After the initial euphoria of the victory subsided, somebody asked the question: Has the club ever had a father and son play in senior premiership-winning Kyabram teams?
The answer is yes.
Bohden Learmonth completed the unique family double when the Bombers accounted for Rochester in the GVL season decider two weeks ago.
Bohden’s dad, Peter, a former president of the club, was a member of the Peter White-coached drought-breaking Kyabram premiership win in 1996.
They are the only father-son combination I have been able to come up with who hold this honour.
Kyabram’s 1996 premiership captain, Tony McDonell, went close to completing the feat as his late father, Kevin, was in the senior squad that won the 1958 flag under legendary coach Tony Bull.
But an injury in a game leading into the finals series ended Kevin’s season and he did not make the team that accounted for Nagambie in the grand final.
If any reader knows of any father-son combination that enjoyed Kyabram flag wins at GVL senior level, I would love to hear from them.
Barrett on the move
Former Kyabram dual premiership player Liam Barrett will continue his coaching career next season … but not with Murray League club Moama.
Liam co-coached Moama this season and got the Magpies into the finals, which was a notable feat given the number of players they had lost from last year’s side, which missed by a straight kick from playing in the grand final.
Liam played in Golden Square’s premiership side in the Bendigo League in 2023 after being in Kyabram’s Paul Newman-coached 2016 and 2017 flag-winning sides.
He will co-coach Golden Square with Brad Eaton, who has been non-playing coach of the club for the past two seasons, eliminated from the flag fight in preliminary finals in both years.
To replace Ogden and his joint assistant Jye Warren, Moama has appointed former St Kilda player Jake Carlisle and Shannon Keam as joint coaches.
Keam formerly coached the club in a non-playing capacity.
McDonell does it again
One former Kyabram junior player to enjoy a premiership win is Ben McDonell, son of the club’s 1996 premiership skipper and longest serving player with 337 senior games, Tony.
Ben plays for Cheltenham and was in the team that upset the favourite, Dingley, in Melbourne Southern Football League’s division one grand final two week ago.
Ben played on a back flank and had a good finals series.
The win also completed a hat-trick of flags wins for Cheltenham, with Ben playing in the past two flag-winning sides.
Wooller wins medal
Toby Wooller has shared the league medal in Melbourne’s Eastern Football League premier division.
Wooller, who plays for Blackburn, played with Kyabram in 2023 but missed selection in the grand final side that was beaten by Echuca in the GVL season decider.
He is a grandson of Fred Wooller, a former Kyabram coach and Geelong premiership player and captain.
Saints sign new coach
Benalla Football Club is pinning down some present star players for next season, when it will have a new coach in Nic Pearson.
Pearson has been appointed non-playing coach of Benalla for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, having taken over from ex-AFL player Jarrad Waite at the end of this season.
Pearson brings extensive coaching experience from community, QAFL and VFL levels. He has a strong focus on leadership, player development and using data to improve team performance.
This season’s GVL leading goalkicker, Nathan Wright, has signed on for a second season with the Saints.
The Queenslander kicked 64 goals for Benalla this season, made the GVL side and also fitted in a game with the Northern Bullants in the VFL.
Williamstown VFL player Toby Triffett has also aligned himself with Benalla for next season.
Veteran defender Nick Warnock also committed to the Saints for next season along with Mark Marriott, Ethan Maney, Cooper Gracie, Ryley Elie, Tyler McGregor and Hugh Cornell.
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