The off-season role of officials finding the right players to fill a variety of gaps has proven fruitful. Nowhere has this been more evident than in securing the services of seniors coach Mark Meyland, formerly a 250-game premiership player and coach with Waaia Football club.
Leading the club this year as president is orchardist Matt Demaio, who, with his wife, Amy, and three daughters, aged nine, three and three months, will undoubtedly become familiar faces round the club.
“I am excited to be in the role as president and be back at Cobram after playing with Barooga for a few years. I have many mates at both clubs and over round three will play my 200th game of footy. I play either forward or back, wherever I am needed,” he said.
“I am confident in the quality of players we have this year and should feature in the top three right throughout the season. Mark will bring out the best in the boys, and they will want to impress him!
“I think losing a flag changes a club’s outlook and builds a greater determination to win, and I firmly believe we have that.
“Our player average age is just 20, while our oldest player is Jackson Trengove, 33, and he is still playing fantastic footy and a good leader!”
Matt began his sporting life playing soccer as a youngster before choosing football and going to play at Yarroweyah, then Barooga, where his dad played and was president for at least three years.
Sasha Parish will work alongside Matt as vice-president and is a woman who knows no boundaries in getting things done. The pair take over from Mick Hoban and Rob Allen, who put in place a successful 2024, both on and off the field.
Sasha will focus more on the netball side at the beginning of the year and is delighted to say that the club will be fielding A, B, C, and C Reserve sides, plus the under-17, -15, -13, and -11 sides for the first time in four years.
The A-grade netball team coach is Kate Bird (she is also playing), assisted by Carlie Ross-Soden, while Leah Nish is the director of coaching.
A special event is to be held over the June long weekend — not only celebrating King Charles’ birthday but also the reunion of those involved in Cobram Football Netball Club’s most amazing sporting feat. In 1995, nine teams from 10 played off for a premiership flag, with the result being nine wins. The only Cobram side to miss out that day was the under-14s, who have shown their value ever since.
The entire town celebrated this wonderful feat for weeks afterwards and created something that has not been repeated in Victorian country sport since. Is it possible to do it again? Well, nothing is impossible!
Keep an eye out for details of the 30-year reunion when Cobram plays Barooga at Cobram’s home ground.
To be successful, community-based sporting clubs need to have success both on and off the field. They take a lot of money to run and a large group of volunteers to organise and do the work needed, and CFNC is grateful for the many sponsors and supporters who are ready to help out.
Days such as the Goods and Services Auction, a Cow Pad Family Day, the Review Night and other events are well attended and fun for everyone. Meanwhile, each Thursday is Ladies’ Night out of the club’s kitchen, when supporters can bring the whole family along for a value-for-money meal throughout the season.
After training by the footballers and netballers, despite the blistering heat of the past month, we can expect our athletes to be fully match-fit by the time the season commences.
See you at the club, folks!
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