Corowa’s two AFL coaches

Longmire became Roos’ assistant in 2002 and Teague went on to play 33 AFL games with Longmire’s playing side North Melbourne and a further 50 at Carlton.

Longmire and Teague of course played for Corowa at different times and the now senior Carlton coach was advised at Corowa to contact Longmire to see if he would be his manager.

“He told me he had something else in the pipeline, that he was about to be the assistant coach at Sydney and that I should go with Liam Pickering,” Teague, who turned 39-years-of-age yesterday, told The Free Press. “So I did.”

Longmire recalled the time. “Yes. I was still playing when appointed by IMG to head their AFL Division. Clearly I looked at those with local connections, including Adam Schneider and Justin Koschitzke,” he told The Free Press.

“We missed each other in a playing sense at North Melbourne by a couple of years. We crossed paths when he began his career when I was a player manager, but then I went to the Swans as assistant coach. Now I see him through the AFL Coaches network.”

It has been some achievement for a country town like Corowa to have a senior football coach in the AFL with John Longmire at the Sydney Swans since 2011. But two!

For a town of about 5500 people, Corowa can claim a second coach, with David Teague in his first ‘full season’ at Carlton. 

The term ‘full season’ is used because the coronavirus pandemic halted all AFL games after the first round this year. Teague was appointed to the top Blues during last season, replacing the sacked Brendan Bolton and like Longmire, is doing very well in the job, having won six out of 11 games last season with a side that was close to bottom of the ladder.

The name Longmire is synonymous with Corowa.  Born and bred in Corowa, John Longmire was terrific in his one season with the Roos, at just 16-years-of-age, before going onto such an impressive playing record and current coaching record. 

Playing for North Melbourne from 1988 to 1999, he booted 511 goals in 200 games and was North’s best and fairest in 1994 when he kicked 98 goals to be the top league goalkicker. The full-forward won North’s goalkicking award in four consecutive years, 1990 to 1994, averaging 81 goals a season.

“I was lucky enough to play senior football with Corowa Rutherglen at 16-years-of-age, and play with a couple of my heroes at that in Dennis ‘Mad Dog’ Sandral and Anthony ‘Pyscho’ Carroll,” Longmire said. “We also won the Victorian Country Championship playing for the Ovens and Murray the same year.”

Premiership player of 2000 and a subsequent captain for a few seasons, Brendan Eyers, remains a close friend of Longmire’s.

“I went to pre-school with him, right through school and he’s still a great mate today. I played footy with Paul Bartlett and Darryl Spencer,” Longmire said.

Eyers described his mate’s career as “amazing for a boy from the bush”. “He’s still the same fellow that I knew at high school,” the Ovens and Murray, and Corowa Rutherglen Life Member, said. 

“Even though he’s spent more of his time in the city he’s still the same. You wouldn’t meet a nicer person. I was also lucky enough to play with ‘Teaguey’. He was a brilliant player and person.”

Premiership captain of 2000 Darrell (Dasher) Spencer said it was quite incredible for two players from the club to be coaching AFL clubs at the same time.  

 “ ‘Longers’ debuted as a 16-year-old in 1987 and made an instant impression in his first game booting five goals in an impressive win over North Albury. He had an incredible season for a very young forward in a tough competition and helped lead us to a preliminary final in that year where we were unfortunately rolled by Lavington. 

“Obviously after that he was snapped up by North Melbourne and went on to become a premiership player, premiership coach and one of the most respected figures in the AFL.”

Spencer was full of praise also for Teague. “ ‘Teaguey’ was a blonde haired, baby-faced bombshell who had no fear and even at that age played every game with incredible intensity and courage for someone so young,” Spencer said. “There is no doubt that at the age of about 18 he was an integral part of our 2000 premiership team. 

“Teaguey’s story is inspiring in that he was able to go on and win a B & F at Carlton and is now coaching the Carlton Football Club.”

The premiership captain rates the club’s two premierships (2000 and 2003) as his career’s major highlights. “I also feel blessed to have played in a really successful era for the CRFNC,” the 52-year-old said. “In 19 seasons we played in 12 finals series, three grand-finals for two premierships – a good effort for one of the smaller communities in a strong O & M competition.”

Spencer and fellow Hall of Famer, O and M, and NSW Country rep, league and club Life Member Dennis Sandral share the Roos’ record for all-time senior games played, with 333 games.

“One of the great things about footy clubs is the friendships you make through so many age groups not only at your own club but friendships at all clubs in the league. I have so many great memories and definitely had the time of my life playing for the Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club,” Spencer said.

