The Bombers host Echuca, which showed it’s the measuring stick again with a comfortable win over Shepparton, the team it flogged in last year’s grand final, last Saturday.
The Murray Bombers have had some player changes this season, but their seemingly endless depth of talent has been on display again this season and are the early favourite to win their fourth flag in a row, a feat only achieved once previously in the GVL by the Tom Hafey coached Shepparton teams in the 1960s.
Kyabram survived a spirited Mansfield challenge last Saturday in its biggest test.
But it will need to go up a cog or two if it’s to claim to the most sought scalp in the GVL.
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Former Kyabram Football Club reserves premiership skipper Jack Batt died last week.
Batt led the Bombers when they won the GVL reserves flag in 1959.
It was the same year Kyabram’s senior side was beaten for the premiership by Lemnos (now the Shepparton Swans) — 16.13 (109) to 9.16 (70) and the year before (1958) the Tony Bull-coached Bombers senior side landed the flag with a 12.13 to 9.6 win over Nagambie.
In that 1959 reserves flag victory Kyabram beat City (now Shepparton United) 10.18 (76) to 7.10 (52).
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Goulburn Valley sporting greats Herb Prior and Mal McLeod were given fitting farewells last week.
Funeral services for multi sports talented Prior and Rushworth cricket champion McLeod were well attended on consecutive days (Wednesday and Thursday) in Kyabram and Rushworth where mourners were refreshed on their bountiful sporting prowess with promises that their feats will never be forgotten and always be revered.
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Girgarre Football Club will wind back the clock this Saturday to celebrate two of its thirds premiership wins.
The late Andrew Jones coached the 1975 side to the flag and Barney McDonald held the reins of the ’Roos flag-winning 1995 side.
Celebrations of those wins will take place at Girgarre this Saturday when the Kyabram District League ’Roos host neighbour Stanhope.
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Probably the most surprised person to learn of his debut in the Kyabramsenior side against Benalla three weeks ago was Shaun Doolan.
I had Shaun making his senior debut based on the numbers supplied on a sheet handed out at the gate (remember no more Weekenders).
On my sheet number 59 was credited as being Shaun Doolan which in fact it wasn’t.
It was Oscar Dixon, last year’s thirds skipper, who has played previously at senior level, so wasn’t on debut.
So apologies to Shaun and Oscar, but I can safely tell them worse things will happen in your lives.
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Kyabram footy fans attending last Saturday’s clash against Mansfield were surprised when a familiar face lined up on the interchange bench for the reserves.
It was former Kyabram senior premiership player Sam Sheldon, who has been coaching Murray league club Moama in recent years.
Sheldon was able to kick two vital goals when he was unleashed which went a long way towards winning what was a really tight contest.
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