The Free Press (Corowa)

COROWA-RUTHERGLEN Roos were ready for reunion

- BY ROBERT MUIR

Corowa Rutherglen’s football team was ready to finally win another Ovens and Murray league premiershi­p in 2000 and the players were ready for a reunion this Saturday – after last year’s 20-year reunion was cancelled due to Covid-19.

But for the same reason, the players again have to wait due to Covid-19, despite today’s Roos now scheduled to host Wang Rovers in a changed league fixture.

Key players from both the Roos and the Hawks who travel from Melbourne to play won’t be lining up because of the Covid-19 restrictio­ns.

This Saturday the Roos were to host Albury. A big reunion program was to take place.

Chief reunion organiser Darrell Spencer told The Free Press this weekend’s reunion has been called off, after everyone from the 2000 team was to be back at John Foord Oval.

“With less than half of the 2000 team unable to travel to NSW, we had no choice but to call it off,” he said.

The 2000 premiershi­p players (seniors and thirds) along with officials, volunteers and supporters were encouraged to gather at the ground this Saturday from 11am.

There was to be some finger food in the rooms at lunchtime for all to catch up before heading out to cheer on the Roos as they took on Albury.

After the game all were to head into the rooms for some reminiscin­g, including a few interviews, and to watch the 2000 Premiershi­p Documentar­y compiled by Ben Black which would have been fabulous according to a disappoint­ed chief organiser.

“People had put in a lot of effort, especially Ben Black,” Spencer said. “We just have to sit tight for a couple of weeks and then decide what happens – it’s just too soon to say at present.”

Despite the big reunion being put off, The Free Press (FP) caught up with the victorious 2000 captain popularly known as ‘Dasher’ Spencer (DS) last week and fired some questions at the equal club games record holder. FP: DS:

How did you feel going into the big one? It was 20 years ago so the memory is a bit faded. I am sure we were pretty nervous but looking forward to the occasion.

FP:

What are your recollecti­ons of the 2000 premiershi­p?

DS: It was a great day for our club and our town. We had not celebrated a flag for 32 years so the elation for players and supporters was overwhelmi­ng!

FP:

You got off to a great start. When did you believe you had them?

DS: I don’t quite remember but we did dominate the game, so I think we were pretty confident at ¾ time that we had done enough.

FP:

How do you describe your team and the coach?

DS: ‘Toss’ (Peter Tossoll) was a great motivator who brought a new level of profession­alism to our club. He hated losing and would not accept poor performanc­es and was able to instil these traits into the playing group. Toss’s preparatio­n and motivation­al speaking style was the best I had seen.

FP: DS:

What was the feeling around town?

The whole town was abuzz with excitement as you could imagine. Everyone you ran into wanted to talk about the footy and it brought a lot of joy to a lot of people. It was a great time for the whole footy community.

FP: DS:

How often do you think about it?

Not all that often but it always brings back great memories when the subject comes up. Obviously, it comes up a bit more often during footy season.

FP: DS: FP:

The number of senior games you’ve played?

DS: I played 333 senior games for the Roos

FP: DS:

Club record? You share it Dennis Sandral? 333 games is a club record I share with the great Dennis Sandral.

FP:

How long were you captain, from …to? I was captain for 5 years from 1998-2002

Anything else you might want to say would also be appreciate­d, including your thoughts on Kade Kuschert set to become the Roos record player in a few weeks.

DS: Kade has been a great player and servant of our club for a long time. I was lucky enough to play with Kade for quite a few years including the 2003 Premiershi­p. Congratula­tions to Kade and I look forward to him becoming the new Roos games record holder in a few weeks’ time.

 ??  ?? Waited for that 2000 premiershi­p and still waiting for the 20-year reunion. The tales started last week when The Free Press caught up with some of the stars of the 2000 premiershi­p side like Matt Witherden’s comment “my opponent took this ‘mark’ at the start of the game, kicked a goal and I got taken off him when I don’t reckon it was a mark”. Looking forward to Saturday’s reunion are today’s Beau Longmire (186 games with the Roos), Paul Bartlett (303), Brendan Eyres (303), Darrell Spencer (334), Craig Tafft (120) and Matt Witherden (210). But their reunion just has to wait – again – due to Covid-19.
Waited for that 2000 premiershi­p and still waiting for the 20-year reunion. The tales started last week when The Free Press caught up with some of the stars of the 2000 premiershi­p side like Matt Witherden’s comment “my opponent took this ‘mark’ at the start of the game, kicked a goal and I got taken off him when I don’t reckon it was a mark”. Looking forward to Saturday’s reunion are today’s Beau Longmire (186 games with the Roos), Paul Bartlett (303), Brendan Eyres (303), Darrell Spencer (334), Craig Tafft (120) and Matt Witherden (210). But their reunion just has to wait – again – due to Covid-19.
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