Tough call for Depasquale

He has been a regular with VFL club Werribee in recent weeks after being recruited earlier this year after a stellar 2024 season with his home club.

But with Werribee having the bye at the weekend, the man they call “Dipper” or “DK”, was looking forward to pulling on a Kyabram jumper again for at least one game this season.

But no, Werribee said ‘‘no go’’.

‘‘They were adamant I couldn’t play with my home club. That was it,’’ Depasquale said.

Depasquale said he was bitterly disappointed because he had built himself up to play with his former teammates.

Barnard quits

Tatura Football Club coach Paul Barnard has quit, effective immediately, as the Goulburn Valley League Bulldogs’ horror winless run continues.

Barnard, a 2001 VFL premiership player with Essendon was in his third season as non playing coach of Tatura.

The Bulldogs have appointed club stalwarts Linc Wellington, Andrew Ciavarella and Jake Chessels, who have been assisting Barnard, to take over for the rest of the season.

Barnard stepped down after Tatura’s loss to last year’s grand finalist Shepparton at Tatura on Saturday.

Mattingly makes it

Kyabram football star Mick Mattingly is one of only two Goulburn Valley League players named in the Weekly Times’ mid-season Team Of The Year.

Mattingly, the 2019 GVL Morrison medallist, has been named in the centre after a dominant start to the season in which he has gathered an average 33 possessions in the 10 games he has played. He missed two games through injury.

The only other Goulburn Valley player to make the team is Echuca’s young gun Hugh Byrne who has been selected at centre half-forward.

Tim Free, coach of unbeaten Woorinen in Central Murray League, has been appointed the team’s coach, with former Geelong champion Stevie Johnson his deputy.

Essendon selects Avenel players

Not a bad effort from a small country footy club.

Kyabram District League club Avenel boasts two of its players being selected in Essendon Football Club’s best team of country-raised players.

Tough defender Ian “Bluey’’ Shelton and the silky skilled Leon Baker, were selected in the team, which boasts household AFL/VFL names such as John Coleman, Tim Watson, the Danihers and John Barnes, a ruckman recruited from Cobram.

Shelton played 91 games with Essendon and retired at 25, returning to coach GVL side Seymour before finishing his career with his home club.

He was also inducted into Essendon’s Hall of Fame before his death in 2021 at the age of 81.

Nomad Baker, who emerged as a star in Western Australia, was snapped up by Essendon where he made a huge impression in his 86 games with the Bombers from 1984-86 when a member of two flag-winning AFL teams and earned All-Australian selection.

Dow honoured

Kyabram footballers wore black armbands at Seymour on Saturday to honour former club stalwart Greg Dow, who died last week.

Greg’s family continued a tradition to be at the Seymour ground for the clash and to watch all three Kyabram sides give him a fitting farewell with wins.

Greg held the distinction of serving the Bombers as president, secretary and treasurer at different times with the club.

Legends at Mathoura

Mathoura Football Netball Club had a couple of high-profile guest speakers at a sportman’s night last Saturday.

VFL legend Kevin Sheedy and Doug Baird featured in a Salute To Bravery theme function at Moama Bowling Club.

Baird is the father of Australia’s 100th Victoria Cross recipient Cameron Baird and shared his son’s story with the large audience.

Women’s cricket decision

Cricket Shepparton has decided to form its own women’s competition with its four teams in the 2025-26 season.

Those four clubs are SYCU, Kyabram, Mooroopna and Nagambie.

But GMC is well under way planning a seven-team competition and has met with clubs to discuss draw and marquee games.

The draw will consist of 14 rounds, with each team to play each other twice and have two byes.

GMC believes this move by Cricket Shepparton is in the best interest for women’s cricket in the region.