Former Wyuna cricketers recently celebrated what they thought was an historic win — the 1974-75 Kyabram and District Cricket Association’s B-grade flag.
It was believed to be the one and only flag the club, which had fielded teams in the KDCA since the early 1900s, had ever won.
But research has revealed it was the last flag the club had won, not the first and only.
The 1974-75 flag-winning side member Doug Cox broke the news he had a flag in his possession, claiming it was for a Wyuna team winning the KDCA B-grade flag in the 1969-70 season, four seasons before the history-making team’s success.
A phone call to Kyabram historian Eileen Sullivan to check this out in the Free Press files verified Wyuna had in fact won the flag that year, defeating Tongala in the final.
The Free Press article about the win contained another twist with a claim that it was the first flag Wyuna had won for 20 years.
Another call to Eileen and, yes, the 1948-49 KDCA B-grade flag had also been won by Wyuna.
The article claimed it was the first flag Wyuna had won in its 40 years as a member of the Kyabram and District Cricket Association.
So now it’s official — Wyuna Cricket Club has won three flags, not one.
But those players who celebrated the win in the 1974-75 season can be excused for having such a good time acknowledging what they believed was a historic occasion.
Big names in flag side
Did you see the Kyabram Football Club’s side that won the 1963 GVL reserves flag in 1963?
It ran with a story in this column last week on the passing of Kevin McDonnell, who was a member of that side and one of its best players in the game.
It was certainly a handy line-up for a reserves side.
There was Dick Clay and Brian Pleitner, two players who went on to play VFL, a Bomber great in Bernie Harlen and Max Murley, a four-time Abikhair Medallist in this competition.
Former senior Kyabram premiership players from 1958 in Alf Vick, Ron James and Keith Hartin, who were in the twilight of their careers, were also in the side.
Keith Howard, Ron McRae and Ray Barrat, who was the leading goal-kicker with three, were also senior players in the line-up that day.
Lindsay Wickham, who was an emerging senior star at that stage, Ron Murley, Ray Cox and David Bates were other players who graduated to GVL senior level from that side.
Kyabram surprisingly went into the game as the underdog but went on to beat Shepparton 7.13 to 4.12 for the flag.
Captain Ern Hill, Hartin, Bates and Wickham each contributed a goal for the Bombers, while Hill, McDonnell, James, John Boardman, Harlen, Bates, Clay and Barrat were named the side’s best.
Broadford goes into recess
After being knocked back in its bid to join the Kyabram District League, Broadford Football Netball Club’s football department has gone into recess.
It is intended to be only for a year, but history shows that when teams go into recess, often they don’t find a way back.
Broadford targeted the KDL because it wanted to compete in a country league rather than outer suburban Melbourne competitions and thought it was the best option.
Broadford netballers aren’t taking a break and are seeking a competition to join.
Maloney roars into Lions’ den
Seymour Football Club has added a VFL premiership player to its ranks for the 2024 GVL season.
Midfielder Tom Maloney, who played in Box Hill’s 2018 flag-winning side, also won a best-and-fairest award in 2022 playing with Norwood in the SANFL and in earlier days made appearances in the TAC Cup with Sandringham Dragons.
Seymour is confident Maloney will adequately fill the gap left by dual Morrison Medallist Jack O’Sullivan, who will play with Wodonga in the Ovens and Murray League next season.