Roos Best: Joe Hansen, Tom Forrest, Judd Kuschert, Jedd Longmire, Jordan Eyers, Stephen Owen.
Goals: Judd Kuschert 2, Joe Hansen 2, Nathan Dunstan 2.
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Corowa-Rutherglen suffered a 98-point loss to a much improved finals contender North Albury last Saturday in perfect conditions at John Foord Oval.
North Albury, the league’s whipping boys for the past five years, continued its impressive resurgence against the Roos, putting together an impressive display.
The game started evenly, with Corowa-Rutherglen matching the pressure and executing some strong passages of play early, giving the strong home crowd plenty of hope after witnessing a win in the Under 18s and an improved reserve hitout.
Captain Joe Hansen was the everywhere man early on, starting in the centre, floating across half back and also jagging the first two majors of the day for the Roos. His spark lifted the team, which put on an impressive tackling display across all areas of the ground.
Kade Kuschert, who has had many milestones across his record-breaking career, noted that this day was probably his most memorable as he got the opportunity to cross the white line of John Foord Oval with his son, Judd.
Judd, who has basically grown up on the hallowed turf of JFO, must have been inspired by running alongside his dad, past the memorial of his grandfather Trevor and playing his first game in the senior side, as he was absolutely everywhere.
He was brought into the side for some run and excitement, but he did more than that, applied immense tackling pressure, got on the end of some nice goals and at one point was winning hitouts to top it off.
Unfortunately for the Roos, the ups were met with too many downs, with costly turnovers as the Hoppers capitalised on every one of them. The second quarter was a blowout, and whilst the Roos stemmed the bleeding in the second half, it was too much for the young side to handle.
The Roos will need to dust themselves off quickly as they prepare the take on the Wodonga Bulldogs in Wodonga next week, fresh off a thrilling win over Wangaratta Magpies.
Match stats
Clearances
Corowa Rutherglen (CR) 36
North Albury (NA) 38
Contested Possessions
CR - 107
NA - 138
Disposals
CR - 238
NA - 441
Hitouts
CR - 44
NA - 52
Inside fifties
CR - 22
NA - 49
Awards: Club Corowa - Joe Hansen, Aussie Hotel - Jedd Kuschert, Corowa Whisky and Chocolate - Jedd Longmire, Royal Hotel - Tom Forrest.
Reserves fought it out
It was good to be back out on the John Foord Oval to play against the North Albury Hoppers in round 3. The game started positively for both sides, a late flurry of goals in the first quarter from the Roos had the Ressie boys jubilant, Jed Ansell, Tommy Young, Ben Talarico all starring in a great first term. Although the scoreline started to fade away, the spirit and fight did not drop off.
Ben Black played a consistent game in the ruck and continues to show strength, whilst the playing coach Sam Haigh continued to provide a lot of energy and spark throughout the game.
Despite the result in the end, great positivity was shown through all the boys’ commitment and thanks for all the guys that came and helped us out to play.
Awards: Corowa Whisky and Chocolate - Jedd Ansell, Corowa Meats - Ben Black, Aussie Hotel - Ben Talarico, Club Award - Tommy Young.
Final scores Roos 6.3.39
Hoppers 18.15.123.
Crowd erupts for Thirds win
In a thrilling clash between Corowa-Rutherglen Under 18s and North Albury Under 18s, spectators were treated to an exhilarating display of talent and determination at John Ford Oval on Saturday Morning.
From the first bounce, it was evident that both teams came prepared to battle fiercely for victory. The game started with intense energy, as players from both sides showcased their skills and athleticism.
As the match progressed, North Albury Under 18s took control of the scoreboard, displaying remarkable teamwork and precision. Despite a valiant effort from Corowa-Rutherglen, North Albury managed to maintain a lead heading into the final quarter, holding an eight-point advantage.
However, the Corowa-Rutherglen team refused to back down. With sheer grit and determination, they launched a spirited comeback in the last quarter, spurred on by the relentless efforts of key players Luke Nicholson, Jack Keys, Isaac Dickinson, Jay Lavis, Rory Beattie, and Charles James.
Isaac Dickinson proved to be instrumental, showcasing his scoring prowess by kicking three crucial goals throughout the match. Angus Williams also made a significant impact, contributing two goals to Corowa's tally.
But it was Ethan Lane who emerged as the hero of the day for Corowa-Rutherglen. With less than a minute remaining on the clock, Lane calmly slotted a goal, sending the crowd into a frenzy and putting Corowa ahead by four points.
Despite a valiant effort from North Albury in the dying moments of the game, Corowa's defence held firm, securing a hard-fought victory. The final scoreline stood testament to Corowa-Rutherglen's resilience and determination, with the team prevailing with a final score of 9.5-59 to 7.13-55.
In the end, it was a memorable match filled with heart-stopping moments and exceptional individual performances. Corowa-Rutherglen's triumph serves as a testament to their character and teamwork, while North Albury's efforts showcased their skill and tenacity on the field.
Awards: Sportspower - Luke Nicholson, Painters Cafe - Jack Keys, Corowa Takeaway - Issac Dickinson, Canteen award - Jay Lavis.