Sport

Holman boys are back with the Bombers

By Gus Underwood

Oct 2, 2026

Retired AFL player and Kyabram star Nick Holman is coming home to play, along with brother Tom, a multiple premiership winner with the Bombers. Photo by Courtesy AFL

Kyabram’s Bombers have received a massive lift for the 2027 GVL season with recently retired AFL star Nick Holman coming home.

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And the extra bonus is Nick’s younger brother Tom, a five times premiership player with Kyabram, is returning from Tongala to play with the Bombers in the 2027 season.

And there’s more.

Archie Watt, the youngest player in Kyabram’s 2025 premiership side, is also returning to Victoria and will line-up with his former team.

Watt played eight games in Western Australia this year with the West Coast Eagles WAFL side.

A utility player, he was one of the stars in Kyabram’s 2025 premiership win over Rochester as an onballer.

Kyabram Football Club president John Guinan said Kyabram’s new coach Daryl Wilson made a trip to Kyabram from Bendigo last week to meet some of the Kyabram players.

Nick Holman made an emotional farewell to AFL and Gold Coast Suns recently after playing 154 AFL games – 145 with the Suns and nine with Carlton.

He was a teenager and one of his team’s best players in the Dave Williams coached Kyabram side which ended a 17-year flag drought in 2013.

Nick hinted in his farewell AFL game he would like to play with his brother (Tom), which Guinan seized on and pursued to clinch the deal.

“He and Tom will be enormous for us, as will Archie (Watt),” Guinan said.

“They are proven stars and the club welcomes them back with open arms.’’

At this stage Nick, who is based on the Gold Coast, will be a fly-in player.

‘‘But he intends to stay for periods to train with us, so that will be great,’’ Guinan added.

Watt is moving back to Kyabram and has committed to rejoin his former GVL club.

New Kyabram coach Daryl Wilson will have this season’s co-captain and GVL skipper Aiden Robinson as his assistant.

Barty Carver will be the reserves coach again, but the club has yet to appoint a thirds coach after Mark Patten stepped down from the post at the end of the season.

Kyabram’s presentation night is being held at the Kyabram Club tomorrow night.

Ruck ace Zac Norris would have to be favourite to take the senior best and fairest award while Jason Morgan, Brad Whitford, Kaine Herbert and Jack Russell should poll well after consistent seasons.