Great mates, Brendan Eyers, John Longmire, Dennis Sandral and Shaun Whitechurch caught up with each other at John Foord Oval and reminisced about old days.
It’s how it should be. It was a hive of football and netball activity on the John Foord Oval and netball courts on Wednesday, December 20 with a ramp up of Corowa Football Netball Club’s return to the Ovens and Murray league after a year’s absence by the senior sides.
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The oval was lush green. It was all dry. Numbers of players were good. Plenty of club supporters were there. The newish netball courts looked terrific. The girls even booted footballs after a solid workout with the netballs.
Sydney great John Longmire takes players through a training drill.
Home-town favourite, AFL Sydney coach John Longmire was out on the ground talking to all ages of footballers, commencing with the junior Auskickers through to the 38 footballers from senior and reserve grades. Some under-18 players joined in too.
“It was really positive,” senior coach Steve Owen told The Free Press. “It was exciting having John there, passing on some tips and different strategies, and players hearing a different voice and such highly respected person.”
After a lively training session with plenty of training drills, it was straight into a question and answer session with club supporters over a delicious barbecue.
John Longmire with reigning captain Joe Hansen and coach Steve Owen.
At the outset, Master of Ceremonies Shaun Whitechurch explained how the special guest had no hesitation in accepting a request, immediately following the O and M league accepting the club’s return, from the club supporter MC to be at John Foord Oval for the last pre-season training for 2023.
Just days before Longmire’s December 31, 53rd birthday, Mr Whitechurch outlined the North Melbourne’s playing background, which included 202 games, 511 goals with 98 in a season, and the coaching background of the 2012-premiership coach and the now longest serving AFL coach, since 2010.
On the move! Joe Hansen fires out a handball.
The November 2022 flood waters and exodus of players resulted in the Roos not playing its two senior grades in 2023. But Corowa is now back, albeit without the facilities of all other clubs.
“You can still be successful without great facilities,” Longmire said. What’s happened in the AFL everyone’s got great facilities. It helps attract and retain people and it helps you win games.”
Corowa Auskickers with John Longmire.
“It’s great to see you all. Thank you all for coming here,” the star of the show told all present. “It’s terrific the club is back. Obviously, it’s been a tough time for everybody.”
Longmire’s advice to the Corowa footballer training was to “really know the shape of a ground from offensive and defensive points of view, and the scramble”. He delivered plenty of encouragement to players.
“It’s a credit to you to come back here and play when there are plenty of options these days,” Longmire said.
“Football and netball clubs are more than just football and netball – they are so important to the community.”
When asked whether a full forward would kick 100 goals in an AFL season again, Longmire doubted it. “The defence system is too sophisticated today. Six goals today is a big bag. Buddy Franklin (the last forward to boot 100 goals) was great for us but at 36 years old was finding it harder.”
Netballers warming up for their training session under new coach, reigning Ovens and Murray league medallist Sophie Hanrahan.
Longmire loved catching up with his best mates, same class school mates in Corowa Brendan Eyers and Shaun Whitechurch, and a player he looked up in 333 gamer at the Roos, Dennis Sandral.
“One funny thing,” Sandral told The Free Press, “We were going to O and M training. John had this brand new white Holden Commodore given to him by North Melbourne for signing on. He wasn’t old enough to drive it to Albury for training, so I drove it!”
John Longmire with club president Graham Hosier and secretary Rowena Black.
Despite his brilliant playing and coaching record, the man popularly nicknamed ‘Horse’ hasn’t changed in character according to 300-plus gamer with Corowa, Brendan Eyers.
“He was a country kid at Balldale and Corowa, he still loves the area, our footy netball club, he’s never forgotten his years here and we’re still best mates,” Eyers said.
But a young Eyers and Longmire were not good singers at school. “We were in the choir (at Corowa High School) and thought we could sing. But our teacher Wendy (Eyers, Brendan’s mother) advised us just to ‘mouth’ (mime) the words!” Longmire explained.
Corowa Football Netball Club President Graham Hosier said it fantastic to have Longmire at Corowa. “John’s a favourite son of the club,” the president said.
“His knowledge of the game is invaluable. His presence is massive, massive for our players and members and it’s great to see the numbers on the field and the supporters enjoying each other’s company off it.
Netball training finished after a solid workout with Sophie Hanrahan at the helm.
“There’s been a lot of work go into getting our club back in the O and M and there’s still a lot to do. We’ve had great support from Federation Council and the O and M league. We’re still looking, however, for people who can help us out. It’s challenging, but also exciting for everyone involved in our club.”
It is challenging but it won’t be forever. “We don’t have clubrooms. We’re on a different and unique journey,” Mr Hosier said.
“We want everybody to embrace the situation. “I think people are getting behind us and we appreciate that. We’re looking closely at Shepparton Swans who are going through the same.”
