Australian Football

Corowa Rutherglen

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 second 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 an OMFL second 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 grade 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 fourth spot on the ladder going into the finals.

The Roos may only have finished fourth, 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) first 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 five 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 powerful. In the last term, the Bulldogs did manage to concoct a semblance of a comeback, but time, and the OMFL’s finest backline, were against them. Final scores saw Corowa-Rutherglen 35 points to the good, 16.14 (110) to 10.15 (75).

In the three seasons after 2003 the Roos finished fourth, fifth and sixth, with 2006 involving something of a rebuilding exercise in that no fewer than eleven new senior grade 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 eighth on the ten team ladder after winning just 6 of their 18 home and away matches. There was considerable improvement in 2008 as the side qualified for the finals in second place with a 13-5 record but the season ended in immense disappointment following a straight sets exit from the premiership race at the hands of Lavington and Wodonga. In subsequent seasons the Roos have not really looked like adding to their tally of two senior grade OMFL flags. The 2016 season was a case in point as the Combine won 10 of their 18 home and away matches, which whilst good enough to procure fourth place on the ladder, and with it finals participation, did not appear to suggest they were on the verge of premiership honours. And so it proved, with Wangaratta Rovers having the Kangaroos' measure by 13 points in a low scoring elimination final.

The 2017 season reinforced the notion that the Combine's return to pre-eminence is not likely to occur any time soon as they lost all 18 matches contested en route to the wooden spoon. That said, there was marked improvement a year later when they qualified for the finals and were ultimately placed fifth. This was followed by a disappointing 2019 campaign which yielded just a couple of wins and saw the side slump to second from last.

Following a devastating period that saw a player exodus compounded by damaging floods which impacted the club's facilties, the Roos entered into recess for 2023, with a view to returning to the OMFNL in 2024.