A Season in the Country: 1975 in the Wimmera and Farrer Leagues – Episode 18

 

Lockhart Football Ground

 

Up the ‘Gullie!

 

Farrer League

 

Demons                 v               Magpies

 

 

 

Match of the day: Collingullie v The Rock-Yerong Creek

Saturday 16th August 1975

at the Crossroads Oval, Collingullie

 

Featuring Collingullie’s Ron Murray and Colin Hounsell

 

The village of Collingullie lies at the junction of the Sturt Highway and the Lockhart Road, 25 km north west of Wagga Wagga. Apart from the school, the pub, a community hall and the general store, there is not a lot else other than a footy ground called the Crossroads Oval. And what a fertile football ground it has been over the years, producing VFL/AFL players including Colin Hounsell, Matthew Kennedy and Harry Perryman. The ‘Gullie as it is locally known, is one of those rural Australian places you drive through on your way to somewhere else without giving it too much thought.

 

The country around the settlement is devoted to cropping and livestock farming with wheat, oats, triticale, canola, lamb and beef the mainstays. The wide floodplain of the Murrumbidgee River sweeps past Collingullie but rarely does it hold floodwater these days due to the construction of dams upstream. The land around Collingullie was traditionally the home of the Wiradjuri people who were well catered for with its bounty of food supplies and abundant cultural resources.

 

The history of Australian Football at Collingullie can be traced back to 1906 when the Cross Roads Football Club was formed. The club’s name was changed to Collingullie in 1911. Over the years Collingullie has participated in the Wagga and District League, the Milbrulong League, the Central Riverina League (3 premierships), the Farrer League and the Riverina Football League. The Demons’ first Farrer League premiership was their upset win in 1969 over hot favourites Mangoplah Cookardinia United (MCU) in shocking conditions at Yerong Creek. It was a sweet victory for Collingullie as their opponents MCU had defeated them in the 1967 grand final replay. Its next premiership, in 1974, was equally memorable after the ‘first’ grand final, against MCU once again, was drawn. A week later the Demons defeated the Goannas by 13 points in their last grand final appearance before merging with Wagga club Ashmont in 1980. The merged club played briefly in the Riverina District Football League and in 1985 returned to the Farrer League (1985-94) as Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka, winning six flags. In 1995 the club joined the stronger Riverina Football League, but returned to its roots in 1998. In 2011 the Demons tried again in the Riverina League prior to annexing more Wagga suburban territory in 2015 to form a conglomerate called Collingullie Glenfield Park. Three more premierships have followed for the Demons. Fifteen flags in seventy years is not a bad record for any footy club, particularly for a small village on the surrounds of a large regional city.

 

Preview

The Daily Advertiser tipped The Rock-Yerong Creek  to defeat Collingullie, but saw it as a real danger game for the Magpies who were vulnerable in fourth position. A continuation of the recent good form shown by the ‘Gullie would test the visitors.  Both teams have strong attacking players and match winners. Collingullie are well served by centreman Chris Lashbrook, half forwards Billy Burgess and Warren Sommerville and the long arms of Ron Murray at full forward. The Rock-Yerong Creek have the versatility provided by the McFarlane brothers who complement the Farrer League leading goal kicker in Bob Driscoll. If Collingullie’s defence holds, The Rock-Yerong Creek will have to pull out all stops to win.

 

The teams

 

Collingullie

B: B. Chaplin, M. Eyers, L. Jenkins

HB: R. Myers, M. Lambert (c), D. Burgess

C: S. Kiddle, C. Lashbrook, B. McCaig

HF: W. Sommerville, W. Pocock, W. Burgess

F: M. Adams, R. Murray, P. Gannon

Foll: M. Guiton, K. Jenkins

Rov: C. Dryden

 

The Rock-Yerong Creek

B: J. Morley, R. Taylor, D.McGrath

HB: P. Jack, P. Angel, J. Klimpsch

C: L. Curtis, R. McFarlane, R. Anderson

HF: C. Hayes, M. McFarlane, G. McGrath

F: L. Driscoll, R. Driscoll, R. Gladman

Foll: P. Miotti, P. Elliott (c)

Rov: S. Maddox

Res: P. Mooney, P. Hayes

 

The match

Collingullie were competitive until 10 minutes into the second quarter, matching the visitors goal for goal. Holding the lead by a point at quarter time earnt Collingullie one premiership point and gave the home crowd plenty to cheer, but thereafter the Magpies took control with sustained pressure. Bob Driscoll added to his tally with six goals and remained two clear of Henty’s Garry Mickan for the season. Best players for the Magpies were centre half forward Murray McFarlane, Peter Miotti in the ruck and rover Shane Maddox. For Collingullie, ruckman Mick Guiton, centreman Chris Lashbrook and Russell Myers across the half back line stood out. Ron Murray could only manage one six pointer for the afternoon.

 

Final score: The Rock-Yerong Creek 20.18 (138) defeated Collingullie 11.9 (75)

 

 

Around the Farrer League grounds

 

Mangoplah-Cookardinia United toppled the Wagga Tigers keeping their finals hopes alive just one premiership point behind fourth-placed TR-YC. Lockhart were too strong for Culcairn, North Wagga tripled Holbrook’s score, while Henty sharpened up for September with a big win over Temora.

 

Next week in the Farrer League:

Henty host North Wagga, TR-YC face Culcairn at home, Wagga take on Temora at Robertson Oval, Holbrook meet Collingullie and MCU have a must win trip to Lockhart.

