Celebrating a Stellar Season: Central Murray Football Netball League Presentation Nights

Junior Presentation Night

Senior Presentation Night

Highlights of the Night

Full List of Winners

Central Rivers Confirmation of Finals Venues for 2024

The Central Rivers Football & Netball Leagues are pleased to announce the confirmed venues for the 2024 Finals Series for both Football and Netball within The Central Murray Football Netball League (CMFNL) and the Golden Rivers Football Netball League (GRFNL).

Golden Rivers FNL Finals Venues:

• Second Semi Final: Saturday, 24 August, at Wandella Recreation Reserve
• First Semi Final: Sunday, 25 August, at Murrabit Recreation Reserve
• Preliminary Final: Saturday, 31 August, at Ultima Recreation Reserve
• Grand Final: Saturday, 7 September, at Hay Park

Central Murray FNL Finals Venues:

• Qualifying Final: Saturday, 31 August, at Lake Boga Recreation Reserve
• Elimination Final: Sunday, 1 September, at Greenham Park, Balranald
• Second Semi Final: Saturday, 7 September, at Woorinen Recreation Reserve
• First Semi Final: Sunday, 8 September, at Cohuna Recreation Reserve
• Preliminary Final: Saturday, 14 September, at Nyah Recreation Reserve
• Grand Final: Saturday, 21 September, at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve

The process for selecting these venues was carried out in accordance with our finals rotation policy, available on our website. These policies allow clubs to express their interest in hosting finals, taking into account several factors including but not limited to, previous finals hosted, the location of other finals on the same weekend, and the rotation position for the following year. The Board carefully reviews all preferences to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of finals hosting opportunities.

The Central Rivers Board are committed to providing our clubs with the opportunity to showcase their facilities and the dedication of their volunteers. Hosting finals is an important aspect of our leagues, promoting community engagement and providing an exciting atmosphere for all participants and supporters.

We extend our gratitude to all the clubs that have committed to hosting finals. Your efforts are crucial to the success of our finals’ series and the continued growth of Football and Netball in our region.

For more information on the finals schedule and venues, please keep an eye on our socials.

Len Hutton Memorial ANZAC Match

This Saturday will see Tyntynder host Lake Boga in a special ANZAC match, as Lake Boga are the current holders of the ANZAC Trophy. Due to the innate significance of the two teams playing, the match will be renamed to the “Len Hutton Memorial ANZAC Match” to mark Len’s honour, commitment and dedication to his club, Tyntynder and his local community of Lake Boga and Swan Hill. It is set to be a huge day for all teams with the feature games in both Seniors & A Grade.

One of the lesser-known war memorials in the Swan Hill region is the Commonwealth War Graves at the Lake Boga Cemetery. It is well recognised that No 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot was established on the shores of the lake in 1942, now commemorated by the museum, but the war graves are significant in themselves. For therein lies those who lost their lives while serving at Lake Boga.

Leonard Hutton was born 1/12/1919 in Tasmania and as a child shifted to Lang Lang, Victoria, with parents Leslie James and Anne Muriel Hutton, and sister Verle.

Len was tall for his age (6’1½” on enlisting) and at the age of 14 was playing seniors cricket and also playing football.

In 1938 Len enlisted with the Militia and in December of the same year was allocated to Darwin Mobile Force serving to defend Darwin.

In December of 1940 Len returned to his family in Lang Lang where they celebrated his 21^st birthday.

During 1943 Len was commissioned to go to New Guinea with the 2/19 Battalion. Surviving hostilities there, Len returned to Australia to join the permanent military force. He then came to live at Swan Hill as Area Officer responsible for recruiting for the military and was involved in the Lake Boga Flying Boat Repair Depot. Len’s interest in sport continued and he was appointed captain coach of the Tyntynder Football Club and delegate to the Mid Murray Football League.

It was at a game against Nyah that he was playing and is reported to have received knocks to the head, following on from head injuries two weeks earlier. That evening he went home to his wife Elaine and five-month-old daughter Elizabeth, not feeling well. During the night Elaine called on the landlord to assist who called Dr Weaver who then referred him to hospital. Later the next morning Len passed away.

Len was given a military funeral and buried at the Lake Boga War Graves Cemetery.

Following Len’s death an appeal was held and over £200 was raised for Mrs Hutton.

Mrs Hutton and Elizabeth went to live near her parents at Five Dock in NSW.

