Local footy: Footy at Lake Cargelligo

by David Ogilvy

While travelling from South Australia to the north coast of NSW recently, my wife and I found ourselves in Lake Cargelligo in NSW’s Northern Riverina  on a cool windy Saturday.

The town has done it tough over the years but you can still see a great country spirit there.

As the motel was within two kicks of the oval, I ventured down to watch the end of the under-14s. Kids of all ages and size played as a prelude to the seniors.

If you speak to the friendly locals and explain you are an “Aussie rules follower from SA”, you find out more about the team and the remarkable league they play in.
Here’s what I learnt:

There is a trip to Cobar once per year to play (more than 300 kilometres one way) – it would be great “fun” dodging the Roos on the way home in the dark in the winter.

A good deal of  the grounds are more than 100 kilometres away.

Not all towns can field the required teams so some towns may have only one or two teams.

Some of the lads play the next day for the local rugby league side where travel is just as vast.

On the day I was there a “gun” player had driven from Bathurst in the early hours of the morning to play.

There’s no going in to the change rooms at half-time – they sit on the oval.

But above all it’s great footy, so anyone is welcomed by the friendly locals.

Next year I will return.

Comments

  1. pauldaffey says

    Hi David,

    Lake Cargelligo last week beat Barellan in the Northern Riverina league Qualifying Final and this week they play West Wyalong in the Second Semi.

    Chris Daniher’s team, Ungarie, is playing Barellan in the First Semi.

    Both games will be played at West Wyalong as a double-header. I reckon that’s not a bad concept.

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