Lachie Smith will play his 100th game with the Bombers when he runs out against Benalla at Kyabram.
Smith was a ready-made star when he joined the Bombers in 2016 after playing in Benalla’s premiership side which beat Kyabram for the 2015 GVL flag.
Since joining the club he has played a role in Kyabram’s reign in the GVL in which it claimed three flags and a runners-up finish from 2016 to 2019.
His trademark intercept marking in defence has been a feature of his game, but he has also transferred this aerial strength to Kyabram’s forward line when required.
Currently in an assistant coaching role with the club I rate him up there with current coach Paul Newman, Paul Wadham and Chris Stuhldreier as the best arealists I have seen in my time at the club.
Goalkicker shoot out
There is more at stake than some finals spots in the Kyabram District Football League’s final home-and-away round this weekend.
The shoot-out for the season’s leading goal kicker, which includes the race to reach the 100-goal milestone, goes on the line in a three-way contest.
Violet Town’s Jack Exell leads the race with 95 goals with his nearest pursuer, Girgarre coach Damian Cupido on 87 goals after a 12-goal haul against Tallygaroopna last Saturday.
The other contender is another Violet Town goalkicking maestro, Josh Mellington, who has 82 goals.
Cupido is in the box seat to win the race as Girgarre meets winless Longwood on Sunday at Longwood, needing a big win to try and sneak an eleventh hour spot in the finals.
Exell and Mellington are capable of big goals hauls, but will probably find it a lot tougher than Cupido to kick a bag as the Towners meet top-side Avenel in the final round.
Eight-week ban
Kyabram District Football League set a precedent last week to hear serious charges against an Avenel player.
Avenel’s Melbourne-based player Tim Brook ended up copping an eight-week stint on the sidelines on charges relating to the Swans’ clash against Nagambie on July 23.
Brook faced charges of threatening, abusing and insulting an umpire in that game.
An initial request to the tribunal for a zoom hearing was rejected under league rules and the charge was due to be heard by the tribunal on Wednesday night of last week.
Brook appeared in person at the tribunal at 7pm, but because another case being heard went longer than scheduled Brook walked out and left for home about 8.40pm as he had to rise at 4am to go to work and the case was adjourned.
Although initially rejecting a request for the tribunal to hear the case in a zoom sitting, the league then reversed its decision and conducted the zoom session on the Friday night when the tribunal found Brook guilty and dished out an eight-game penalty.
It is the first time a zoom tribunal hearing has been conduced by the KDL tribunal, but it now has the support of AFL Victoria to continue to do so in certain circumstances.
Tatura coach finished
Tatura Football Club is on the hunt for a new coach after club legend Paul Kirby announced he was stepping down at the end of this season.
Arguably the best ruckman in the GVL in his prime, Kirby is in his third year as Tatura’s coach after enduring two COVID-interrupted seasons at the helm.
The Bulldogs have been struggling this year with injuries and departures, but Kirby believes there is a sound base for his successor to build on with a good bunch of 18-to-20-year-olds in its ranks.
Kirby said family reasons and needing a break after 20 years playing and coaching were the reasons for his decision to step down.
Berrigan legend dies
Berrigan Football Club recently lost one its most successful coaches in Bruce Williams.
Williams came to Berrigan via Morwell and Carlton, and Morwell for a second time after his days at Carlton were over.
In the 1962 VFL grand final Williams kicked three goals for Carlton, but it was not enough to save it from a 32-point loss to Essendon.
A rover he played 64 senior games with Carlton between 1959 and 1964 before returning to coach Morwell.
Williams coached Berrigan into the Murray League grand finals in 1970 when runners-up to Numurkah.
Berrigan was also semi-finalists under Williams in 1972 when it was eliminated by Strathmerton.
Williams passed away on the Gold Coast aged 83 after battling illness for some time.
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