavy defeat by Dookie United.
It was Franchina’s second game with the Bush Cats.
Olympic pole vault gold medallist Steve Hooker didn’t play on Saturday but could return for the Longwood clash.
Trainer era ends at Deni
●The last of Deniliquin’s trainers has thrown the saddle over her last racehorse.
Lyn Hutchins has closed the book on her training career which means that the town no longer has a permanent trainer at the local track.
Lyn took over training after her husband Mel passed away several years ago after a battle with dementia. She had served a long apprenticeship as Mel’s righthand girl in his training pursuits.
Mel trained arguably the best racehorse ever prepared on the Deniliquin track, Sir Boom.
A Group 1 winner, Sir Boom won 14 races at Melbourne metropolitan level.
Deniliquin was once a hub of racing in NSW southern Riverina, boasting 10 trainers in the 1980s and one of Australia’s best known jockeys, Roy Higgins.
Born at nearby Koondrook in Victoria in 1938, Higgins started his riding career at Deniliquin in 1953.
After establishing himself in the country, he made his way to Melbourne where he was to become one of Victoria's greatest-ever jockeys.
Higgins won his first Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership in the 1964-65 season and he was to go on to win it a further 10 times to equal the long-standing record of Bill Duncan.
Higgins died in 2014 at the age of 75.
Lyn will still be involved with the Deniliquin Racing Club on race days, something she has been doing for the last 20 years.
Leo Barry, you star at the bar
●And a new look sporting display at the Deniliquin RSL has had another addition.
A Sherrin football signed by local hero Leo Barry has been added to the town’s sporting legends display in its sports bar.
Barry played 237 games for the Sydney Swans from 1995 to 2005 and is famous for his premiership saving mark in the 2005 grand final against West Coast.
Barry’s career is recognised with former champion jockey Roy Higgins and Australian woman cricketer Mary Loy in large scale displays in the sports bar.