KDL action returns - with Grasshopper and Kangaroo on the menu

By Tyler Maher

Apr 2, 2025

Murchison-Toolamba will become the hunted this season — and the Grasshoppers are ready. Photo by Megan Fisher

When the first ball bounces and the first centre-pass is thrown on Saturday across the Kyabram District League, the hunters will officially become the hunted.

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Coincidentally, Murchison-Toolamba — which claimed senior football glory in 2024 — and Girgarre, which snared a stirring A-grade netball crown, face-off against each other in round one action.

The Grasshoppers will improve — a scary proposition given they also won the reserves premiership last year — if pre-season movements are any indication, meaning the rest of the competition will need to find yet another gear to compete this season.

That wider comp looks slightly different this campaign without Dookie United — which departed for the Picola District ranks — meaning a weekly bye has been installed, delaying Rushworth’s start to the year.

“So far we’ve probably got an extra 15 blokes turn up, so that’s been good, some big nights on the track,” Murch coach Brett Foley said during the pre-season.

“We’ve lost Liam Leahy and Jayedon Hexter, but the rest of the boys have stuck fat and are keen to go again.

“Not always do you have the chance to win a grand final let alone back to back, so that’s our plan and that’s why we’ve had good numbers so far.”

Runner-up Shepparton East travels to Undera with a balanced sheet of ins and outs across the summer.

Avenel hosts Longwood — which has already proved itself to have a direct line to the top of the AFL ranks this year — while Nagambie welcomes a Violet Town outfit which produced plenty of off-season momentum, highlighted by the recruitment of gun midfielder JD Hayes.

Stanhope travels to Tallygaroopna and Merrigum hosts Lancaster in the other clashes of the opening round.

But of course, it’s not all about what happens after 2pm.

League operations manager Michael Houston said the league had seen an up-tick in junior numbers this year.

“We've increased the numbers in the under-15s competition to nine teams,” Houston said.

“We've got 11 teams participating in the under-18s and so that's exciting to have so many kids playing football.

“(Juniors) have been a focus of the executive and the clubs, to try and increase in that junior space and help for future numbers in their senior space.”

For more on each KDL club ahead of the 2025 campaign, check out this year’s Football-Netball Magazine. If you missed a hard copy, call the Shepparton News office on 5820 3107 or download the Shepparton News app, head to the print editions tab and scroll down.