Hot on the heels of his protege’ Sam Murray guiding the Wangaratta Rovers to their first flag in thirty years, local footy’s worst-kept secret was unveiled…….Daryn Cresswell was returning to Ovens and Murray football……
‘Crezza’ – a true coaching ‘whisperer’ – will attempt to breathe fresh life back into the Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club.
The Roos’ hard-luck story has been amply recounted……Floodwaters caused inestimable damage to their ‘home’ – the John Foord Oval – in 2022, ruining Clubrooms and facilities, and breaking the hearts of hard-working officials, players and supporters.
After being forced into recess in 2023, they re-gathered energy and momentum, and surprised the naysayers by returning to O & M ranks last season.
Their results were skinny – just one win and several morale-bursting defeats – but it was obvious that the Club was in for the long haul, even though a return to the glory days of the early-21st century seemed a pipe-dream.
The nailing of Cresswell is an important step on that path……..
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After ending his stellar 244-game career with the Sydney Swans, ‘Crezza’ has been an assistant-coach at Geelong and the Brisbane Lions, coached VFL club the Tasmanian Devils, Gold Coast team Palm Beach-Currumbin, Wodonga Raiders, Wang Rovers, and South Cairns.
His pending appointment will make him just the third person to coach three O & M clubs.
Vin Doolan, originally a Wodonga player before he headed to North Melbourne, returned home to guide Rutherglen in their last four O & M years as a separate entity (1975-‘78) and coached Wangaratta from 1979-‘81. He then took charge at Corowa-Rutherglen in 1982-‘83 and was enticed back for another year with the ‘Roos in 1995.
Neville Hogan was a reluctant starter in the coaching caper.
Despite enjoying a brilliant career with the Wangaratta Rovers and, by general consensus, appearing to be a ‘born coach’, he initially fended off approaches by the Club for him to succeed Ian Brewer in 1970.
Instead, he suggested that the Hawks sound out the highly-credentialed Graeme Arthur……When the Hawthorn champ, instead, opted to take on the job at Echuca, Hogan became the first-ever local player to be at the helm of the Brown and Golds.
Talk about an inspired decision !
In his seven years in charge of the Rovers (1970-‘76) they played in six Grand Finals (and finished third in 1973). They took out flags in 1971, ‘72, ‘74 and ‘75.
Surprisingly, after lowering their colours to arch rivals Wangaratta in the 1976 decider, Hogan relinquished the coaching role, handing over to Daryl Smith in 1977, and stepping down to become coach of the Hawk Thirds.
But he found that it was hard to shake the coaching bug. Hogan was lured to Myrtleford, where he spent four years (1979-‘82) then drew the ire of his home club when he took charge at Wangaratta for two seasons (1983-‘84).
Neville Hogan – looking for answers in his final game as coach of Wangaratta Rovers.
***
It’s certainly not unusual for coaches to switch clubs in Ovens and Murray football.
The earliest instance was Percy ‘Oily’ Rowe, Rutherglen born and bred…..Rowe had established a memorable career at Collingwood as a rough and tumble ruckman before being enticed back to the bush by Albury, who appointed him captain-coach in 1924.
The following season he bobbed up at Wangaratta and was instrumental in the ‘Pies capturing their first O & M flag with his outstanding leadership both on and off the field.
‘Oily’s’ reign at the Wangaratta Showgrounds lasted just two seasons as he resigned following Wang’s disappointing display in the 1926 Grand Final.
Amidst accusations that some players had ‘laid down’ against St. Patrick’s, he strongly refuted the rumours in a strongly-worded letter to the Wangaratta Chronicle.
Rowe further enhanced his reputation after returning to Collingwood where he played in two more VFL flags. In the second of these he demonstrated his toughness by standing ‘guard’ in the forward pocket alongside influenza-stricken spearhead Gordon Coventry.
‘Oily’ absorbed physical punishment from opposition defenders whilst enabling Coventry to boot nine goals……He later coached Fitzroy and Carlton.
Percy Rowe.
Tommy ‘The Turk’ Lahiff, a Port Melbourne legend and ex-Hawthorn coach, was recruited to Albury in 1947, and piloted the Tigers to a flag.
His family was unable to settle in to life in the bush and he returned home after one season only to move back to the border four years later when Corowa signed him on as captain-coach.
