COROWA-RUTHERGLEN
Current Affiliation: Ovens and Murray Football League (OMFL) since 1979
Formed: 1979, through the merger of the Corowa and Rutherglen Football Clubs
Address: P.O. Box 79 Corowa 2646, New South Wales
Colours: Royal Blue and white
Emblem: Kangaroos
Senior OMFL Premierships: 2000, 2003 (2 total)
Morris Medallists: J.Kingston 1994; R.Mackenzie 2004 (2 total)
Near neighbours Corowa and Rutherglen had both enjoyed premiership success in the Ovens and Murray Football League when they elected to merge prior to the start of the 1979 season. Known as the Redlegs, Rutherglen had arguably boasted one of the strongest teams in Australia prior to World War One when it not only amassed thirteen premierships in twenty-two seasons but scored a series of noteworthy wins over VFL clubs such as South Melbourne, Carlton and Geelong. By the time of the merger, however, it had only added another two flags to the ledger, and none whatsoever in the previous quarter of a century. Nor could Corowa - memorably nicknamed the Spiders - be said to have been noticeably more successful, with only two premierships to show for almost eight decades of effort.
As a combination, Corowa-Rutherglen did not manage to rectify the situation overnight, and indeed it was not until 1992 that the side even managed to contest a grand final, losing to Wodonga by 22 points. When the 'Roos or Combine, as they were interchangeably known, finally did break their premiership duck eight years later, however, it was in spectacular, record-breaking fashion. Coached by Peter Tossol, who almost two decades earlier had played 17 VFL games during a three season stint at Melbourne, the 'Roos qualified for the 2000 finals series in pole position before producing back to back performances which, given the context, have arguably never been matched for either quality or all round impressiveness in OMFL history. Faced by Albury in the 2nd semi final, the Combine was in merciless mood, making the opposition look virtually sub-standard in surging its way to victory, 20.15 (135) to 6.12 (48). The margin of victory, 87 points, had only twice been exceeded in a 2nd semi final since the inception of the Page-McIntyre finals system almost seventy years earlier.
Eye catching and noteworthy though this victory was, better still was to follow. With a shell-shocked Albury having been ousted from the flag race in the preliminary final by North Albury, the 'Roos faced a different opponent on grand final day, but their approach to the game was identical, and the outcome was even more conclusive. In winning by 108 points, 27.18 (180) to 11.6 (72), the Combine kicked the second highest OMFL grand final score in history, and set a new record for the biggest ever grand final margin of victory. Twelve minutes into the final term, in fact, the difference between the teams was 125 points before, understandably, the premiers-elect allowed their guard to drop marginally in the run home. The 11,500 or so spectators who watched the match would have been hard pressed to pick out a single weak link in the victors' line-up. Best, by almost unanimous consent, was assistant coach Damien Houlihan, whose 10 goals seemed almost incidental in the context of a magnificent, unrelentingly dynamic performance that at times defied superlatives. Almost as impressive as Houlihan during the first half was ruckman David Lucas, but a leg injury sustained just a couple of minutes after the long break forced him from the fray. By that stage, however, the match was as good as won.
Corowa-Rutherglen's second senior flag was won three seasons later in a fashion every bit as emphatic and convincing as the first. Early in the season, however, things looked distinctly unpromising as the side managed just 2 wins from its first 7 fixtures. A round eight trouncing of Wangaratta Rovers then sparked a revival which produced 9 wins, a draw and just 1 defeat over the remainder of the home and away series - good enough for 4th spot on the ladder going into the finals.
The 'Roos may only have finished 4th, but their form over the preceding three months made them a widespread choice as flag favourite, a rating they lost little time in enhancing with a resounding 14.13 (97) to 8.8 (56) 1st semi final defeat of North Albury, the only side to have beaten them (by 3 points) since round seven. In the preliminary final a fortnight later the Combine produced an awesome display reminiscent of the 2000 grand final to comprehensively derail Wodonga Raiders' premiership ambitions to the tune of 106 points, easily a record margin for a preliminary final.
Much of the grand final was similarly one-sided as the 'Roos hit the ground running leaving opponents Wodonga seemingly flat-footed and disorientated. At quarter time, the margin was 5 straight goals, which had been stretched to 35 points at the long break, and a match-winning 45 points at the last change. With players like veteran defender Brad Campbell, diminutive on-baller Carl Dickins, and damaging forward Ricky Symes (7 goals) in irrepressible touch, the Combine was simply too good. In the last term, the Bulldogs did manage to concoct a semblance of a comeback, but time, and the OMFL's pre-eminent backline, were against them. Final scores saw Corowa-Rutherglen 35 points to the good, 16.14 (110) to 10.15 (75).
Since 2003 the 'Roos have finished 4th, 5th and 6th, with the 2006 season involving something of a rebuilding exercise in that no fewer than 11 new senior players were 'blooded'. Coach Brad Campbell, preparing to embark on his third season at the helm in 2007, was cautiously optimistic about the side's prospects, recalling that its strong finish in 2006 had seen it only narrowly fail to contest the finals, and observing, "For us to do what we did towards the end of the year was terrific and hopefully will hold us in good stead and if we can put a few good players around those kids next year we should go all right." In the event, however, the 'Roos endured a mediocre season, slumping to 8th on the 10 team ladder after winning just 6 of their 18 home and away matches.
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