Sport

Dippa to play in season opener?

By Gus Underwood

Apr 1, 2025

Kyabram defender Brad Whitford is battling injury as the club prepares for the season opener. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Star goal-kicker Anthony Depasquale is strong a chance to strip for Kyabram against Euroa when the new Goulburn Valley League season starts this weekend.

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The Bombers host Euroa in a night game.

Depasquale has been an emergency for Werribee in its past two VFL games and when he is not selected has nominated the Bombers as his home club.

Kyabram has some players in doubt for the opening round, but won’t know until Thursday night who is available and who is not.

Star defender Brad Whitford (tendinitis), Archie Watt (hamstring) and Mitch Gugliotti (concussion) are battling injuries and some are unlikely to be available.

One who will be missing is Mooroopna and Tongala recruit Coby McCarthy who has a persistent groin injury.

Skipper Zac Norris who missed the last practice game through soreness from a previous practice match will be fit to go and will boost the team’s already impressive midfield and on-ball power.

McCarthy is one of two Murray Football League medallists in the Kyabram senior squad, joining impressive Moama recruit Jack Russell, who shared the Murray league top individual award last year.

Another league medallist back in the Kyabram side will be Mick Mattingly who claimed the GVL’s top award in 2019.

Mattingly missed nearly all of last season with a lower back injury, but has been a standout in practice games.

Russell has been joined by other Moama players who previously played for the Bombers in key forward Tom Holman and defender Jack Sheldon.

Holman won Moama’s best-and-fairest award last season and has been in rare touch in pre-season games.

Along with Charlie Barnett and Lancaster recruit and noted goal-kicker Zac Cerrone they should help Kyabram’s scoring potential.

Helping to offset the late loss of talented tall utility Mitch Dodos has been the news that young talents Nic Jephson and Archie Watt are expected to play the season with the Bombers.

Both have had a taste of senior football and have taken the step up in class in their stride and will key players in Kyabram’s fortunes this season.

Euroa is expected to be competitive again under a new coach, but at home the Bombers should kick-start their season with a win.

Last year’s grand finalists Echuca and Shepparton are expected to be the season pacesetters again and Seymour may surge back after a disappointing season last year.

Rochester will be thereabouts again and Mansfield, Shepparton Swans, Euroa and Shepparton United are all expected to win their share of games and leave Tatura, Mooroopna and Benalla to fight out the wooden spoon.