Brown, playing at full back, was supported by Wally Charles in attack (three goals) and winger Noel “Kelly’’ O’Donnell — who went on to play 80 VFL games with Melbourne and coached the Murray Bushrangers to its first premiership in 1998.
Ruckman Stewart McKenzie, Gavin Ludeman and David Shaw were strong in defence and skipper Mick Fry kicked two goals for the premiership-winning Bombers.
Trevor Castles, Mick Sharkey ad Brendan Kilmartin were others mentioned in the victory.
Kyabram’s reserve-grade team was unable to repeat the effort, losing to Echuca by 48 points in a one-sided event.
Russ Morgan and Steve Sharp, who went on to be grand finalists with Girgarre and Lancaster respectively, were the team’s best players and Peter Davy led the attack with three goals.
Len Cooper (two goals), Mick McAuliffe and John Fitzsimmons were others to battle against the odds for Kyabram.
∎ Bob Ferguson was named Lancaster Football Club’s best and fairest player, adding to his dual Kyabram best and fairest titles.
Ferguson won the award by eight votes from ruckman Keith Argus, with Geoff Cox and Alan Tonkin (all former GVL players) filling the minor placings.
Alan Busch won the reserves best and fairest from Jim Harris and Jeff Wickman, while Ron Atkins won the Under-17 award from Shane McLennan and John Talp.
A week earlier Lancaster had lost the grand final to Avenel by 42 points, John Mundy — the father of modern-day Fremantle great David Mundy — kicking four goals for Avenel.
Lancaster’s Under-17 team won the grand final by 14 points against Nagambie, Phil Watt kicking four goals in a match-winning display for the team coached by Alan Warren.
1996
Kyabram won its first premiership in 21 years, led by the oldest player on the field, GVL legend Tony “Rusty’’ McDonnell.
Peter White coached the drought-breaking team to a 51-point win against the Paul Hawke-coached Tatura.
Kyabram played three quarters with 17 men when Brendan Ryan was red carded.
The coach’s namesake Peter White (who tragically died in a boating accident later that year) was among the best players on the ground with three goals and Scott Waasdorp also kicked three.
Peter Learmonth, David Lucas, Brad Campbell, Dennis Ryan and Ian Boyd were among the Bombers’ best, while Mick Portia, Ben Landley, Andrew Trimby, Ty Elliott and Benny Gugliotti were also among the goals.
∎ Stanhope won the Kyabram district league’s Under-17 grand final, led to victory by Daryl Harrison.
Harrison, who would go on to win league medals in the Murray and Kyabram district leagues, was supported in the 14-point win against Yea by Ash Comer, Jason Norman and Glen Hodgins.
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