Central Murray Football Netball League
Round 4
Hay v Ultima
2.30pm, Saturday 9th May 2026
Hay Park
150 years of football at Hay
The Hay Lions FC is the oldest Australian Rules football club in NSW. The club was formed when 14 men met at the town’s Royal Hotel on May 24 in 1876. The Riverine Grazier reported on the event, noting “hearty prospects of play this present season”.
150 years later the Hay Lions celebrated their history and that momentous occasion with a reunion of past players and the acceptance of a heritage plaque from the NSW Australian Football Heritage Association.
Hay FC President George Auldist and ‘Buck’ Howard with the heritage plaque
The road has not been a straight one for Hay footballers. Location has always presented challenges for the club; challenges that have been met with persistence, resilience and a never-say-die attitude.
Geoffrey Blainey wrote about the tyranny of distance faced by Australia. Equally, one could talk about the tyranny resulting from Hay’s location out on the Riverina’s saltbush plains, miles and miles away from neighbouring towns who could provide a chance to play a game of footy.
So, what does a community desperate for some football competition do? Organise a local comp of teams from within the town? Yes. Seek affiliation, over time, with leagues to the east, the north east, the south and the south west. Yes. Take knockbacks on the chin and solve the problem by reverting to playing amongst themselves. Yes.
A favourite saying of the club’s patriach, Robert ‘Buck’ Howard, sums up the approach of Hay folk to their football; “We don’t get carried away!”
And today we see the Hay Lions competing once again in the Central Murray football community (formerly the Mid Murray Football League). Why? Because the Golden Rivers League folded at the end of 2025, resulting in Hay, Moulamein, Ultima, Murrabit and Wandella having to find a new home. They were all accepted into the largely Victorian-centered league that straddles the Murray River.
Despite the distance (220km) between the two towns, Hay and Ultima are not strangers to one another. They played off in the last three grand finals of the Golden Rivers League, with Hay victorious in 2023 and 2025, and Ultima taking the honours by a solitary point in 2024.
Hay have been known as the Lions since joining the Kerang and District League in 1981, while Ultima, formerly the Kangaroos, were forced to change their nickname because of a clash with Balranald who are known as the Roos. They chose the ‘Storm’.
The match
Glorious autumn weather greeted all who attended Hay Park on Saturday. Auskickers, junior footballers, netballers and three grades of men’s footballers took to the field, and the court, at the home of footy and netball in the town.
After watching the Hay and Ultima teams standing for 10 minutes while they witnessed the unveiling of the heritage plaque, spectators could sense the eagerness of players to get underway.
It was the Storm who came out of the blocks with a bang. The Lions looked sluggish and unsettled in the opening term. But, we later discovered a possible explanation for their tardiness at the footy. Five Lions players flying to Hay from Sydney were met with the news of their cancelled flight. How do we solve this one the coach Mick Cattanach and the president George Auldist wondered? A solution was soon found. The players drove to Wagga while a local grazier generously offered the services of his plane to fly over to pick the boys up and bring them to Hay just in time for the start. That was impressive!
Meanwwhile, down at the Ultima-end forward pocket a group of little tackers were merrily playing kick to kick in their team colours, oblivious to the game going on, at times only metres from their gaggle. This is country footy.
Quarter time: Ultima 6.3 939) Hay 2.1 (13)
The Hay coach did not mince his words at quarter time. His sternly delivered message was met with an immediate response as Hay piled on six goals in the second term and were within touch at half time. The northern end was proving to be the scoring end as James Lugsdin led the way booting two for Hay. Meanwhile, Ultima continued to kick accurately promising an intruiging second half of footy.
Half time: Ultima 10.3 (63) Hay 8.6 (54)
The Lions hit the front early in the third quarter after two goals from Lugsdin, followed by a two-flag wave brought up by Jack Headon. The Storm responded with two of their own before the Sherrin got caught in a tree at the Murrumbidgee River end. A few sticks and stones were hurriedly thrown and the ball was soon back on terra firma. This is country footy.
3 Quarter time: Hay 13.10 (88) Ultima 13.4 (82)
Would the visitors run out of legs people in the crowd questioned at the three quarter time break? Out at the huddle the Hay coach implored: “Minute by minute. Let’s get the f*$%#! job done!”
The last quarter was a nail-biting affair for supporters of both teams. The Lions started to try and defend their lead rather than put the foot down, while Ultima had their chances. A controvesial 50 metre penalty not awarded, raised the ire of Hay supporters. That was quickly followed by a whistle against a Hay player and a 50 metre walk awarded for a delayed return of the footy, and Ultima suddenly looked likely to pinch the game.
If not for the steadying influence of Joel Crocker (Darren’s son) across half back and the spoiling of Tom Sheldrick, the Lions could have been overrun. A low scoring quarter saw the final siren ring out to the jubilant cheers of Hay supporters.
They won it tough. They did it for the ‘old boys’.
And the noise of the Farrer by-election did not quell the roar of the Lions.
Final score: Hay 15.13 (103) d Ultima 16.6 (102)
Goals
Hay: J. Lugsdin 5, J. Headon 4, F. Cattanach 3, D. Watson 2, W. Wolbers,
Ultima: L. Caccaviello 3, D. Burns 3, A. Dean 2, Z. Cattlin 2, J. Foster 2, C. Brady, C. Grey, T. Isma, R. Featherby
Best
Hay: James Lugsdin, Dylan Adkins, Tom Sheldrick, Declan Watson, Fergus Cattanach, Jack Headon
Ultima: Lucas Caccaviello, Jye Purtill, Thomas Isma, Dustin Burns, Sol Kelly, Kyle Symons
My 3-2-1 votes
3 – James Lugsdin (Hay)
2 – Lucas Caccaviello (Ultima)
1 – Joel Crocker (Hay)
All pics from the author.
Read more about Hay football from Peter Clark 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.
We had the close one!
3SH lamenting not covering the match of the day in Hay.
However, footy media coverage in Hay drowned out the Farrer by-election!