KYABRAM Football Netball Club officials are bitterly disappointed the club is unlikely to stage any night games in the 2021 Goulburn Valley League season.
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The Bombers tried hard to get fellow GVL clubs to transfer last year’s (2020) draw, which included two night games, to this year but it is believed the clubs voted 6-5 for a new draw proposed by the league.
However GVL operations officer Jo Spencer said Kyabram was still eligible to play night games this season if it could come to an agreement with rivals clubs to do so.
‘‘It is up to the clubs to negotiate any night games with their rivals which would be sanctioned by the league if both parties agree,’’ Spencer said.
Kyabram secretary Penny Newman said night games financially raised three or more times revenue for the club than day games.
Newman said fellow Kyabram delegates to the league and former club president Tony Hansen had lobbied clubs to try and stick with the 2020 draw, which included a Kyabram night game on Good Friday to kick off the season, for this year but had lost out on the split vote.
●Kyabram Bombers will start the defence of their GVL 2019 premiership win with an Easter clash against Rochester at Rochester.
The league has given Rochester and Kyabram the option to stage the game on either Good Friday or Easter Saturday.
The two clubs at this stage have not announced which day the season opener will be played.
The rematch of the 2019 grand final between Kyabram and Echuca takes place in round three at Echuca.
The 18 round season will feature two split rounds and will climax with the premiership going on at Deakin Reserve Shepparton on Sunday, September 19.
●The Kyabram District Football Netball League will start its 2021 season on April 10 with clubs playing 16 games across 18 rounds.
Finals action starts on the weekend of August 28 with the season decider on Saturday, September 18.
There are some local blockbusters in the opening round with Lancaster taking on Girgarre and Avenel hosting reigning premier Nagambie.
Merrigum makes the trip to Tallygaroopna, Undera at home tackles Rushworth while Stanhope has the bye.
The 2019 grand final ‘replay’ between premier Nagambie and runner-up Tallygaroopna doesn’t happen until round six.
Fraser Kerrins will again lead the league as president with ex-president Wayne Ryan (football) and Jo Backway (netball) vice-presidents.
Debbie Hosie (junior vice president), Simone Cody and Lauren Donellan are also on the committee.
Long serving executive member Doug Tuhan, who stepped down, was thanked for his tireless service to the league.
●Country footy writer Paul Daffy’s new book is flying off the shelves.
Copies of his book On The Premiership Trail, which devotes a lot of pages to the fortunes of the Kyabram and Nathalia football clubs in recent times, had sold out at the Kyabram Newsagency late last week. But extras copies of the 476-page publication are being ordered.
●Rochester Football Club is steadily building its ranks for the 2021 season under new coach Steve Stroobants.
Former Port Adelaide and St Kilda defender Logan Austin is the latest prized signing.
Austin is a timely addition to the Tigers ranks with a gaping hole in its defence left by stalwart James Gledhill who is moving to Queensland.
Austin played 20 games at AFL level so is expected to make his mark at GVL level.
●A couple of Murray Football League clubs also announced some marquee signings in the lead up to the festive season.
Barooga Football Club has announced it has lured Jackson Trengove to its ranks for the coming season.
Trengrove is fresh from a 186-game 12-year AFL career with Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs, which included a club best and fairest win with Port in 2011.
Moama has also made a key signing with livewire former Tatura and Numurkah player Jye Warren committing to the Magpies for the 2021 season.
Deniliquin Football Club is also expected to make a bid for its former premiership player and 100 goals-in-a-season player Sam Lloyd, who recently announced he was retiring from AFL football after 86 games collectively at Richmond and Western Bulldogs.
Lloyd has been training with the Rams and has said "we’ll see what happens"’ in regards to his future plans.
●Finley Cricket Club pocketed $5500 from the December 27 Big Bash clash between Brisbane Heat and the Hobart Hurricanes.
The Toyota Bash for Cash competition, which is open to cricket clubs across Australia, provides $500 for every six hit in specified games with a minimum of $2500 guaranteed and a ceiling of $10,000.
A total of 11 sixes were hit for Finley Cricket Club to claim its windfall.
●Kyabram Football Netball Club premiership player Steph Vick will coach Echuca's GVL A-grade netball side in 2021.
Vick, wife of retired Kyabram Football Club premiership skipper Josh, will reassociate with Kyabram premiership coach Belinda Lees who will be Echuca’s head netball coach.
●Echuca Football Club young gun Jack Evans will captain the Murray Bushrangers in the elite NAB competition this year.
Evans became eligible for another season with the Pioneers after the age limit was lifted to 19.
With no footy in 2020, Evans sees the chance as a lifeline to a possible AFL career which he is keen to pursue.
●Young Colbinabbin footballer Cooper Hamilton has been named in a 21-player AFL Academy squad selected by AFL recruiters and staff.
Former Collingwood midfielder Tarkyn Lockyer is in charge of the program which will have regular camps throughout this year.
Cooper, along with his twin brother Hugh, attend Caulfield Grammar boarding school.