Almanac Footy: Corowa-Rutherglen, and the raiders across the border
Corowa-Rutherglen, and the raiders across the border
Footy in Corowa has undergone a few rough years but has survived; say no more about 2023. It’s been a while since I’d been to a game but as they say there’s no time like the present so come Saturday morning Maryanne, and I, headed up the Hume.
The Ovens and Murray League, (O&M) has long been considered one of the strongest, if not the strongest bush leagues in the land. It has produced many well known VFL/AFL players, household names like. Sam Kekovich, John Longmire, Steve Johnson, Mick Nolan, and Haydn Bunton are but a few of them.
For Corowa-Rutherglen, the merger of the Corowa and Rutherglen football clubs back in 1979 to produce the current side has generally been successful with Premierships in 2000, then in 2003. However, since then, their fortune’s been mixed, with a finals berth eluding them since 2014. Coming into this clash they were second last on the ladder with the sole win. This follows a wooden spoon with a solitary win in 2024.
For me the old days of Corowa being the Redback Spiders, with their Red and Black jumpers, and names like Phipps, Tobias are a distant memory. Anyhow the present is a present so let’s enjoy it and see where the present-day side is going.
Wodonga Raiders have not been in the O&M for long but as a team their various incarnations go back a while. They commenced life as Kergunyah Football Club but with changes in leagues, teams, over time they recreated themselves as the Wodonga Demons. This new incarnation had its roots in a meeting conducted at Wodonga’s wonderful Blazing Stump Hotel. Over time they became the Wodonga Raiders entering the O&M in 1989.
In 1998 the club won its first O&M premiership beating Lavington by 64 points. Since then, they’ve not tasted premiership glory. A few more finals appearances though none since a fifth in 2021. In recent years they’ve done it hard being cellar dwellers. Coming into this clash they sat last on the ladder, winless.
The first time we’ve been to a footy match in Wodonga. Been to a few race meetings but footy in Wodonga was a whole new ball game: literally. We caught up with Uncle Frank, Frank Johnstone, a former Corowa player. Uncle Frank played two senior games as a 15-year-old in 1955, but a subsequent transfer in his job with Dalgety’s saw him based in Holbrook. A teenager in those days was not going to find it easy getting to, and from, Holbrook to Corowa on a wintry Saturday. Sadly, Uncle Franks’ senior career with Corowa finished.
The match started in bright, though cold conditions; pleasantly, there was no wind. It was the bottom team versus second bottom, who would collect the four points? Wodonga Raiders looked the better team early on but couldn’t put Corowa-Rutherglen away. A late goal saw the visitors hold a three-point lead, 2-2-14 to 1-5-11.
Corowa-Rutherglen got away in the second term. One player who the Raiders found difficult to control was Brendan Kantilla. Up forward he posed a dangerous forward option. Alongside of him Kaelan Bradkte provided a good marking option but did not always capitalise with his kicking. An interesting episode late in the term was when the head of the home sides number 24 met the head of a Corowa-Rutherglen player, sitting him down; however, the umpires didn’t seem overly concerned by this. The main break saw Corowa-Rutherglen extend their lead 8-5-53 to 2-8-20.
The third term started with the locals trying to claw their way back. They attacked well having a few successful shots at goal, reducing the margin. It may have even got closer, but: an incident saw a Wodonga Raiders goal reversed. It appeared the youngish boundary umpire looking about 12 years of age saw something amiss with the shot, spoke to the other umpires, and what was thought a goal became a point. A clearly frustrated coach Chad Owens made comments about 6 years old umpiring skills leading to some banter with spectators. Nothing offensive, just some points of disagreement. By the end of the term the lead was down to 25 points 11-6-72 to 6-11-47.
Corowa – Rutherglen started the final team with points while the opposition found the goals early on. In the last stanza Wodonga Raiders got to within 12 points before the visitors steadied, putting on the final few goals of the match. The Daryn Creswell coached Corowa-Rutherglen triumphed 14-9-93 to 8-14-62. Twice as many wins now as all last season.