 

This episode’s featured Collingullie players: Ron Murray and Colin Hounsell

 

Ron Murray coached in the Bendigo League before coming to the Riverina as playing coach of Whitton (South West District League) in 1969. He moved to the Crossroads Oval as playing coach in 1970 leading Collingullie for two seasons and taking them to the 1970 Farrer League grand final. The Demons could not repeat their 1969 triumph, going down to Holbrook. But a second Farrer League flag for the ‘Gullie was not far away and Ron Murray would be a big part of it.

 

 

Ron Murray (‘Goliath’) was a Riverina heavyweight boxing champion as well as a talented footballer, known far and wide for his towering high marking and long kicking. The ruckman was runner up in the 1970 Farrer League best and fairest (Baz Medal), beaten on a countback. He played on with Collingullie until the end of the 1975 season, being a key force in the club’s second Farrer League premiership, the 1974 victory against Mangoplah Cookardinia United. Murray was the club’s leading vote winner in the Baz Medal that season.

 

Colin Hounsell

 

 

Colin Hounsell followed in his father’s footsteps in playing for Collingullie. The 1974 Farrer League Baz medal winner played for both Collingullie and South Melbourne at various times during the 1975 season. He was on the Swans radar that year and was invited to trial with the VFL club mid season. The Swans liked what they saw and with that Hounsell remained in Melbourne for the rest of 1975, making three appearances in the seniors.

 

Colin Hounsell played 122 games for South Melbourne/Sydney Swans, mostly as a speedy wingman, rover or centreman, in a career that spanned eleven seasons. His time in the big league was interrupted with brief stints in Darwin (1979-80) and Woodville (1980-81). On two occasions he refused swaps to other VFL clubs, digging his heels in and remaining loyal to the Swans.

 

Hounsell later returned to the Riverina and was captain coach of East Wagga-Kooringal (Riverina Football League) where he won the Jim Quinn Medal in 1987. In 1988 he went back to his roots at Collingullie as playing coach and took the Demons to a grand final, going down to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United. A shoulder injury forced his retirement after that season.

 

 

The Wimmera League

 

Round up

 

Murtoa played perfect football to defeat ladder leaders Ararat and with the four points climbed into the top five. Stawell replaced the Rats in top spot with their impressive 74 point win over Jeparit. Dimboola defeated Nhill in a one sided match with their star full forward Richie Kalms in devastating form kicking 11 goals. Minyip enjoyed comfortable four goal win over Warracknabeal, but a place in the finals was out of reach of the Blues. Horsham kept its place in the five with a big win against Rupanyup.

 

Next week in the Wimmera League: The match of the round, Jeparit v Murtoa, will decide who claims fifth position and a place in the finals. Finals certainties, third placed Dimboola take on fourth placed Horsham at home. Minyip will hope to finish their season on a strong note in their clash against Ararat, while the Rats will be looking to regain top form on the eve of the finals. Stawell will be looking for a win over Rupanyup to secure top position. The remaining match, Warracknabeal v Nhill, has no bearing on the make up of the five.

 

Next episode’s featured player: Doug Schumann (Jeparit)

 

 

In the VFL

 

North Melbourne was on the verge of eight wins in a row before heading out to Windy Hill to meet Essendon. With Doug Wade on the sidelines, the Kangaroos were further depleted after the withdrawal of the dynamic duo, Sam Kekovitch and Brent Croswell, due to influenza. The dedicated and invigorated Bombers took it up the North and came out on top by 14 points.

 

Fabulous Phil Carman, wearing his white boots, was at his flamboyant best at Moorabbin booting 11 goals and helping steer Collingwood to a much needed win over St. Kilda. At the other end, George Young kicked eight goals in an afternoon when the two full forwards were in scintillating form. Richmond, stirred into action by the threat of missing the September action, took on Carlton at the MCG and came out victorious by three points. Three Tiger rookies caught the eye (Bruce Monteath (WA), Neville Roberts (SA) and Allan Edwards (Robinvale), upstaging Richmond’s usual stars. Bobby Rose enjoyed his post game can of beer after Footscray won a spiteful clash against ladder leaders Hawthorn at VFL Park. Fitzroy snuffed out Melbourne’s faint finals hopes, while South Melbourne enjoyed their visit to Kardinia Park claiming their second win for the season – both against the Cats!

 

Meanwhile …

It was rumoured in Canberra that the Soviets had offered substantial economic aid to Papua New Guinea on the eve of the Pacific nation’s independence. Sounds like a familiar contemporary theme in the region?

At Headingly the Third Test ended in a draw when play was abandoned on the final day after vandals sabotaged the pitch with knives and oil. After day four, Australia was not without hope of victory needing 225 runs to win with seven wickets in hand. But the vandals, protesting against the 20 year sentence for armed robbery given to a London minicab driver, had other plans. Could Rick McCosker and Doug Walters have pulled off a thrilling win for Australia or would Derek Underwood wreak havoc on the oil polluted pitch. We will never know. Captains Tony Greig and Ian Chappell shook hands in agreement that the pitch was not fit for play. Australia led the four match series 1-0.

 

 

Read more episodes of A Season in the Country – 1975 in the Wimmera and Farrer Leagues HERE 

To read about Geelong’s Record Run, click HERE.

Peter also wrote about St. Kilda’s premiership season in his 1966 and All That series. You can read that HERE.

 

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