Ovens and Murray Football Netball League Round 7 – Myrtleford v Wodonga: Honest
“But what you see, is what I am
And I’ll always be an honest man.
Lost in the blind stupidity of it all.”
-Mr Crown Prosecutor, Don Walker (Cold Chisel)
Late May 2022. Directly south of Mt Gambier, a high pressure system lies pretty still above the Southern Ocean. So it’s a clear, dry, sunny, late autumn day across Victoria. Today a Federal election is held and today is a good day for footy.
A couple of months back I bought a new used car – a 2012 RAV4 I call “Ronnie” – and today Ronnie and I head north east. Today fourth placed Myrtleford (3-3) host eighth placed Wodonga (2-4) in Round 7 of the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League and that is good enough for me.
Not too many corflutes along Sydney Road, but on this day of endless chatter I’m happy to leave the city behind. The sky is blue. I plug in to Roy & HG’s latest podcast and before leaving the suburbs, they have me laughing out loud (as they have done for about 25 years now).
It’s a magnificent day that I am free take at my own pace. No one grumbles as I pull in for a toilet/ iced coffee stop around Benalla. And as the car idles in the car park, no one grumbles as I realise that I need to hear immediately from the catalogue of Don Walker.
A few years ago, a book of Don Walker’s song lyrics was published. There’s a black and white photo of Don on the cover. The book is titled with the same astute precision that characterises his lyrics – his stories of suburban dysfunction or the struggler or the forgotten restless drifter who flits at the shadows of Australian life, and who is such an essential part of Australian life. The book is called Songs.
Outside Benalla I search Spotify and am both unsurprised and grateful to find that someone has already created a playlist called “Songs,” featuring the songs from that book. We’re off.
And it’s Khe Sanh, Darwin, Plaza and I’ll remember you to kick things off. Solid.
We leave the faceless Hume and take the single lane across the King River country. Horses stand on fields of green. Gum trees overhang the road. Shadows strobe across the windscreen through Milawa. And there’s a bakery stop at Myrtleford (beef, bacon and cheese pie, cinnamon donut) and another stop alongside the Ovens River, to walk on rocks, to squat beside her and to feel her cool, cool waters once again. This is Jaitmathang country.
Cars line the boundary fence at RC McNamara Reserve, where the visiting Wodonga has cleaned up in the Reserves game. Myrtleford 5.4.34 d by Wodonga 12.5.77. Spectators sit on the trays of utes, on fold-out camp chairs and on park benches. Even now, near the peak of its arc, the sun hangs low in the sky.
This is a huge playing surface. The ground is slightly spongey. River flat soil probably pretty wet and silty. On top there is an even coverage of thick grass. I amble over to the Members’ stand on the western side.
The Ovens River lies behind the southern goals (my right) and the Great Alpine Road to the north. Mt Buffalo rises timelessly in the south-eastern pocket.
The field is enormous and the play is open. Wodonga wear maroon jumpers with a white “WFC” logo in the old Fitzroy style (large W, F and C alongside one another and superimposed over the W). They wear white shorts. And already they have the first two goals from open play to the River end. Make that three, after a set shot from the boundary. Myrtleford are the Saints and wear the jumper you would expect. In their #18, they have the tallest player on the field and he looks to be a very good footballer.
The first quarter is open, skilful and fast. I rate it as a pretty even game – Wodonga have merely had better value for their shots.
QT
Myrtleford 2.4.16
Wodonga 6.0.36
Alongside, a bloke with a young puppy talks to his mate.
“Oh, yeah, she was a bit of a spur of the moment addition. Yeah. Well, we’ve already got that other one. She’s two years old. So. Yeah.”
The big sky is milky blue, streaked with high cirrus.
Second quarter and the locals dominate open play. The game tightens. Myrtleford begin to run ahead of the ball in waves. It looks great when the ball is well-handled, but one errant handball brings the whole thing undone. A turnover sees Wodonga race away to goal at the Great Alpine Road end.
The Myrtleford method is to switch play at all costs, opening up the enormous width of the oval. It’s risky. And it makes for an open, attacking game.
HT
Myrtleford 4.5.29
Wodonga 9.2.56
Half time and I drain the last of my unfamiliar Kiewa country iced coffee. Some of the boundary fence advertising is equally unfamiliar.
“McPherson’s earth moving.”
