Violet Town has secured a major coup for the off-season, with country footy legend Lachie Smith set to don the Towners' colours at Tulip St in 2026.

After two seasons with North Heidelberg in Melbourne’s Northern Football League, Smith returns to the Towners 16 years after he departed his junior club for the Goulburn Valley League.

From there, the rest is history.

The elite defender was a four-time premiership player, firstly with Benalla before playing a key role in Kyabram’s dominance of the 2010s, playing in the Bombers’ 2016, 2017, and 2019 flags.

The 32-year-old ex-Collingwood rookie was also a GVL interleague representative on four occasions.

It underscores a busy approach from Violet Town in its efforts to build on an eighth-placed Kyabram District League finish, bolstering its experienced stocks with Euroa’s Matt Ivill and former Magpies ruckman John Ikupu signing up under returning coach Sean Horsburgh.

Across the local football divide, Goulburn Valley League clubs have been busy – particularly out at Moon Oval.

The Tigers have welcomed ex-Melbourne defender and Leitchville-Gunbower product Marty Hore to the club following his delisting from the Dees.

Hore joins the Tigers after two stints with Melbourne that netted him 20 AFL games, though injury cruelled his 2025 season.

It’s a big get for this year’s GVL grand finalists, but other clubs have also been ensuring they don’t get left behind, with Benalla announcing 2015 flag-winner Tom Bennett is back at the club after a year’s hiatus.

Shepparton Swans have also bolstered their stocks with the return of former junior and Murray Bushrangers talent Ethan Warburton returning from South Australia, where he played for Norwood.

Seymour has welcomed ruckman Tom Stapleton from Parkside in Melbourne, a talent with SANFL and VFL experience.

After two seasons away, 2023 GVL grand finalist Reuben Rode is reportedly returning to Kyabram to reinforce the Bombers’ back-to-back credentials.

Meanwhile, the departures board is lighting up as a flurry of big names set their sights on fresh challenges elsewhere.

Swans trio Mark Kovacevic, Nathan Hrovat, and Mason Pedretti have left Princess Park, while Benalla’s Will O’Donoghue has traded one Saints jumper for another, joining Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock in the Hume Football League.

Kyabram’s Liam Ogden has also plotted his next move, still set to don the red sash.

But it won’t be for the Bombers.

The four-time GVL premiership star is heading back to Essendon District Football League club Pascoe Vale, which he played for during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Another Kyabram star with four flags to his name is walking out the door, with Tom Holman returning to the Murray League after clinching the 2025 GVL premiership.

The 50-goal forward is heading north west to join Tongala, adding to the Blues’ latest signing blitz that includes new playing assistant coach Brayden O’Hanlon and club favourite Corey Nexhip, who is back from a three-year stint in the UK.

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Thursday, 16th December 2027

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