A product of the Kyabram junior program and a member of the Bombers’ 2013 senior premiership side under coach Dave Williams as a teenager, Holman has ended his AFL career as only one of four Kyabram players to have played more than 150 games at the elite level.
With nine games for Carlton, which recruited him in 2013, and 146 with Gold Coast he has played 154 AFL games.
The only other players recruited from Kyabram who have played more AFL games are Brett Deledio (275, Richmond and Greater Western Sydney), Garry Lyon (226 Melbourne) and Richard Clay (213 Richmond).
Nick got a farewell to remember in his last AFL match, against St Kilda.
You only had to watch his teammates’ reaction when he kicked a goal after the quarter-time siren to see how popular he is as a person and his attitude in playing the game at the elite level.
Nick has had to scale some dizzy mountains on his football journey but has attacked them head-on and his name isn’t out of place on the impressive list of high-achieving sports people Kyabram has produced over the years.
Kyabram fans no doubt were licking their lips when Nick hinted in an post-match interview after his final game that he would to love play with his brother Tom again at Kyabram.
The last time they did this was in Kyabram’s 2013 drought-breaking side. Tom is currently playing with Tongala.
Well done, Nick, on a fabulous AFL career; you have been a marvellous product and ambassador for Kyabram.
Towering season
Talking of football milestones, Kyabram co-captain Zac Norris achieved a notable one, playing his 150th game in the final GVL home-and-away round last Saturday when the Bombers overwhelmed Euroa in the second half.
Zac has been one of the best ruckmen in the GVL for some time now and this season has reached new heights.
I believe he would have to be one of the favourites to win the Morrison Medal. But in saying that I still find it hard to believe last year’s fiasco when Mick Mattingly, who had averaged 35 possessions a game for the season, was regularly snubbed by umpires when it came to casting their votes.
Young footballers impress
Some hot young Kyabram footballers were certainly up and about at the weekend.
Jedd Turpin has sent GVL officials scurrying for the record books after kicking 16 goals for the Kyabram thirds against Euroa on Saturday.
The Bombers’ talented footballing Bruhn brothers were also on fire.
On Saturday Tom Bruhn kicked six goals in Kyabram reserves’ runaway win over Euroa while his younger brother Sam on Sunday bagged four goals for the Bombers’ under-16 side in a best-on-ground performance in winning the Goulburn Murray Football League’s Under-16 division one premiership.
Evenly matched
Two draws in the one AFL round two weeks ago brought back memories for Rushworth footballers who played in the Heathcote League in 1973.
Incredibly Rushworth and Tooborac played a tie in three meetings that year, one in the home-and-away season and two — yes, two — in the finals series.
Rushworth historian Alan McLean takes up Rushworth’s remarkable finals series story in that year:
A point kicked by Tooborac’s Gary Heskett as the siren sounded forced a second semi-final draw against Rushworth seniors, both teams scoring 22-12, in a goal-kicking spree at Toolleen. The Tigers were (almost) run down after leading by four goals at three-quarter time.
The Tigers lost the replay, but sneaked home against Colbinabbin in the preliminary final. Going in against Tooborac again, the Grand Final was, yes, another draw!
Before the first Grand Final at Heathcote, Rushworth’s Alec Horne was presented with his Sam Cheatley Medal for the Heathcote League Best and Fairest award.
At quarter-time Tooborac had 8.3 to Rushworth’s 2.1. At half-time Tooby 8.4, Rushy 10.1. What a game! Three-quarter time the Tigers were 13.7 to 13.6. In the final minutes Ian Williams and Warren McKeown both goaled, with both teams on 16.11 at the siren.
Ross Williams and Geoff Wall both chipped bones, out of action for the following week. Coming into the 20 for the replay were Barry Thompson and Mark Mackinder, who had not played at all for three weeks.
The Tigers, after four tough games, were out of petrol, as former Collingwood player Wayne Egan kicked 10 goals for Tooborac. From last the season before, the Tigers finished runners-up, 8.7 being no match for the Cats with 21-21. Named best for Rushworth were Herb Barlow (father of Michael, ex-Fremantle Docker), David Farrer, Warren McKeown, Roger Barnes, Ian Williams, Bill Barlow, John Lambden and Neville Clarke.
All Tooborac’s best players came from the suburb of Tooborac known as Preston.
Recognition for Walker
Young gun Echuca footballer Cody Walker was recently named in the All Australian Under 18 football side for 2026.
Playing for the Big V Country side he averaged 23.7 disposals (10 contested) and 3.7 clearance across three matches in the five-team competition.
Walker has committed to joining Carlton in 2027 under the AFL father-son draft deal.
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