Shepparton News’ Goulburn Valley League Football Player of the Month for April: Kyabram’s Mick Mattingly

By Liam Nash

May 1, 2025

Kyabram star Mick Mattingly has returned from injury with a vengeance in 2025, strutting his stuff for an unbeaten Bombers side. Photo by Steve Huntley

In the wild, the wounded often come back hungry.

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And in the case of Mick Mattingly, his return to football in 2025 has been nothing short of ravenous after a back injury ruled him out of all but two matches in last year’s Goulburn Valley League campaign.

Kyabram’s midfield bull has come back like the Terminator, running and outgunning his opponents in four flawless performances throughout April to earn The News GVL football Player of the Month gong.

Cranking out a per-game average of 36.5 disposals at 79 per cent efficiency, 6.5 tackles, 6.8 inside 50s with seven goals to his name, by example, Mattingly has reminded the competition exactly who he is.

But in his eyes, Mattingly is “just happy to be playing again”.

“I’ve missed quite a lot of footy over the past few years; I had a knee reconstruction a few years ago and then it was pretty debilitating with the back last year and then I eventually got surgery on it in August,” he said.

“It was a long road back, it was quite damaging to my legs with a lot of muscles wearing away over time and not being able to get much work into it.

“It was a big pre-season in the gym rebuilding the body and I’m now just really happy to be back playing.

“I do love being out there, I’ve got a lot of really good mates at the club and I’m really enjoying being back on the park.”

Mattingly has been a force through the guts for a Kyabram side that is unbeaten in four.

He went to work over the off-season to join a rejuvenated Bombers, stoking the flames in a combine-engine room that is providing the goods in 2025.

The impetus was simple: not playing last season hurt.

“Anyone who says they enjoy watching is probably lying, especially when they’re supposed to be playing,” he said.

“It was tough at times to sit on the sidelines and know you can’t really contribute.”

Mattingly and others, such as bulldozing ruck Zac Norris, were forced to watch on as Kyabram was barrelled out in the first round of finals last year.

While it was “frustrating”, the upshot came in the form of young Bombers earning their wings and now a fleet of game-ready senior players are contributing to Kyabram’s flying start

That in itself is a game changer.

However, Mattingly knows his boys can’t take the foot off the gas.

“The vibe around the club is really good at the moment; both reserves and seniors are off to a good start, but I know the next month of footy is going to be a real test for us and probably give us a good indicator of where we’re at,” he said.

“I think there’s always things you can keep getting better at; a big focus for us over pre-season was on our defence and our team defence, really locking that down.

“Last year we identified we got scored against a little bit too easily, especially on transition and turnovers, just getting that team D set up as best we can.

“I think it’s a constant evolution and is always in the works, we’re working on that week to week and that’s something we’re going to continue to get better at.

“Echuca has been the best team in the comp for a long time now and the best thing they do is limit their teams from being able to go inside 50, but also score against them. That’s something we’re going to continue to work on.”