Sticking with lowly Edendale side paid off for Fodie
WHEN Jeroe Fodie lined up in his first season of senior rugby, the situation was bleak for Edendale.
It was 2007 and the then 19yearold first fiveeighth joined an Edendale team which was last in the lowest Southland club senior division.
‘‘We were at the bottom of the bottom,’’ Fodie said.
More than a decade later Fodie is still playing for Edendale and tomorrow he will play his 150th game for the club when his side takes on Riversdale.
He can reflect on what has been a fun and successful ride.
During his 149 games to date, Fodie and his Edendale team mates have climbed the ranks. They won the division 2 title in
2009 and in
2012 and 2017 they claimed the division 1 competition title.
Fodie puts the rise up the ranks down to the close bond at Edendale.
‘‘We are mates. One mate will bring another mate along to play and you quickly become mates with them. It is a real family club.’’
Fodie’s family can attest to that. His grandfather, dad, and uncles all played for Edendale.
Dad John coached the Edendale team during the majority of his playing days.
His younger brother, Bram, will play alongside him in the 150th milestone game tomorrow.
Fodie admitted it had been a battle to get to the 150 game mark.
‘‘I’m 30 and broken. The boys give me a hard time about how much strapping tape I use.’’
He has had two knee reconstructions and last season damaged his shoulder badly.
Fodie has played just the three games this year and admits technically he had retired.
The Invercargill electrician said he had pulled on the boots this season to fill gaps when needed.
Edendale’s rise up the ranks had been built around a core group of players, but many of them were getting older and moving on.
‘‘Every club goes through it. We need the next lot of young guys coming through now,’’ Fodie said.
Edendale is sitting fifth in the 2018 division 1 competition standings and the showdown with Riversdale tomorrow looms as a crunch fixture as teams battle for semifinal spots.
Riversdale is fourth, just two points ahead of Edendale.
In other division one games tomorrow, Wyndham will host Waikaka in a topofthetable clash, Waiau Star and Te Anau will squareoff in Tuatapere, while Midlands and Mossburn will meet at Winton.
There is also plenty at stake in premier club rugby action tomorrow.
Marist and Woodlands have already booked semifinal berths, but have the honour of minor premiers to play for in the final two weeks of the roundrobin.
Blues, PiratesOld Boys and the EasternNorthern Barbarians have the most to play for tomorrow as they chase the other two semifinal spots.
Blues and PiratesOld Boys will clash at Surrey Park, while the Barbarians and Woodlands will meet at Woodlands.
Marist will host Star at Miller St in the third premier game.