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JOINED LEAGUE: 1894 NICKNAME: BOMBERS GROUND: KYABRAM RECREATION RESERVE COACHES: COREY CARVER AND KAINE HERBERT PRESIDENT: PETER LEARMONTH PREMIERSHIPS: 1919, 1921, 1922, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1948, 1950, 1958, 1975, 1996, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: J. COOPER (1958, 1961), C. STEWART (1963), R. CLAY (1964), P. GITTOS (1987), B. GUGLIOTTI (1993), M. MATTINGLY (2019) 2023 FINISH: RUNNER UP (17-5) 2023 BEST-AND-FAIREST: ZAC NORRIS 2023 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: KYLE MUELLER (51)
PLAYER CHANGES
INS: Bailey Tome, Jake Torney, Marcus Khoo (Mt Gravatt) Mick Mattingly (West Adelaide), Eamonn Ogden (Bacchus Marsh)
OUTS: Rhys Clarke (Southport) Kyle Mueller (Congupna), Tom Holman (Moama), Reuben Rode (Wallan), Nic Denahy (Queensland), Kayne Pettifer (Nathalia), Toby Wooller
Whether Kyabram’s recruits can adequately cover the losses will decide how the new-look Bombers will perform in the 2024 season.
There was some doom and gloom as the season approaches when newly appointed skipper and GVL ruck representative Zac Norris was ruled out for the early part of the season at least, after reinjuring a shoulder he suffered in last year’s grand final.
But a likely replacement in towering 201cm ruckman Marcus Khoo from the AFL Queensland Mt Gravatt Football Club has negated most of the initial disappointment of the loss of Norris.
Despite eight players who stripped in last year’s grand final loss to Echuca moving on, new co-coaches Corey Carver and Kaine Herbert are quietly confident the Bombers can make their presence felt again.
Carver has made no secret of his intention to try and put a relentless running side on the park with a game plan to suit the players he now has at his disposal.
Kyabram’s capacity to kick match winning scores without key forwards Tom Holman, the freakish Kyle Mueller and ex-Richmond forward Kayne Pettifer, who have all moved on, will be tested.
Veteran Brad Mangan will have a lot of pressure to perform consistently and will be a key focal point in the Kyabram attack.
The Bombers boast some classy young players in Charlie Barnett, Anthony Depasquale, Mitch Dodos and Archie Watt and will be looking for big seasons from one of its taller and more versatile players in Aidan Robinson, Riley Ironside, Tom Burnett and Cooper Vick.
Talented emerging players in Bohden Learmonth and Miller Griffiths from the thirds, along with Nick Jephson, will also keep pressure on regular players to perform consistently.
While one of its best onballers last season, Rhys Clark, is among the departing players, the Bombers should still have a potent midfield and on-ball brigade.
New ruckman Mason Khoo, co-coach Kaine Herbert, Josh Dillon, Will Golds, and Liam Ogden will be joined by returning Morrison Medallist Mick Mattingly, impressive pre-season Queensland recruits Bailey Tome and Jake Torney and Eamonn Ogden (brother of current star Liam) to provide plenty of onball and midfield fire power.
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