Tommy’s fine career was drawing to a close and he boarded at the Riverina Hotel whilst his wife Freda and his young son stayed back at their beloved Port Melbourne.
This stint proved far less successful……Corowa won just six matches in two seasons:
“I made the mistake of sacking all the old blokes….When a few of the youngsters were called up for National Service we became desperate for players…..The old blokes weren’t interested in coming back. They wouldn’t have a bar of me….” Tommy said years later.
His predecessor at Corowa was a former champion South Melbourne mid-fielder, Billy King.
In contrast to the Lahiff’s failure to adapt to life in the bush, the King family settled in nicely……Billy had coached the Spiders in 1949 and ‘50. He then accepted the post at North Albury, whom he led for three seasons before heading out to Howlong as captain-coach, then concluding his career at Albury.
Bill’s son Merv also coached Howlong a couple of decades later, after giving great service to Albury and, being highly regarded in a brief stint at Wangaratta Rovers.
***
Peter Tossol, Billy Sammon and Bob Craig, who all enjoyed stellar careers at their home Clubs, trod similar coaching paths…..
Tossol had played 211 games with Wangaratta Rovers during a Golden Era for the Hawks before Corowa-Rutherglen dangled the coaching job in front of him in 1999.
He’d already had a taste of it, creating a huge impression as coach of the O & M’s Rep side……He was a highly-regarded figure in the game……And his many contacts ensured that he was a dab hand at recruiting.
‘Toss’ proved a raging success, leading the ‘Roos to flags in 2000 and 2003 before he fulfilled a dream to return to the Rovers as coach in 2004. He returned for another spell at the John Foord Oval some years later.
Bill Sammon grew up on the family farm at Bungeet harbouring the ambition of playing with the Benalla Demons. He became a tough, highly-talented mid-fielder during the mid-to-late sixties and proved an ultra-handy off-sider to coaches John Waddington, Vern Drake and Kenny Roberts.
‘Trout’ was, by now, a 150-gamer and the heartbeat of the side when he helped Benalla to a shock win over North Albury in the 1973 Grand Final. His performance was lauded by Demon fans…….
But they were stunned when Yarrawonga announced that he had accepted their invitation to cross over and coach the Pigeons. He led Yarra for three seasons which included their 1974 Grand Final loss to Wangaratta Rovers.
He had also coached the Ovens and Murray to a memorable victory over the VFA before returning to his home club as captain-coach.
The Demons were red-hot favourites to take out the 1978 flag when they chalked up 15 successive wins en route to the Grand Final. Alas, it ended in disaster……Billy Sammon retired after that game with 251 O & M games to his credit.
Bob Craig started his O & M career as a 16-year-old at Wodonga and played 223 games with the ‘Dogs as a hard-hitting, no-nonsense big man.
He was a key figure in those fine Wodonga sides of the late-seventies and early eighties with the highlight obviously being the part he played in their 1981 premiership victory.
Having subsequently guided the Dogs Reserves to a flag in 1987, it would have been conceivable to think that he would one day accede to the senior role – particularly after his success as coach of a hat-trick of O & M Country Championship wins.
Yarrawonga, instead, appointed him non-playing coach, a role he held for four seasons……In his last game in charge, the Pigeons swept to a 33-point win over Myrtleford to clinch the 2006 flag.
He had another taste of coaching – a two-year spell at North Albury before handing over to Jason Akermanis……
Peter Tossol
Bill Sammon.
Bob Craig.
***
Of the 27 multiple-club coaches, Martin Cross and Ernest Whitehead are the only ones to take out a flag at more than one club……
Cross is the League’s longest-serving leader, having coached Myrtleford and North Albury for a combined total of 21 seasons.
Famous for having guided Myrtleford to their maiden premiership in 1970, his 1984 triumph with North Albury was equally as memorable……The Hoppers declared themselves broke early in the season and the players agreed to play for nothing.
Rudi Yonson, who had taken out the Morris Medal a few days earlier, booted the winning goal in the dying seconds, to clinch Grand Final victory over Wodonga.
A star of the infamous ‘Bloodbath’ Grand Final, Ernest Whitehead succeeded Geoff Gieschen as Bulldog coach in 1992 and achieved instant success.
