Cooper Vick was one of the stand-out performers in the Kyabram pre-Christmas training program for the Bombers.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Kyabram co-coach Corey Carver has predicted there will be major rewards from an off-season recruiting campaign that has resulted in a number of former Kyabram stars returning to the club for the 2025 Goulburn Valley League season.
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Carver said by securing the services of ‘local’ footballers, the coaching panel would be able to instil the game style required to tackle the league’s dominant force of the past four seasons, Echuca.
Echuca finished top in the COVID-affected season of 2021 and has won eight of a possible nine grand finals from the three GVL grades since 2022.
“We will have more time to improve our team structures and systems, having players training it on a more consistent basis,” Carver said.
“It is a far better situation than recruiting out of Melbourne where they don’t train with the main group.”
Kyabram will be seeking its first premiership since its undefeated season of 2019 (the end of an era when the Bombers lost just one game in four seasons).
The Bombers tackle Euroa on Saturday, April 5 at Kyabram Recreation Reserve to start the season before facing the three bottom teams from last year in the ensuing weeks: Tatura, Benalla and Shepparton United.
Then it is regular finalist Mansfield in round five and powerhouse Echuca in week six.
Aidan Robinson has continued to lead from the front and was among a handful of players lauded by the Bombers coaching panel for his training performances in the pre-season.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Carver identified a handful of outstanding pre-season performers so far: captain for much of last season Aidan Robinson, Cooper Vick, Riley Ironside and recruits Zac Cerrone and Mitch Gugliotti.
The Bombers completed eight pre-Christmas sessions and will train twice a week from January 13.
They have three practices matches organised — against former star goalkicker Kyle Mueller’s Congupna side (the reigning Murray League premier) on March 7, Bendigo league club Golden Square on March 15 and South Bendigo on March 22.
Carver said his co-coach Kaine Herbert remained the one to catch when it came to distance running tests and he praised both Bohden Learmonth and Tyler Norman for their continued improvement, while also identifying rising star and under-18 best and fairest from last year Charlie Issac as a chance to make senior GVL ranks.
Assistant coach Mick Mattingly has been working closely with Carver to ensure players understand their offensive and defensive roles.
“Mick has taken ownership of aspects of game style, particularly whole team defence,” he said.
Tom Burnett will be a late starter to pre-season, carrying a foot injury, while returning Moama recruit Jack Sheldon is on light duties during the pre-season.
• Girgarre coach John Wilson has one goal — improve every one of his players in 2025.
He will discover early on how successful he has been, facing reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba in the opening round of the season and Lancaster two weeks later.
“We completed eight sessions prior to the break and recommence training on January 13, twice a week,” he said.
“Our goal is to lock in two practice matches in March.”
Wilson said his young group was concentrating on building a fitness base and skills to match, with match simulation planned for coming sessions.
Wilson is working closely with coaching panel members Tim Hancock and Damian Briese, along with fitness expert Zac Collyer.
“All the signs are very positive at the moment and we will look to continue that momentum,” Wilson said.