Longmire moved away from the local farm at 16 years-of-age, and considers he has been extremely lucky to have had some incredible experiences and met some amazing people during this time.

“However, right throughout the last 34 odd years, I’ve always loved coming ‘home’,” he said. “I married a girl from Mulwala that I went to Corowa High School with, and our family all love coming back to the area to see our extended families and friends every year. 

“Shelley and I get enormous satisfaction by seeing our kids experience the things that we loved at their ages - especially the farm life, water skiing, and hanging out with their cousins. Simply put, it’s the part of the year that I look forward to the most.”Longmire turns 50-years-of-age on the last day of this year. Any chance of a NSW/Victorian border celebration? “Absolutely, although I’m not sure when the restrictions lighten up.” he responded. “Be fair to say that due to ‘social distancing’. the Swans and the Kangas old crew would probably like a drink by December 31st!

“Having a holiday on the Murray River or Lake Mulwala, with the local wineries nearby, is as good as anything I’ve experienced.” Although he played just the one season with the Corowa Roos, it was also a beauty for Teague, club and community in 2000 when the team thrashed North Albury 27.18.180 to 11.6.72. Teague was named in the best players.

In The Free Press write-up, sportscribe John Doody wrote: “Teague treated the negative tactics of his several tormentors with absolute contempt. His also was a display of footy poetry in motion, gathering the ball seemingly with ease and, either instigating or participating in a passage which so regularly brought up dual flags.”

“I have many fond memories from my time at Corowa,” Teague said. “The people are really good people. Obviously it had been a long time coming but winning the premiership meant so much to the players, the club and the whole community – that’s what stands out for me.”

Corowa Rutherglen only lost one game that season so it was obviously a special team. “We had some very good older, mature players mixed with super talented younger guys so the moons had aligned for us,” Spencer who was captain five seasons from 1998 to 2002 said.

“Not having won a senior premiership previously there was still nervousness around the unknown but the talent we had in the side shone through in the end. We had a fantastic group of players who were superbly coached by Peter Tossol but a lot of the credit must go to Rod Campbell (President), Brian Houlihan (Football Department) and John Henneman (Treasurer) for their ability to bring all this talent together. 

“We had the likes of David Teague, Luke Henderson, Glen Joyce, David Willett and Marc Harrap all out of the Bushranger system and there is no doubt the Football Departments ability to bring all these guys to our club played a huge part in our success.”

Any lighter moments Dasher? “I do recall one morning after the 2000 premiership celebrations, Teaguey turning up on our doorstep around 8am. I don’t know where he had been (not sure he knew either) but his shoes were covered in yellow daisy powder so he had obviously climbed over some fences and strolled through some paddocks to get here!”

Originally from Katandra, Teague played with Murray Bushrangers, then North Melbourne-aligned Murray Kangaroos. But to join the Kangaroos, he had to find himself an Ovens and Murray club to call home. 

“I was looking for a club and after having a quick chat to Peter Tossol and having already known the Houlihan family through the Bushrangers, Corowa was an easy choice for me.” he said.

“It was a pretty exciting time for the club, we had a pretty good list and I knew they had never won a flag before so I was keen to get on board. It was an enjoyable year and I got a lot out of it.” 

After his Carlton playing days, Teague was named coach of the club’s VFL affiliate, the Northern Bullants and coached three years for two grand-final appearances before heading to Perth as assistant coach to premiership coach John Worsfold who is now Essendon’s coach then to Adelaide as the Crows’ assistant to Phil Walsh, the last appointment made within days of Walsh taking over as Adelaide coach. Now Carlton’s top man, who won Carlton’s best and fairest in 2004. Some coaching record!

Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club President Graham Hosier said it is great to see two coaches from Corowa at the top level and who are making it their careers. “I remember John coming here as a 16-year-old playing senior football. He had an outstanding first year. It was exciting to see a talented young kid as full-forward,” the eight year president said.

“Obviously John had an outstanding footy career at North Melbourne and as a premiership coach at Sydney. He’s always been a Corowa boy. He brought his premiership trophy back here and came to a sportsman’s night. He loves the club and town, Corowa born and bred.”

“ ‘Teaguey’ was an integral part of our 2000 premiership. He was a classic player who fitted into our team so well and added a bit of polish.”

Both Longmire and Teague played one year of senior footy at the Roos – the former also junior footy – and went onto be their club’s best and fairest players.

“Both these guys are held in the highest regard at our club, due to not only their undoubted football ability but also being people of the highest quality,” the 2000 premiership on-field leader said. “They love Corowa. They do the club and town proud.”