After his four year reign, Darren Dennemann succeeded him at Wodonga……. Whitehead was lured to North Albury in 1997, and in a five-year stint numbered the Hopper’s ‘99 premiership amongst his greatest football triumphs…..
Martin Cross congratulated by Len Ablett (left) and Mac Holten
Ernest Whitehead.
THE RECORD OF COACHES WHO HAVE SECURED MULTIPLE O & M FLAGS SINCE 1930:
Paul Spargo (Albury) : 5 Flags, 7 Years as Coach, 123 Wins, 21 Losses, – Draws, 85.4 Winning
Neville Hogan (Wang Rovers/ M’ford/ Wangaratta) : 4 Flags, 13 Years as Coach, 140 Wins, 114 Losses, 3 Draws, 55.05 Winning%
Mac Holten (Wangaratta) : 4 Flags, 8 Years as Coach, 107 Wins, 46 Wins, 1 Draw, 69.8 Winning
Laurie Burt (Wang Rovers): 4 Flags, 11 Years as Coach, 171 Wins, 58 Losses, 1 Draw, 74.3 Winning %
Darryl. Smith (Wang Rovers): 3 Flags, 5 Years as Coach,71 Wins, 29 Losses, 4 Draws, 70.10 Winning %
Daniel Maher (Albury). 3 Flags, 5 Years as Joint-Coach, 89 Wins, 12 Losses, 1 Draw, 87.7 Winning %
Peter Tossol (Corowa-R’glen/ Wang Rovers): 2 Flags, 9 Years as Coach, 101 Wins, 74 Losses, 1 Draw, 57.67 Winning %
Ken Boyd (Wang Rovers): 2 Flags, 4 Years as Coach, 56 Wins, 24 Losses, – Draws, 70.0 Winning %
Jeff Gieschen (Wodonga): 2 Flags, 5 Years as Coach, 81 Wins, 26 Losses, 2 Draws, 74.31 Winning %
Bob Rose (Wang Rovers): 2 Flags, 7 Years as Coach, 99 Wins, 37 Losses, 2 Draws, 72.4 Winning %
Mick Bone (Wodonga): 2 Flags, 8 Years as Coach, 95 Wins, 56 Losses, 1 Draw, 62.8 Winning %
Martin Cross (M’ford / N.Alb): 2 Flags, 21 Years as Coach, 224 Wins, 182 Losses, 3 Draws, 55.1 Winning %
Vin Williams (Benalla): 2 Flags, 5 Years as Coach, 58 Wins, 38 Losses, 2 Draws, 60.2 Winning %
Doug Strang (Albury): 2 Flags, 3 Years as Coach, 30 Wims, 16 Losses, – Draws, 65.21 Winning %
Fred Carey (Wangaratta) 2 Flags, 4 Years as Coach, 33 Wins, 32 Losses, 1 Draw, 50.75 Winning %
Shaun Daly (Albury) 2 Flags, 5 Years, (4 as Joint-Coach), 83 Wins, 15 Losses, – Draws, 84.69 Winning %
Drew Barnes (Yarrawonga): 2 Flags, 6 Years as Joint-Coach, 94 Wins, 30 Losses, 3 Draws, 75.1 Winning %
Chris Kennedy (Yarrawonga): 2 Flags, 6 Years as Joint Coach, 82 Wins, 21 Losses, 3 Draws, 78.7 Winnning %
Tim Sanson (Lavington): 2 Flags, 14 Years as Coach, 162 Wins, 113 Losses, – Draws, 59.90 Winning %
Jason Lappin (Wangaratta) : 2 Flags, 3 Years as Coach, 44 Wins, 16 Losses, 1 Draw, 72.95 Winning %
Chris Hyde (Albury), 2 Flags, 3 Years as Joint-coach, 54 Wins, 5 Losses, 1 Draw, 90.8 Winning %
Ernest Whitehead ( Wodonga/ N.Alb) 2 Flags, 9,Years as Coach, 126 Wins, 62 Losses, – Draws , 67.02 Winning%
Mac Holten
Laurie Burt
Tim Sanson.
This story appeared first on KB Hill’s website On Reflection and is used here with permission.
All photos sourced from KB Hill’s resources unless otherwise acknowledged.
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