The draw revealed the Bombers would play Mooroopna (round one) and Euroa (round three) under lights at GV Creamery Oval, split by a second-round match against Rochester under its new lights at Moon Oval.
Last year, Campaspe Shire Council helped fund the installation of new lights at Rochester Recreation Reserve, capable of hosting both night football and cricket at the venue, which was engulfed by flood waters in October 2022.
New Kyabram co-coach Corey Carver said the Bombers would face Golden Square, another Bendigo league finalist, South Bendigo, and Congupna in the lead-up to their April 6 season start.
Golden Square was led to the flag last season by former Kyabram star Liam Barrett, who kicked three goals in the six-point win against Sandhurst.
Barrett played junior football for St Augustine’s and debuted with Kyabram while starring for Bendigo Pioneers in the then TAC Cup.
He played 59 senior games from 2016-18 before joining Golden Square in 2019, where he has since played 72 games and kicked 45 goals.
The Bombers completed five pre-season sessions before Christmas, finishing on December 18 and completing both 1km and 2km time trials to test their players.
Carver’s co-coach, two-time Morrison Medal runner-up Kaine Herbert, and fitness expert Russ Jarrett have designed the off-season program.
“Russ will oversee our fitness program, but those sessions were also an intro to our game style,” Carver said.
As expected, Herbert has been setting the tone in the running program, with Aiden Robinson and Anthony Depasquale not far behind.
Carver said the three big improvers in the pre-Christmas phase were Cooper Vick, Riley Ironside and Tom Burnett.
“Bohden Learmonth, Liam Francis and Miller Griffiths have also done a lot of work and are aiming to play regular senior football this season,” he said.
Charlie Barnett and Mitch Dodos have been training with VFL teams, while a number of Bombers under-18 players are training with Bendigo Pioneers.
Carver said Eamonn Ogden, Mick Mattingley, Bailey Tome and Jake Torney had all trained with the team in the pre-season.
Kyabram will embark on a training camp on February 10, but reigning best-and-fairest ruckman Zac Norris will be a late starter because of a shoulder injury.
The Bombers will resume pre-season training on January 15 with two sessions a week; most players having followed a fitness program provided for the Christmas break.
They will then face Golden Square, South Bendigo and Congupna in practice matches leading up to the first game.
• New Stanhope coach Adam Lovison will welcome his Kyabram district league charges back on December 20 after completing seven pre-season sessions.
“The last one was on the Wednesday before Christmas. We started out with a 2km time trial on the first night, which was a good way to see where everyone was at,” he said.
Stanhope has the toughest assignment of any club to start the 2024 season, facing reigning premier Lancaster on the day it will unfurl its second successive premiership flag (April 13, round one).
A week later, it faces neighbour Girgarre in a Sunday fixture, the first of two Sunday games, as it has a round-five game against Undera on the sabbath.
Lovison, a highly respected fitness professional, is again heading up the team’s pre-season — a role he played as assistant coach last season.
“The rest of the coaching staff are assisting with drills,” he said.
Lovison said Brad Canny, Jye Patten and Tom Rennie were three “big improvers” on the track, and he was also impressed with youngsters Brady Wileman and Kayden Davis.
“It is really good to see them stick around after thirds,” he said.
As for the recruits, Lovison said Daniel Maher, Blake Mcauliffe, Jack Donnell and Luke Donnell had been to almost all sessions.
He said Stuart Trevena, after breaking his collarbone last year, had been impressive in his training, as had Zane O’Donnell.
The Lions will resume training on January 8, for two nights a week, in preparation for the two practice matches, against Calivil and Picola.
“We are looking to play one or two more, so if there are any clubs out there interested, they should get in touch,” he said.
