Plays of the past

Nine nominations for the role declined the offer to take on the position, and, after 25 minutes, the meeting was abandoned.

Among those to say no was retiring president, Mr Castles, who said three years was enough.

Treasurer Greg Dow reported the club had turned over $53,000 and had a $1400 profit. Of that figure, almost $20,000 was coach and player fees, almost double the previous season.

The meeting was held only days after the club’s presentation night, which was a celebration of veteran rover and reserves coach Chris Salter.

Salter was made a life member of the club, adding that to his life membership of the Goulburn Valley league, while he also received the best clubman award.

Vic Morris was another to dominate the evening, winning the reserve grade best-and-fairest award, most improved player in the grade and also polled the most votes in the Abikhair Medal.

The Fighter of the Year award, a special award donated by Dr Peter O’Brien, was won by coach Barry Sullivan, who had been frustrated by injury during the year.

Rod Bray polled the most votes for the team in the Morrison Medal, while Greg Kirkman won the best-and-fairest, with Tom Devlin runner-up and John Lilford third.

Long-time club supporter Charlie Mead almost stole the show from the playing personnel when he gave each member of the club’s losing grand final team a stainless steel tray to mark the season’s achievements.

He also presented two honour boards, prompting the club president to describe him as “Kyabram’s greatest football supporter”.

His late brother, Jack, played for the club in 1947, and every week from that time, Charlie had made the 250km round trip from his home (north of Benalla) to watch the Bombers play.

Lilford’s immediate impact

John Lilford started his Lancaster Cricket Club season in stunning fashion when he took seven wickets against Tongala in Kyabram Cricket Association A-grade competition.

Tongala was all out for 79, but it could have been worse. Lilford and fellow opening bowler Vin Sleeth had the team 8-38 at one stage of the innings. Tongala responded late in the day to have Lancaster 5-54 at stumps.

Lilford finished with 7-48 and Sleeth 3-17, while Stanhope star Ian Haw took 7-23 off 13 overs to destroy Tatura (all out for 98).

Kyabram opening batsman Rob Asplin (62) and Russell Johnson (30) were supported by late order batsman Russ Morgan (not out 43) as the team posted 190 against Cooma.

1987

Big names star in cricket

Cooma cricketer Ashley Brown topped the list of stars in the Kyabram Cricket Association round, smashing an unbeaten 103 against Wyuna.

Among the other familiar names to shine were Gus Wallis, Matt McMaster-Smith, Mick Auld, Dehne Hausfeld and Peter Raglus. With the ball, Peter Watt, Alec Ranson and Rob Hunter were the stars.

Coaching decision delay

Kyabram Football Club delayed its decision on coaches for the 1988 season after only 25 people attended the annual general meeting and several positions remained unfilled.

Greg Caldwell took on the presidential term for a second year and Neil Hindson was re-elected secretary. Mick Porter became senior vice-president of the club, but the meeting failed to find a replacement for treasurer Greg Dow and seven positions on the committee.

The club turned over $125,000 and paid out $17,500 for players and coaches.

Senior coach Mick Lovison, favoured to be re-appointed to the role, said in his report to the meeting that lack of character, commitment and acceptance of failure had been catalysts for the team’s loss of momentum.

1997

KDL grand final probe

Probes into incidents during the Kyabram District Football League elimination final between Lancaster and Ardmona were continuing with KDL investigation officer Gary Whitford.

Lancaster on-baller Justin Barnett had been left with a broken jaw from an incident, with allegations laid against Armdona’s Mick Betson as a result of the injury in the initial minutes of the match.

Whitford was also looking at incidents from the Stanhope and Merrigum under-18 grand final involving Merrigum’s Kevin Melourey and Stanhope’s Joel Harrison.

Harrison was stretchered from the ground and taken to hospital after an alleged headbutting and elbowing incident saw him miss the medal presentation to his team.

New Blues life members

Tongala Football Netball Club honoured nine players and officials with life memberships at its presentation evening.

Craig Connelly, Garry McConnell, Lonny Monk, Greg Lyon, Brad Belcher, Sid Trevaskis, Jim Odgen, Geoff Vick and Beat Dunstan were all recognised with the honour.

Seven were at the evening to accept the medal from club president Allan Wallace.

Adam Brunt was senior football best-and-fairest, while Alicia Brennan won the A-grade best-and-fairest title. Paul Hodson won a second successive reserve grade best-and-fairest, while Ergun Yildrim was the under-18 best-and-fairest.

Leanne Gledhill won the B-grade netball title and Karli Brunt was B Reserve’s best. The netballers’ best clubperson was Mandy Phillips, and Andrew Johnstone won the football equivalent.

Teenage croquet champ

Kyabram 16-year-old Trevor Bassett set the tone for years to come when he claimed the Victorian State Croquet title.

In winning the championship, he became only the second Goulburn Valley player to claim the title.

He was planning to concentrate on his VCE exams, which began the Monday after the championships, but had his eyes set firmly on having further success in the sport.

He was the youngest ever player to win the Victorian title and had national honours in his sights.

Kayne’s hat trick

Kayne Pettifer took five wickets for Kyabram in its junior cricket match with Kyabram Fire Brigade, including a hat-trick and the scalp of star opening batsman Dave Newman.

He could not, however, remove Newman’s brother Paul. Paul Newman retired for 40 as Pettifer took 5-22, while Dustyn Brown (retired 40) and Troy Finn (39) also dominated the bowling.

2007

Vick’s sentimental win

Josh Vick’s Kyabram Football Club best-and-fairest win was as popular as it was sentimental — winning the trophy named in honour of his grandfather.

He polled 118 votes to win the award by two votes from rover Josh Finn, while Josh Pell finished third on 99 votes to make it a ‘Josh trifecta’.

In winning the title, he received the Alan Vick Memorial Shield, named after the man who still holds the goalkicking record after kicking 21 goals against Murchison in the 1960s.

Coby Seamer won the reserves’ best-and-fairest from Craig Walsh and Ryan Patterson, while Brad Edwards won the under-18 title from Ty Guiney and Nathan Beck.

Ash Mangan was the top netballer for 2007, while Abby Pettifer won B-grade and Abbey Wootton B Reserve.