The recent passing in Kyabram last week of Doug Graetz revived memories of a local grand final derby in the Kyabram District Football League in 1954.
Doug, 91, was a rugby convert who switched to playing Aussie rules with Lancaster when his family moved to the area from Serndale near Wagga Wagga to work in the fruit industry.
The Kyabram Boys Club beat Lancaster for the premiership that year, depriving the Wombats of their first flag since the 1930s.
Doug won Lancaster’s best-and-fairest award that year and while performing national service made the national service representative side which was coached by Hawthorn legend John Kennedy.
After its narrow grand final loss in 1954 it wasn’t for another 26 years until the Chris Salter coached Lancaster won its next flag in 1980.
After trailing by 10 points at the start of the final quarter in that season decider in 1954 at Kyabram Recreation Reserve the Boys Club got up to beat Lancaster by seven points — 10.12 to 10.5.
Lancaster’s players were: W Coulson (captain), E Wade, J Salmon, R Salmon, B Millar, K Millar, D Noble, M McLay, D Coram, R Goode, L Connally, C Napier, D Graetz, J Sleeth, N Binion, J Warren. B Sheppard 19th, K McDonell 20.
Goalkickers in the game were: Boys Club: N West 3, K Higgs 2, N Brooke 2, N Beamish, K Hartin, R James.
Lancaster: L Connally 2, R Goode 2, Bob Salmon, D Graetz, K Millar, J Sleeth.
On the vote of three independent spectators Boys Club players who received cash orders of one guinea for their efforts were A Vick, N Beamish, R James, L Whyte and K Hartin.
Gate taking were £54.
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Young Kyabram football talent Archie Watt has shared Xavier College’s best-and-fairest award.
He dead-heated for the award with another country boy, Yarrawonga’s Ben Kennedy, who also plays for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League.
Archie has also been playing for Bendigo Pioneers in the same league and has also made appearances with the Kyabram senior side in the past two seasons.
Head of coaching at Xavier College Dale Amos, who formerly coached Archie at Xavier, said he was a skilled young player with great balance who also had a hard side to his game.
He played in the midfield with Xavier which has been coached for the past two seasons by Essendon great Jobe Watson.
‘‘In three years playing with Xavier College he hasn’t missed a game. We play 10 games a year in the Associated Public Schools competition and he is the only player I know who has never missed a game over this period of time,’’ Amos said.
Archie’s commitment with the Bendigo Pioneers will determine whether he will be available to take his place with the Bombers in the coming GVL finals series.
Another of Kyabram Football Club’s young talents Nic Jephson, who has also been playing with the Bendigo Pioneers after impressing playing in the Kyabram seniors earlier this season, is facing a battle to keep his season alive.
Nic recently suffered a stress fracture in his foot playing for Bendigo Pioneers and is currently wearing a moon boot.
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Here’s a challenge for GVL footy fans.
How many father and sons have coached the same GVL side in the modern era?
Well if anyone can come up with more than three I would love to hear from them.
From my inquiries John “JR” Ryan and his son Travis coached Tatura, Des and Brad Campbell coached Tongala and Dick O’Bree and his son Paul had coaching stints at Euroa.
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Extra interest in the GVL clash between Kyabram and Seymour at Kyabram on Saturday will be the battle between the league’s two leading goal-kickers.
Kyabram young gun Anthony Depasquale currently holds a six-goal break — 61 to 56 — over Seymour’s Riley Mason.
The only other chance looks to be Mooroopna’s Daniel Johnston who has kicked 47 goals, but the man they call D-Pak is certainly in the box seat to take the honour.
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Watch out for a Kyabram connection in future AFL drafts.
James Barrat recently played a game with VFL side Essendon and obviously must have performed pretty well.
After the appearance no fewer than six AFL clubs were in contact with him.
James’ father Peter was raised in Kyabram and his uncle is former Kyabram player Ray Barrat.
James started his career with Leitchville-Gunbower in Heathcote District Football League and is currently playing with the Bendigo Pioneers and is now aligned to Bendigo league club, Eaglehawk, as his home club.