“Ovens Valley chainsaws and lawnmowers.”
Third quarter and Wodonga goal immediately. I sit beside a van that has been reversed up to the fence. Both back doors are swung open, and two men rest their bums. An aeroplane leaves a vapour trail against the blue sky.
An elderly man steps gingerly alongside me as the crowd roars. He wears a blue v-neck wollen jumper and a twinkle in his eye. “Oh,” he says to me with a shrug. “These umpiring decisions! I can’t work them out.”
Wodonga has the play at the River end. At the Great Alpine Road end, two toddlers run from the boundary and onto the field of play. They audibly giggle as they run further onto the field. Their shocked mum spots them, swoops under the fence and collects them both with the swift and thoughtless dexterity of an orang-utan.
3QT
Myrtleford 5.9.39
Wodonga 10.4.64
One goal apiece in the third quarter. It looks tough from here for the home team.
I wander over to the canteen for a can of Solo. The young guy before me has paid for his food with a credit card.
“Oh! Hold on, Ferg!” says the canteen assistant. “Yer card didn’t work! Come back!”
“Oh, I’ve got cash,” I say.
“Great,” she says. “You can’t go wrong with cash.”
Last quarter. Myrtleford kicking to the Ovens River end, scramble a goal after three minutes. In the afternoon shade, the home crowd roars. But Wodonga immediately claim a goal themselves. Vast squadrons of insects zig and zag. Shadows are long.
Still, Myrtleford continue to switch play in midfield. They bring the ball into an open forward line and collect back-to-back goals from open play. Ten minutes down, 12 points the difference.
When the Myrtleford forward pocket marks on the boundary line and slots the set a shot, suddenly it’s a 5-point game with 15 minutes gone. A guttural roar rises from fold-out camp chairs, black puffer jackets and polar fleece.
The game tightens but paradoxically opens up. Desperate contests, tackles and smothers. And then an optimistic flick out wide, a tap into open space, where a Myrtleford flanker takes it and delivers to the leading full forward. Goal. 71-71 after 18 minutes.
“Come on, boys!”
“Josh! Josh! Josh!”
“Good pressure!”
“Keep it going!”
“TAKE it!”
The Wodonga back pocket kicks across the face of goal – but misses his man. Myrtleford collects. Goal. 77-71, 21 minutes.
From Anthony Rocca -ish distance, the Myrtleford big man lines up a set shot. It carries the crowded goal line. 83-71, 24 minutes.
Tackled in the back pocket, Wodonga cough up the free kick. Myrtleford handballs inside to open the angle. Goal. 90-71, 26 minutes.
Straight out of the centre clearance, Wodonga claw one back. 90-77, 27 minutes.
Another immediate centre clearance, this time to Myrtleford, where the full forward marks on a tight angle. 97-77.
SIREN.
FT
Myrtleford 14.13.97
Wodonga 12.5.77
The home team has kicked nine goals in the final quarter and run right over the top. It is a happy crowd. Around the back of the Members’ stand two old timers cross paths.
“Oh, how’d we get away with that?”
“Unreal, wasn’t it?”
==
In crisp air, I stand by an old, wide eucalypt and watch the Ovens and Murray people. Parents fold away camp chairs. Dogs step lightly. Reserves players tousle one another’s hair. They move with wounded gaits and lop-sided smiles in magic hour sunlight.
Back around to Ronnie the RAV4, I feel a sense of hope.
Good things happen.
As the sun drops over the King valley, I pull out of RC McNamara Reserve, light streaming across from Greta South, Oxley and beyond from Glenrowan. Across Kelly country. Across Jaitmathang country. Across whatever country of blind stupidity this is.
Gravel flicks Ronnie’s undercarriage as I invite Don Walker back to share the drive. Golden light catches insects flitting about in the cold air. Rounding the bend, the sun drops behind a field of Black Angus. And I stop for a photo – a photo of these extras in someone else’s budget movie. It’s a good day in a good world. Probably none of us can afford to be too choosy.
Well played Myrtleford. Well played Wodonga.
“And who’s gonna judge
The part somebody plays
In someone else’s budget movie?
Come on up to my room baby
I need a co-star
And I can’t afford to be too choosy.”
