The Keath name runs deep at the Leitchville-Gunbower Football Netball Club.
It carries the weight of nine flags, countless best-and-fairests, and an association that stretches back to well before the merger of Leitchville and Gunbower.
So when two of its favourite sons, Jye and Riley, made their return to the club for the first time since 2016, the reaction was understandably delighted.
For co-captain Jye — assuming the role alongside Hoby Bussey — it was family that brought him back after a five-year stint with West Gippsland club Bunyip, where he was named full back in the WGFNL’s Team of the Year last season.
“I grew up in Leitchville, the family’s all played at the club,” Keath said.
“I’ve recently moved and it’s good to be back, it gives you a spring in your step to play for your local club again.
“Family ties were a big factor in coming back, I recently had a young son, so it’s good to get closer to home.
“My Dad played close to 200 games, won premierships before the merger and then after for Leitchville-Gunbower. My uncle Jason, my cousins, and Grandad were involved with the club a lot.”
Keath made the move to the Northern Football League after the 2016 season following 75 games and a stint as club captain, including two grand final appearances in 2015 and 2016.
Keath saw immediate premiership success with Banyule in division three of the NFL, playing one more season before trading Banyule for Bunyip.
Travelling for work as an IT consultant has taken Keath to all corners of Australia’s football competition, including a 58-game stint with WAFL club East Perth from 2009-2011.
Add three games suiting up for Victoria Country, and what you have is an impressive local football CV, one that Leitchville-Gunbower is the beneficiary of in 2023.
And the experienced head hasn't slowed; in the Bomber’s seven games this season, Keath has been in the side’s best players on six occasions, and alongside new coach Shannon Keam is hoping to bring the “winning culture” back to the club.
“There’s been a fair few new faces at the club,” Keath said.
“Shannon’s trying to set a new standard for the group and a couple of recruits coming in have been living up to that.
“It’s just about getting that winning culture back at Leitchville-Gunbower.
“(The Bombers) have had a rough few years with only one win from the last few seasons, so to get two on the board early means a lot to all the players and volunteers."
The Bombers enjoyed a 68-point win over Huntly at the weekend, and for the rebuilding side, it’s another step in the right direction.
“We played the way we have been every game, we’ve been good for patches and inconsistent at times,” Keath said.
“Even against the better sides we’ve been competitive for a quarter or a half, we were probably the same yesterday.”
Final Siren
Plus
It’s very rare that a local footy club can lay claim to having seven VFL representatives on its list, but that seems to be the case for Echuca — the most recent round of the season featured Geelong skipper Angus Byrne and Carlton duo Aiden Mills and Logan Prout in a win over the Swans to name a few.
Minus
A new-look Lockington-Bamawm United squad was always going to take some time to gel, but the reigning premier need a circuit-breaker win against Elmore this week to stem a three-game losing streak, or risk dropping out of the five. A two-game buffer already exists between LBU (fifth) and White Hills (fourth).
Crystal ball
The Murray Netball League showdown between the unbeaten Tongala and Deniliquin in round 10 is set to be a belter, but I’m tipping the Blues to stake their claim to the 2023 flag with a statement win over the reigning premier.
Around the Grounds
GVL
Kyabram has blown open the GVL flag race with a superb one-point win over the previously undefeated Seymour. It seems Paul Newman’s side are back to the Bombers of old.
MFL
Two clubs need a win in round 10 to stay alive in the flag race — Echuca United will be tipped to topple Tocumwal, while Tongala’s match up against Deniliquin will be make or break for the Blues.
HDFL
If Leitchville-Gunbower can score a healthy win over Colbinabbin, the Bombers can jumkp back into the league’s top five for the first time since 2019. But they will need to achieve a five-year first against the Hoppers to do it.