For Corowa-Rutherglen the best were Joseph Ugle whose winning of the ball, and football smarts, was a key to the victory. Brendan Kantilla with 5.1, the point being a poster late in the final term, was the most dangerous forward on the ground. Other valuable contributors to the victory included Kaelan Bradtke, Tom Forrest, Jordan Foote, with a special mention to debutant Deagan Purcell. Kantilla’s 5 goals led the way for the victors. Kaelan Bradtke kicked 3, Finn Osborne potted 2, with the following getting singles; Noah Amery, Liam McCarthy, Brady Morton, and the ubiquitous Joseph Ugle.
For the Wodonga raiders Indhi Kotzur, Mitchell Way, Baxter Jones, Charlie St John and Corey Rich all impressed. Indhi Kotzur was impressive with strong marking, and a good presence around the ground. I’d surmise he’s related to Walbundrie’s Hilton Kotzur who played one AFL game for Sydney in 1985. Their goals came from: Mitchell Way 2, singles from Chris Anderson, Hudson Gray, Indhi Kotzur, Baxter Wilson, Charlie St. John and Archer Scammell.
Post match off to Albury’s Soden’s Hotel. It’s been a feature of Albury since 1857 and still provides damn good service. It was a nice day all round catching up with family, watching our team win, and enjoying the ambience of this part of Australia. Next trip up can’t be too soon.
Glen!
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About Glen d
I am curious about the overall standard of the footy, Glen?
In your opinion, has it deteriorated or is O&M footy still pretty good?
I have always been puzzled about the merger of Corowa and Rutherglen, given Corowa-Rutherglen is now essentially a Corowa team, and Rutherglen-Corowa (the Cats?) are essentially Rutherglen and play in a lower league.
Thanks for this piece, Glen!
Thanks Glen. The Kantilla name pricked my ears up. Here’s some interviews and footage from the game.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1643085816380072
Ta Smokie, the Ovens and Murray (O&M) still seems quite a strong, if not the strongest, competition out in the bush. In a recent clash Interleague with the Goulburn Valley they won quite easily.
It’s hard to judge the overall quality when the sides we saw held the bottom two rungs on the ladder with a solitary win between them until this match. Both sides have fallen on hard times, but saying that….. The match was entertaining. Yes there were a few ‘ poor mistakes’ by both sides with decision making, disposal, however these weren’t our primary recollection of the match. The skills on the day of players such as Indhi Kotzur, Brendan Kantilla, Tom Forrest, Josh Ugle, and Kaelan Bradtke were impressive to view.
Corowa is a bigger town than Rutherglen, thus I’d surmise that’s why it’s primarily Corowa linked. Yep, the Rutherglen Cats are in the Tallangatta league after a period in the Ovens and King league. Apparently they still retain a strong support base and are ‘happy’ in their current setting.
As we’re all aware the ever expanding the growth of the AFL , the biggest player in Australia’s entertainment industry, has coincided with the decline of so much of the organic competitions around the land. The fact the O&M continues, the clubs keep going, indicates they’re doing something right.
We’ll see where we go from here with local/bush footy because as we all know; The future is unwritten.
Glen!
I enjoyed reading about your visit to see an O&M game Glen.
Clearly, you had your eyes on the action and had done your homework.
Did you go out to the three quarter time huddle to hear Cressa’s address to the players?
What was the crowd size?
And, did Uncle Frank play some games with Holbrook when he was stationed there in the 50s?
G’day Peter.
Crowd size? Crowd sizes, and peoples ages, are two areas I never get right. I’d say circa 1,500+. Maybe a good measuring stick is coffee sales from the canteen. Maryanne purchased one late in the first term. Uncle Frank went at quarter time; queue too long. He tried again early in the second term; ditto. Then ten minutes later the barista had no coffee left !
I didn’t go out to hear any of the speeches so I can’t provide any information on what Daryn Creswell said, though it helped get them home.
Uncle Frank, Holbrook games? I’ll ask next time I’m in touch with him.
Glen!
G’day Peter, I just spoke with Uncle Frank. He trained with Holbrook, though didn’t play with them.
Glen!
Thanks Glen. That was dedication to his home club.