The recent slice of history will forever be entwined with the Ovens and Murray Football League, after a small group of green and white footballing royalty was featured in the league’s Team of the Century (1893-1993), as well as its Team of the Past 25 years (1993-2018).
The Hoppers had a total of six former and current players that were named among the best to play in the Ovens and Murray league.
Rennie father and son duo Jim and Dennis Sandral both featured in the Team of the Century backline, with Jim named at centre half-back and Dennis slotting in the back pocket.
Jim Sandral joined Rennie as a 16-year-old and quickly rose to prominence as a star of the club, winning multiple club best-and-fairests, two league best-and-fairest awards and the 1952 senior premiership, before he switched to Corowa in the Ovens and Murray.
There were also five Rennie players who featured in the 25-Year Football Team from 1993 to 2018 — Brad Murray, Tim Hargreaves, Matt Pendergast, one-game player Brendan Fevola and two-time premiership coach Craig Ednie.
The Hoppers’ senior coach played more than 230 games for Yarrawonga and has a football CV that is unrivalled in the region.
The former Yarrawonga Pigeons great won three senior premierships, three club best-and-fairests, one league best-and-fairest and was a seasoned campaigner in Ovens and Murray interleague hit-outs — leading them as captain on numerous occasions.
The ex-AFL footballer said he was humbled by his appointment in the Ovens and Murray Team of the Past 25 years.
‘‘To be named in that team was a huge honour and it was something that I didn’t quite expect, to be honest,’’ Ednie said.
‘‘It’s a big privilege to have my name alongside so many great footballers.’’
The announcement was made extra-special for Ednie, due to four of his former Rennie teammates and friends making the list.
‘‘It was pretty special to share the recognition with (that) group of guys, I played a lot of years with them and against them and they are all some of the best players I’ve seen,’’ he said.
‘‘Interleague allowed me to play with guys like Brad and then form a friendship which has lasted to this day.
‘‘That’s definitely the main aspect I take away from my football career, being able to meet new people and forming a great connection with the community.’’
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