Brad Mangan - who played his last game for Kyabram Football Netball Club in a GVL elimination final at Mooroopna two weeks ago - has been a home grown loyal servant of the club.
The powerful utility leaves the club with one notable legacy – he is the youngest player ever to pull on a jumper for the Kyabram senior side.
Mangan was 14 when he made his debut with the Mark Adamson-coached Bombers against Rochester towards the end of the 2006 season.
After another season with the Bombers seniors in 2007 he spent 2008 and 2009 with the Murray Bushrangers but squeezed in senior games with the Bombers, including the 2009 season when Kyabram was beaten for the flag by Mansfield who were coached by Collingwood premiership player Craig Kelly.
The well-built Mangan was turning heads with his ability and was even being touted as another Kyabram player capable of playing at AFL level.
That never eventuated but to give himself a chance he joined VFL club Werribee.
He spent two years there and was on North Melbourne’s rookie list in 2012 before playing a season with West Adelaide in SANFL in 2013.
Then it was back to Victoria in 2014 where he played two seasons with VFL club Williamstown and was a member of its 2015 premiership side under coach, ex-Hawthorn player Andy Collins
One memorable game personally in Mangan’s career in this period was when he held champion AFL goalkicker Brendan Fevola, who was playing for Casey, goalless.
‘‘Fev had kicked 49 goals in seven goals leading into that game so it was very pleasing and satisfying to keep him goalless,’’ he said.
After two years at Williamstown he spent the 2015 season with Strathmore in the Essendon District Football League.
In 2016, the sturdily built utility became a target for new Kyabram coach Paul Newman who was keen to get him back to his home club when launching what eventuated to be the most successful era in the club’s history.
‘’It was the chance to come back to club I loved and I jumped at it. Paul was one of my idols at Kyabram so it wasn’t a hard decision to come home,’’ Mangan said.
‘‘I’ve played in five grand finals with Kyabram for two flags and three losses.’’
He also represented the Goulburn Valley League.
But Mangan missed almost two successive seasons in 2021 and 2022 with ACL injuries in both knees which required surgery.
But he dedicated and committed himself to playing again for Kyabram which he has for the past two seasons.
He has been a go-to power forward for the Bombers but in all of his games away from the club he played in defence.
Mangan rates Paul Newman, Jason Morgan and Josh Vick as the best teammates he has played with in 130 senior games with Kyabram and also has high praise for current defender Brad Whitford.
‘‘Paul was a bit of a freak and I idolised when I was a young spectator so it was good to get to play with him and get coached by him. Josh also taught me a lot” he said.
Is Mangan, 33, hanging up the boots?
No.
He’s signed on to play with a new team Gisborne Giants which will compete in the Riddell Football League next year. He currently lives in Gisborne with his partner.
‘‘Gisborne Giants have only been only a junior club but they are fielding senior sides next season so that will be challenge,” he said.
Mangan said it was a sad time to say goodbye to the Kyabram Football Netball Club because of the fond memories of playing for his home town but is confident the Bombers’ rebuild is heading in the right direction after a golden era.
‘‘There are a lot of great people around the club and I’ll miss them but I felt the time was right to move on.’’