Reid Crowe has joined the Bombers with the stamp of approval from Kyabram’s veteran forward and former Richmond star Kayne Pettifer.
Crowe is not unfamiliar with GVL fans having played the 2017 season with Shepparton United and winning its best and fairest award in that year.
He played with Melbourne suburban club Chelsea last season.
A Finley boy, who had present Kyabram players Lachie Smith, Jake Reeves and Patrick Wearden as teammates when they were playing with the Murray Bushrangers several years ago, Crowe, according to Pettifer, is just the player Kyabram needs to bolster their midfield weakened by the departure of gun small man Liam Ogden.
‘‘He is quick, skilful and a goalkicker and will fit into the Ky side very well,’’ was Pettifer’s summation of the 25-year-old recruit.
Primed to wipe off the memory of last season’s heartbreaking grand final defeat by Shepparton, Crowe will be joining key forward Billy Burstin, ruck hulk Jake Reeves and defender and former captain Josh Vick in the Bombers’ ranks this season.
Vick did pull on the boots a couple of times for the Kyabram reserves last season after retiring at the end of the 2017 season. But he has regained his passion to play and has been one of the best track workers in the pre-season.
Key players Hayden Gemmill and Aaron Hayes are also as good as recruits after missing last year’s grand final through injuries.
Main losses from last season’s runner-up side are Ogden and classy utility Liam Barrett.
Ogden will play with Pascoe Vale South — where his brother Eamon plays — in the Essendon District League while Barrett has joined Bendigo League side Golden Square.
While there has been an exodus of reserves players from last season’s premiership side numbers aren’t looking too bad at training with 20 to 25 players regularly attending the two training sessions, which will be boosted shortly to three sessions a week.
Kyabram’s senior coaching squad this season will comprise joint coaches Paul Newman and Sam Sheldon with Brenton Sheppard and Danny Kent their assistants.
Sheldon will be the on-field leader.
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