Almanac Bush Footy – A Season in the Country: 1975 across the wheatbelt
A Season in the Country
1975
Country football across the wheat belts of the Riverina and the Wimmera in 1975 is the theme of my 2022 Footy Almanac series.
Following on from Geelong’s Record Run last season and 1966 and all that in 2020, the focus this year shifts to the country. North Melbourne’s maiden premiership will provide the VFL backdrop.
The series will be set in the Wimmera and Farrer leagues, historically strong country football leagues and productive territories for Essendon and South Melbourne/Sydney Swans respectively.
Meanwhile, we will remember 1975 on other fronts: as a dramatic year in Australian politics; for the tumultuous end to the war in Indochina; plus, among other events, the inaugural Cricket World Cup.
Readers, old enough to have memories of the time, may revisit their schooldays, university experiences, travels, career, family and sporting highlights of that year.
My 2022 series, A Season in the Country will start in April with weekly episodes every Wednesday on the Footy Almanac site during the footy season. Look out for the Prologue on 13 April followed by Episode 1 a week later, coinciding with the opening round of football in the Wimmera and Farrer leagues in 1975.
Revisit ‘1966 and all that’ HERE and ‘Geelong’s Record Run’ HERE
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About Peter Clark
is a lifelong Geelong supporter. Hailing from the Riverina, he is now entrenched on the NSW South Coast. His passion for footy was ignited by attending Ovens and Murray League matches in the 1960's with his father. After years of watching, playing and coaching, now it is time for some serious writing about his favourite subjects… footy, especially country footy, and cricket.
Looking forward to these reports and reading about footy in the Riverina and the Wimmera.
Shame that the Great Laurie Pendrick had left North Wagga to coach Grong Grong Matong in 1975…
that would have added colour as only Lozza could.
Speaking of colourful characters I’m guessing Big Jumbo Schudolz was booting plenty of goals for Rup in the Wimmera.
Bring it on!
Dr Rocket,
‘Jumbo’ Sudholz retired from playing in ’74, but he will feature in Episode 3 of the series.
And Lozza certainly would have added some colour, and plenty of goals!
Enjoy the series.
I’m looking forward to this series, Peter.
When Maryanne & I drove back from Broken Hill last week we went through Ouyen, noting the totems in the footy ground, so well covered in Paul Daffey’s majestic work, The Totem Poles of Ouyen United. Will these get much of a plug in this series?
With the Farrer League today, Saturday 19/3 is Ardlethan Cup Day, Ardlethan being a former team in the Farrer League. Re Grong Grong Matong was Tad playing there in 1975, or was he still playing in Wagga?
Glen!
Glen,
The totem poles stand outside the area I am covering. They are Mallee/Sunraysia property. However, on a similar theme, keep an eye out for the silos of the Wimmera during the series.
Your question about Ted Obudzinski is a good one. Ted was with South Melbourne in ‘’73-‘74, then suburban Melbourne before heading to Albury Tigers and finally Narrandera.
His involvement with GGGM followed.
Ta Peter, I remember Tad’s two games in 1973.
His debut was at the Lake Oval V Carlton; I remember hearing it on the radio. He marked not too far out early had a shot that went on the full, then the rest was history. He played a week later against Fitzroy at the Junction Oval then no more VFL seniors. His two matches found him paired up against Geoff Southby, then Harvey Merrigan, two of the best full backs around.
I encountered Tad a few times when he was the publican at the G G M pub. These encounters were on the racing jaunts we had to Ardlethan. G G M also has some of my family permanently residing there.
I’ll enjoy these posts Peter.
Glen!