“We’re back! The people in the community have been loyal but want to see football and netball back at John Foord Oval. It’s a great feeling.” Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club President Graham Hosier made these comments following the announcement by Ovens and Murray Football Netball League Chairman David Sinclair that Corowa Rutherglen will re-enter its senior football and netball sides in the O and M, for season 2024.
It’s official. Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club will be playing all grades of both football and netball in the Ovens and Murray league in season 2024.
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O and M Chairman David Sinclair made the announcement last Friday, October 27 at the SS&A Club in Albury, with Corowa’s president Graham Hosier and secretary Rowena Black in attendance, together with player and recruitment committee’s Jason Marks.
“The SS&A Ovens & Murray Football & Netball League are extremely pleased to announce that the Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club have advised the league that they will be returning to the competition in 2024,” Mr Sinclair said.
“Whilst there is still much work to be done, we thank and congratulate their President Graham Hosier, Secretary Rowena Black and Coach Steve Owen for the work they’ve done across the last 12 months to get the club to a position where this formal announcement can be made today.
Pictured at the announcement that Corowa Rutherglen’s senior football and netball teams are back in the Ovens and Murray league for season 2024, from left, CRFNC’s recruitment committee’s Jason Marks, secretary Rowena Black, O and M Chairman David Sinclair and CRFNC President Graham Hosier.
“We are also thrilled with the recent appointment of Sophie Hanrahan as A Grade and 17 & Under Coach which gives us great assurance that there is nobody better suited to bring the Roos netball program back to a high standard in a very short space of time.”
The chairman said the league has appreciated the support afforded to Corowa Rutherglen from the other nine member clubs and the understanding shown in what has been a difficult 12 months for each club to navigate.
The league will now push forward and construct a draw around a 10 team competition that will do away the cumbersome club bye each round. The Roos appear set to host Round One and the draw is expected to be known by November 15.
“With ten teams and 18 rounds, every team plays each other twice – it’s a nice fit,” Mr Sinclair said.
“We will shortly be looking at the draw. We like to meet clubs’ wishes such as towns attracting large numbers of tourists, over Easter, for example.
“I’d like to think with Corowa’s re-entry it would be nice to have the first round played at home. But nothing’s definite at this stage.”
Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club President Graham Hosier said the club confirmed its return to the Ovens & Murray in season 2024 at a board meeting last Thursday, October 26 to resume its position in the competition. “We would like to formally confirm to the public, that we will return to O & M football and netball in 2024,“ Mr Hosier said.
“The CRFNC football coaching department presented a recruitment update to the CRFNC board. The board is very comfortable with the position it is in going forward.”
Due to extremely wet weather with devastating effects to John Foord Oval and facilities starting last November, and player shortage, the Roos were forced to retract its Senior, Reserve and Under 18 football as well as its A and B Grade netball teams from the 2023 competition. But things are different now.
“We were fortunate enough to field three netball teams in 2023, and it is a huge credit to all the players, volunteers and their families who kept the flame lit for Corowa-Rutherglen,” Mr Hosier said.
“Those players have no idea how important their roles have been in ensuring we return as we are. We are very pleased to return to these competitions, and we look forward to the challenge ahead of us as we compete in arguably the best country football and netball competition in Australia.
“The 2024 season will be very different to any other season the club has competed in, with temporary facilities in place after floods ravaged the club’s social area and home changerooms. Our return to competition will be a challenge, but nothing will be harder than what we have endured this year - not having teams represent our community,” Hosier said.
Club officials were gutted not having their club play this year. According to Mr Sinclair, a lot of people had doubts about the return, but the club is leaving no stone unturned in getting back and fielding competitive teams.
“I’m pleased to sit here today and make the announcement,” the chairman said. “The draw last year was a train wreck, a stop and start season, some clubs going three weeks without football.”
Mr Hosier said club officials always believed there would be a return for season 2024. About a month ago, they totally believed in the return.
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