Corowa Rutherglen 9.6 60 def by North Albury 8.13 61
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Goals: McCaffery 3, Jedd Longmire, Bradtke, Hansen, Chandler, Tex Longmire, McCarthy 1
Best: Jackson Richardson, Kaelan Bradtke, Angus Curry, Joe Hansen
Corowa-Rutherglen has fallen agonisingly short by a single point against a determined North Albury outfit at Bunton Park on Saturday.
Played under overcast skies and challenging conditions, the Roos entered the clash searching for their first win at Bunton Park against the Hoppers since Round 1, 2022.
Boosted by one of their strongest line-ups of the season, Corowa was ready for the challenge.
The opening quarter was a high-pressure affair, with North Albury generating most of the early forward entries without making significant scoreboard impact.
The deadlock was finally broken seven minutes into the contest when Hoppers coach Tim Broomhead kicked the first goal of the afternoon.
Broomhead proved a constant threat throughout the game.
The former Collingwood player has been instrumental in North Albury's rise over the past three seasons and again showed his class.
Tom McCaffery got the Roos on the board with his first major before nearly adding a second moments later, only for a costly advantage play to deny Corowa another scoring opportunity.
In a match where every moment mattered, the final play of the quarter loomed large.
North Albury transitioned the ball from coast to coast before Layton Taylor converted on the siren, giving the Hoppers a valuable two-goal buffer at quarter-time.
The margin became even more important in the second term as young Hopper Cody Gardner kicked two goals to help extend the lead to four majors.
Corowa responded strongly before the main break, with a well-worked passage of team football resulting in Will Chandler’s first goal of the day at the 19-minute mark before Jedd Longmire and Joey Hansen added crucial majors, reducing the deficit to just four points at half-time.
North Albury again struck first after the break, continuing to test the Roos' defence.
The Hoppers finished with 58 inside-50 entries to Corowa's 38, highlighting the pressure the backline faced throughout the afternoon.
McCaffrey continued his influential performance, kicking two third-quarter goals to put Corowa in front for the first time.
However, the Hoppers quickly answered with two goals in the space of a minute late in the term.
Reigning Doug Strang Medallist Kaelan Bradtke then produced a timely response, kicking a crucial goal at the 27-minute mark to cut the margin to five points at the final change.
Bradtke's presence around the contest was invaluable all day.
Jackson Richardson was outstanding in defence, repeatedly repelling North Albury attacks and earning best-on-ground honours for the Roos.
The final quarter was always going to come down to which side could better handle the conditions and the pressure.
Tex Longmire gave Corowa the perfect start.
The Calder Cannons-listed youngster finished off a pinpoint McCaffery pass to put the Roos back in front.
Angus Curry and Joey Hansen battled tirelessly throughout the afternoon, refusing to yield as the contest tightened.
A flurry of behinds edged North Albury back in front before Gardner delivered what appeared to be the decisive blow, extending the Hoppers' lead late in the game.
The Roos threw everything at the contest in the dying moments, with Liam McCarthy dribbling a late goal to bring the margin back to a single point.
Unfortunately, time was not on their side, and North Albury escaped by the barest of margins.
Corowa-Rutherglen now turns its attention to a red-hot Wodonga Bulldogs side.
The Bulldogs have proven a difficult challenge on their home deck, with the Roos searching for their first win in Wodonga since 2011.
Develpment Squad
Reserves end drought and on the board
Corowa Rutherglen 7.12 54 def North Albury 3.7 25
Goals: Obrien 3, Savage 2, Sampson, N Amery 1
Best: Noah Amery, Tommy Allison, Josh Eder, Rory Obrien, Michael Smith
Corowa Rutherglen’s Development Sqaud has a win on the board, much to the delight of the players and coaches Lionel Schutt and Joe Hansen.
It was a long time coming after the Roos’ efforts last season were cut short after a second half of the year fade out cost them finals.
The Roos were made to work after a sluggish start, with no team really grabbling any sort of assednecy in the contest due to the conditions that was presented.
The Hoppers did start kicking the first major of the day.
The Roos pounced on a second qaurter with handy majors from Noah Amery and Dylan Savage put the Roos in front.
Roos went into half time with the accendecy. Hayden Sampson got the Roos a goal late in the third in an important time.
Tommy Allison and Josh Eder pressure was a elite all day never giving up for the cause.
Will Forrest after running all day in the thirds played a stellar game in the reserves being able to set up key plays throughout the game.
Rory Obrien turned it on in the last three majors to put the game to rest giving the Roos development sqaud their first win since Round 12 last year.
Under 18s
Jubilant young Roos on the board
Corowa Rutherglen 6.8 44 def North Albury 5.3 33
Goals: H Kushchurt 2, W Forrest, Schultz, Parsons, Chester 1
Best: Kairhyce Lowah, Hudson Kuschert, Archer Copppalino, Will Forrest Aaron McWilliams, Zach Arnold
The Roos were determined to secure their first win of the season and brought plenty of energy from the opening bounce.
Corowa started strongly, with Leroy Chester and Hudson Kuschert kicking three first-quarter goals to help establish an early lead.
North Albury responded throughout the second and third quarters, applying pressure and challenging at every opportunity, but the boys stood firm to maintain a narrow one-to-two goal advantage at each break.
Midfield dominance was a key factor in generating territory and scoring opportunities throughout the day, while the defensive group was once again outstanding, absorbing repeated forward entries and standing tall when it mattered most.
Ky Lowah once again stood up when it was needed most, proving a valuable asset to the Under 18s side with his work rate and composure around the contest.
Archer Coppolino, Zach Arnold and Aaron McWilliams also continued their strong form, showing plenty of fight and determination throughout the day.
The final term proved decisive, with Corowa capitalising early through some important goals before holding off a persistent North Albury outfit.
Crucial contest wins and composure under pressure helped the boys maintain control in the closing stages to secure a well-deserved victory.
Coach Noah Amery was proud of the group’s efforts post-match, saying:
“Very proud of how the boys have persisted throughout the whole year.
“Even though some results could have easily deterred the group, they have continued to turn up, work hard and finally got the result they deserved.”