-Plaza, Don Walker (Cold Chisel)
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About David Wilson
David Wilson is a hydrologist, climate reporter and writer of fiction & observational stories. He writes under the name “E.regnans” at The Footy Almanac and has stories in several books. One of his stories was judged as a finalist in the Tasmanian Writers’ Prize 2021. He shares the care of two daughters and likes to walk around feeling generally amazed. Favourite tree: Eucalyptus regnans.
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Love this piece David.
Especially like the intersection with Dr Donald Walker’s lyrics with the weather and the setting.
Don recently had an Honorary Doctorate bestowed on him by his alma mater UNE in Armidale.
Great to read of perennial underdog Myrtleford get up over the Wodonga Bulldogs!
8 goals in the last quarter!
Shades of the winter of 1983 when Gary Ablett snr, Peta Ruscuklicand Greg Nichols were firing at McNamara Reserve.
They’re going well this season under Dawson Simpson (ex Geelong and Giants)
Had a chat to him at the 2019 AFL GF and he told me he was really looking forward to the move.
Oh thanks very much, Riverina Rocket.
I have my copy of Saturday’s Round 7 “Ovens and Murray Critic” right here with me.
And I see that Myrtleford’s #18, about whom I wrote “the tallest player on the field and he looks to be a very good footballer…” is in fact Dawson Simpson.
It’s all coming together. (I thought he played an excellent game).
Thanks again.
e.r, many thanks for inviting me in to this piece and keeping me along for the ride.
I enjoyed it immensely: the combination of music, country footy, the locals, and of course (the) country on which they all go about their business.
Thanks again.
PS: 9 goals in the final quarter? It must have made for some excited locals!!
Love it ER. What a magnificent backdrop the RC McNamara Reserve has. What a beautiful day for footy Saturday was (we were in coastal Lorne for our game). And Don Walker as well. Thanks for taking us there with you.
Thanks David. There’s something universally restorative about taking in a game of country footy even if you have no connection to the players or teams. I love the spectacle but also witnessing all of the social machinery required to make these Saturdays happen. I reckon May is the best time to do this.
A day well spent David.
Your description of the afternoon at McNamara Reserve takes me back more than fifty years.
And what a comeback by the local team!
Oh thanks everyone.
Smokie – yes this was yet another example of the well-known disconnect between “AFL” and “footy.” Love that rumbling eruption of noise from the shaded members. It happens all over the country.
Luke – I imagine the Lorne footy ground might have a fairly amazing backdrop, too! Seeing Mt Buffalo reminded me of Mt Wellington behind the southern goals at North Hobart.
Mickey – spot on. On every point. Low slanting sunlight as it catches the turning leaves of the Ovens & King valleys is a glorious feature of May.
Peter – oh I am very glad to have built a small vehicle for your journey through time. Thank you.
2022 O&M ladder
1- Wangaratta (17-1)
2- Yarrawonga (15-3)
3- Albury (11-7)
4- Wangaratta Rovers (11-7)
5- Myrtleford (10-8)
Finals Week 1
QF Yarrawonga 6.15.51 d Albury 6.10.46
EF Wang Rovers 14.15.99 d Myrtleford 12.5.77
Finals Week 2
SF2 Wangaratta v Yarrawonga
SF1 Albury v Wang Rovers
Finals Week 2
SF2 Wangaratta 13.5.83 d Yarrawonga 11.12.78
SF1 Albury 12.15.87 d.by Wangaratta Rovers 12.20.92
Finals Week 3
Prelim – Yarrawonga v Wangaratta Rovers
I must have missed this initially. The descriptions of the original day, resonate with me. I have never experienced a country Vic event, but have witnessed and participated in a few here in SA over the years. I must try a May one to compare. September finals time is pretty good too. The green and yellow of the crops on the lower Eyre Peninsula and the southern Barossa Valley is just so picturesque. Love your work E.regnans.
Prelim
Yarrawonga 14.7.91 d Wangaratta Rovers 8.12.60
Grand Final – Wangaratta v Yarrawonga
Good stuff Great Gum. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to an O&M clash.
Myrtleford looks very picturesque . I’m more used to the John Foord oval in Corowa. Have been to matches in Rutherglen, but that was last century.
I actually have lost all knowledge of what is happening in the O&M. Like the VFL it no longer gets my attention. I know the former publican of Hart’s hotel in Footscray, Peter German, was coaching Corowa-Rutherglen but how they went in 2022 is beyond me.
Glen!