Senior coach Darren Cresswell presented debutant Jesse Cannell with his guernsey before his first senior game an Saturday.
Corowa Rutherglen 3.1 19 def by Wangaratta 12.19 91
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Goals: Forge, Cannell, Purcell 1
Best: Deagan Purcell, Thomas Longmire, Tom Forrest, Tom Mccaffrey, Jesse Cannell, Deaken Clancy
Wangaratta have swooped on Corowa Rutherglen in a final quarter blitz, leaving the young Roos in their wake in a 12-goal hiding on Saturday.
Coming into the match, Corowa-Rutherglen faced an uphill battle, with injuries and VFL commitments disrupting the side.
However, the challenges also created opportunities, with Jesse Cannell rewarded for his consistent form in the reserves with a senior debut.
The Roos burst out of the blocks early, with youngster Jayden Forge slotting a brilliant goal just three minutes into the contest to set the tone.
Deagan Purcell flies for a mark as one of the Roos best players against the Magpies on Saturday.
Wangaratta soon regained control of the play, peppering the scoreboard, although inaccurate kicking kept Corowa in the contest.
Pies forward Fraser Ellis eventually found his range, kicking back-to-back majors midway through the opening term after a series of missed opportunities from his side.
The Roos' defence stood tall throughout much of the afternoon, with Thomas Longmire and Tom Forrest producing outstanding performances to repel repeated Wangaratta forward entries.
Despite the ball spending considerable time in the Pies' attacking half, the defensive unit continually held firm.
Cannell enjoyed a memorable senior debut, kicking his first goal at senior level with a brilliant piece of run-and-carry football late in the second quarter, lifting the home side and its supporters.
Darren Cresswell takes the troops through the half-time break to try to get some forward movement into the game.
Corowa's midfield was made to work hard all day, with ruckman Deakan Clancy competing strongly against one of the league's premier big men, Chris Knowles.
Degan Purcell continued once again his impressive form since finishing his time in the under 18s.
The 19-year-old kicked an important goal early in the third term and once again proved a valuable target inside the Roos' forward 50.
Cresswell reiterated after the match that maintaining effort across the full four quarters remains a key focus.
"The effort needs to be maintained for four quarters," he said.
Tom McCaffery was once again composed in the midfield, delivering another polished performance under pressure.
A Roos player gets away from the pack in a game that had few highlights as the Mapies put them to the sword.
After three quarters of wasteful finishing, Wangaratta finally clicked into gear in the final term.
The visitors converted their dominance into scoreboard pressure, piling on six unanswered goals while the Roos were held scoreless.
Corowa struggled to maintain its composure as the Pies capitalised, running away to record a commanding 12-goal victory.
Despite the final result, Corowa coach Daryn Cresswell was pleased with much of his team's performance.
"Lots of positives today against a side we rate very highly in the competition," Cresswell said.
Development Sqaud
Pies prove too strong for Corowa
Corowa 2.1 13 def by Wangaratta 18.15 123
Goals: W. Forrest, Brooklyn Mawson 1
Best: Sam Livingstone, William Bott, Angus Massey, Tommy Allison, Austin Ross-Anderson, Will Forrest
Corowa-Rutherglen's Development Squad featured a changed lineup from its previous outing against Myrtleford, with a combination of unavailabilities and senior call-ups reshaping the side.
Wangaratta took full advantage early, applying intense pressure through the midfield and forcing the Roos' defence to work hard from the opening bounce.
The inclusion of Sam Livingston in the midfield provided valuable experience and composure, qualities that were especially important in such a youthful lineup.
Down back, Will Bott was once again the general of the defence, playing an instrumental role in attempting to halt the momentum of a rampaging Pies outfit.
A special moment came when Will Forrest booted his first goal at reserves level in his debut game, a reward for his hard work and commitment.
Angus Massey and Tommy Allison were once again tough at the contest, laying strong tackles and competing fiercely throughout the afternoon.
Lee Schmidt's return to the side also provided valuable experience, with the veteran using his knowledge and leadership to guide the younger players around him.
Youngster Brooklyn Mawson added another highlight for the Roos, drilling through his first goal in the third quarter, which was enthusiastically celebrated by teammates.
In the end, Wangaratta proved too strong, with the Pies running away with the contest.
The young Roos will now regroup and turn their attention to a tough challenge against Yarrawonga this weekend.
Corowa-Rutherglen's Under 18s faced a tough assignment on Saturday against perennial finals contender Wangaratta, with the young Roos taking on one of the competition's benchmark sides.
Despite the challenge, the Roos continued to compete strongly throughout the afternoon. Ryan Parsons provided a highlight in the opening term, slotting a clever goal just before quarter-time to reduce the deficit and give his side a lift.
Archer Turner continued his impressive season, using the ball well and working tirelessly across the ground.
Captain Archer Coppolino once again led from the front, providing strong leadership and setting the standard with his effort and commitment.
Hudson Kushchurt, stepping up from the Under 16s, showed plenty of promise and looked more than capable at the higher level, displaying skill and composure when given his opportunities.
While the scoreboard gradually favoured the Pies, the Roos refused to drop their heads and continued to battle hard until the final siren, showing the resilience that has become a feature of the young side.
Brooklyn Mawson, Lukas Moore and Beau Benton were again among Corowa-Rutherglen's better performers, continuing their strong form in what was a difficult contest.
11°C