Kyabram captain Josh Vick says Saturday's Goulburn Valley Grand Final is an an opportunity for coach David Williams and the players to win the club's first flag in 13 years.
It's also the "best way possible" to say thanks to the club's army of volunteers and supporters who have helped rejuvenate the club.
Captain since 2007 and the team's full-back, Vick says it wasn't so long ago when "Ky" was right down the ladder with just two or three wins for an entire season. Now they go in against Mansfield for the ultimate prize.
"Last year we were able to finish sixth (before being eliminated in the first week of the finals) and this year, thanks to all our young blokes, we are now just one step away from our goal. For me it would most certainly be the thrill of my sporting life if we can bring it off."
Apart from the club's two decorated on-ballers in Lincoln Withers and Chris Atkins, favorite to win the club's best and fairest medal, most of the team are around the 22-23 mark and are one of the youngest lists in the Goulburn Valley.
"Being so young they all run and take on the opposition, helping to really apply the pressure," Vick said.
"Many of them have emerged through the Under 18s and are the closest of mates. They certainly add sparkle around the place and are very skilled."
With a 14/4 win-loss rate in the home and away series followed by September showdown wins against Seymour and Mansfield, Kyabram have every reason to be confident going into Saturday's Big One at the Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.
After a stretch at St Joseph's in Geelong, Vick has been a major factor in Kyabram's revival, his consistent efforts seeing him selected at Vic Country representative level for the last two years.
He says the individual honours are nice, but a premiership would be even better.
"It would be good for everyone, especially the town and our supporters," he says.
"We've come from a long way back. We were on or near the bottom for a long time, yet everyone stuck with us. The support we have had has been enormous."
Vick says the mentoring and example provided by coach David Williams has been invaluable in allowing scope for the players to be risk-takers and also for them to do the defensive "one per centers" so important to any Grand Final team.
"David tells you what you need to do to improve and how to go about it. He's been really good for us. He's got so much experience and uses it."
Among Kyabram's young brigade with a particularly challenging task is teenager Adam Lovison, who is the club's No.1 ruckman.
"He's one of several young ones we've had in the ruck this year and he'd been doing very well," said Vick. "Earlier we had a 16 year old in Jake Reeves have a taste of it, too. It's great for the young blokes when the coach shows so much faith in them. It can only be good for their footy in the future."
By Ken Piesse
Article first published September 23rd, 2009
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