Sport

Why is Kyabram undefeated in the GVL this year?

By Gus Underwood

Aug 8, 2025

Tiron Fernando is heading to Old Students for season 2025-26. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Gus’ sport snaps

The Bombers were expected to be finalists but probably not the team setting the hot pace in the competition as they are.

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With an exodus of star Queensland recruits Marcus Khoo, Bailey Tome, Jake Torney and Jackson Griffiths and the move of its best goalkicker Anthony Depasquale to VFL club Werribee, it shaped up as a challenging season for Corey Carver and Kaine Herbert’s men.

But returning class players in Mick Mattingly, Zac Norris and Tom Holman, plus Moama recruits Jack Russell and Jack Sheldon and the general improvement of a lot of players, have been a key to Kyabram’s blistering form.

Players such as Josh Dillon, Riley Ironside, Charlie Barnett, Eamonn Ogden, Cooper Vick, Jake Parkinson and co-captain Aidan Robinson have all stepped up to new heights and young talents in Archie Watt, Angus Scoble, Bohden Learmonth, Oscar Dixon have been able to hold regular places in the team.

Another late bonus has been the inclusion of Coby McCarthy, who is also proven at this level and who can also hit the scoreboard.

The other key to Kyabram’s stellar season to date is the intensity it has cranked up and maintained for entire games to take it to another level.

The Bombers have also displayed a fighting never-say-die attitude and in four games at least when the result was in doubt at three-quarter time they were able to run over their rivals in the last term.

Now the tantalising question which has to be asked and answered, and will be over the next eight weeks, is:

Will Kyabram be able to keep the rivals under pressure at least five more times?

This will include the final three home-and-away games against Mansfield, Echuca and Shepparton Swans, who along with Shepparton and Rochester have genuine premiership ambitions.

A lot of good judges think the flag is there for the Bombers to lose but I don’t subscribe to that opinion, rather, than it is there for them to win.

And with a full list of fit players the Bombers have shown they can give it a descent shot.

Percentage matters

I’ve raised this before.

But Shepparton United’s recent forfeit to Kyabram in the GVL reserves competition could have had a different and dangerous scenario.

Kyabram wasn’t in danger of losing one of the top two spots on the ladder even if defeated, if this game had gone ahead.

However in other situations it could cost a team competing in the finals.

This is because, under current rules, sides can’t get percentage if a team forfeits to them, only the four premiership points.

A team could be perched in seventh spot but needing a good percentage boost to have a chance to slip into the final six.

But with no game there is no percentage so they miss this chance.

That’s the point I’m making.

Why not allocate the average percentage from the round in which the forfeit has occurred to the team that has been on the end of the forfeit?

An average percentage would certainly be better than none at all and at least give a chance for the side to improve its position on the ladder.

Boost for Broadford

Broadford Football Club’s successful bid to join the Bendigo League has received a boost with former North Melbourne star Nathan Thompson appointed to coach the club.

Broadford has been in recess for two years and has made the move to reform and move to the Bendigo League ranks, which has lost Kyneton and Maryborough in recent years, with another of its teams, Gisborne, wanting to move to the Ballarat League next year.

Broadford is hoping generous player points and salary cap extensions will make it competitive in its new league.

Merger still on cards?

A mooted merger between the Central Murray and Golden Rivers football leagues is still being played out.

A combined 17-club league would be the result of a merger if the five remaining Golden Rivers clubs formed a union with the Central Murray League, a major league which has been administering the Golden Rivers League.

But tension has increased due to a recent decision to remove voting rights of clubs on some decisions, including transfers between clubs.

Picola League has offered to take on the Golden Rivers League and administer it, no strings attached.

The kerfuffle has emanated from Golden Rivers club Ultima joining the Central Murray Leaue next year.

I’ve been told the remaining Golden Rivers clubs, apart from Macorna, are in favour of joining the Central Murray League.

Macorna is apparently interested in joining the Picola League, which is rumoured to be looking to restructure and possibly return to a two-division league.