GVFL 2021: Kyabram signs EDFL Reynolds Medal winner Zac Keogh
Reigning Goulburn Valley Football League premier Kyabram has locked in a big signing, securing the services of a suburban competition medal winner from a rival club.
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Country football powerhouse Kyabram has bolstered its star-studded line-up with the signing of gun midfielder Zac Keogh for 2021.
Keogh has made the move to the Bombers after spending last season with rival Goulburn Valley Football League club Seymour, where he produced an impressive campaign to earn seven mentions in the best from 12 games.
He also took the field for Vic Country last July as it knocked off the VAFA.
Keogh claimed the Essendon District Football League’s highest individual honour, the Reynolds Medal, during his time at Maribyrnong Park in 2017.
The former VFL-listed player made 54 senior appearances for the Lions in three seasons and was named in their best 26 times, underlining his consistency.
Kyabram co-coach Brad Edwards said Keogh displayed his class in two matches against his side in 2019 and would help form a formidable midfield alongside the likes of co-coach Mick Mattingly, Brad Whitford and Nick Coulstock.
“He’s obviously played in some really strong footy comps previously and playing against him … we’ve seen first-hand how well he can play and his ability to link up with Jason Cole and the other midfielders at Seymour,” Edwards said.
“His skill level, he’s a real one-touch player and his ability to gather loose balls and feed up to his teammates is really good.
“Definitely probably one of the guys who played consistently well against Kyabram. We tend to be able to cut that off pretty quickly (usually).
“He never played a bad game against us, that’s for sure.”
Three-time league best-and-fairest winner Kaine Herbert signed on with the Bombers before the 2020 campaign was canned.
Herbert won the McNamara Medal for the best-and-fairest player in the Kyabram District league with Undera in 2018 and 2019, while he also claimed Ovens and King Clyde Baker Medal in 2016 when he was at Bonnie Doon.
Echuca United best-and-fairest winner Nic Denahy has also put pen to paper.
“It’s that tough space for us, where we’ve got a really strong list and we’re always mindful … we don’t leave spots open but we create opportunities for our local guys, the young guys coming through,” Edwards said.
“It’s that balancing act of maintaining a strong list and being able to have some opportunities there for some of our local guys, which has held us in good stead for the last 10 or 12 years.”
Kyabram has retained prime movers Kyle Mueller, Kayne Pettifer, Brad Mangan, Luke Morris, Zac Norris, Tom Sheldon, Reid Crowe and Riley Ironside.
“Me and Mick have put in a lot of work, probably mainly the last month or so,” Edwards said.
“We tried to give the guys a bit of a break and let them freshen up. It was a pretty tough year mentally I suppose, having a re-start date and then losing that again.
“Even though it was a year off and physically it’s been good, I suppose mentally it was a tough year to get through.
“We’re trying to plan a pre-season where it’s something a bit different and hopefully we can (train in) groups of 20 soon.”
The Bombers have won three of the past four GVFL flags.
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