CMFNL ROUND 1 PREVIEW

Grand final rematch highlights season rematch

A REMATCH of last season’s grand finalists, Balranald and Kerang highlights Saturday’s start to the 3SH-backed senior footy competition in the Central Murray FNL.

Balranald will have home-ground advantage at Greenham Park when it tackles the reigning premier from 2.30pm.

The Jydon Neagle-coached Balranald includes Jaxon Neagle at centre half-back and Matt Neagle as ruck-rover.

Key players for the Kangaroos are Colin Andrews and Drew Lloyd in attack, rover Harrison Soraggi, Jack Salau and Toby Lay in defence.

A brilliant on-field leader and nine-time premiership winner with Kerang, Troy Coates is now non-playing coach of the Blues.

After being joint coach in Mount Pleasant’s premiership victory in the Heathcote DFNL in ’23, Adam Baird has made the move to Kerang.

Baird was part of four grand final wins with Golden Square in a remarkable era of 2009 to ’13.

He also earned the Michelsen Medal as the Bendigo FNL’s fairest and best in the 2019 season.

Baird joins a Blues’ line-up that includes ruckman Nick Lang, centreman and captain Josh Nitschke, ruck-rover Sam Heavyside and key forwards Archer Dibsdale and Caleb Nitschke.

Woorinen and Swan Hill clash in Tigers’ territory at Woorinen.

The Marcus Demaria-coached Woorinen was beaten in both of last September’s finals.

Talented on-baller Michael Herlihy is Swan Hill’s new senior coach.

After starring for the Eagles in the South Australia NFL, former Melbourne and Port Adelaide forward Jimmy Toumpas has joined Swan Hill.

Players to watch for the Swans include forward Kallen Heslop, Thomas Isma who has crossed from Woorinen, captain Luke Phelan, and Ned McKeown, son of Collingwood defender Ron McKeown.

Tooleybuc Manangatang is on home turf at Tooleybuc to take on Mallee Eagles.

Saints’ coach Dean Helmers will be keen to see Tooleybuc Manangatang rise from last year’s 10^th placing.

The play of Johnathan Marsden at centre half-forward, Connor McDonald in the ruck, roving of Kai Kearns, and defensive work of Jackson Morris and Richard Wardle will be a key to the Saints chances.

Mallee Eagles are also determined to hit back from a 4-12 run last season.

The Brent Macleod-coached Eagles have gained former Richmond player Jayden Post who was named at centre half-forward.

Other key players for the Mallee include Zac O’Meara and Paul Davis on the half-back line, ruckman Jai Middleton and rover Beau Bennett.

Tyntynder and Cohuna Kangas clash at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.

The Josh Stone-coached Tyntynder will be keen to mark a winning start.

Huge task for the likes of Jason Eagle at full-forward, Patrick Crowe in the centre, on-ballers Darcy Bibby and Jayden Magro, and Cayden Crowe and Luke Jones in defence.

A six-time premiership winner at Golden Square and Michelsen medallist, Jack Geary steps into senior coaching with the Kangas.

Geary is arguably one of the most decorated players in country Victorian football.

The Kangas’ coach was named at half-forward, but can be just as damaging ruck-roving or across the half-back line.

Stung by last year’s sixth placing, Cohuna Kangas are likely to make a strong rebound.

Cohuna’s charge is likely to be led by the likes of co-captains Jarrod Findlay and Joel Helman, Sam McGlone and former Elmore coach Dylan Friedberger.

The Kangas recruits include Golden Square premiership defender Will Lee, former Huntly coach Jayden Cordy, and Ryan Semmel, a multiple Cheatley medallist in his time with Huntly in the Heathcote DFNL.

Most challenging task for any of Koondrook-Barham’s players against Nyah Nyah West United will be taking on gun forward Brandyn Grenfell.

After kicking 303 goals across Marong’s premiership wins of ’22 and ’23, Grenfell has joined the NNWU Demons.

Scott Wood was named at full-back and Grenfell at full-forward for the opening round clash at Barham Recreation Reserve.

The Scott Callow-coached Koondrook Barham faces a daunting task against a Demons line-up which was 9-7 going into last year’s finals series and made it all the way to a preliminary final.

Key players for the River Raiders include Mitch Christensen, Reagan Hamilton, and co-captains Patrick Goble, Jack Shannon and Jack Thrum.

Billy Driscoll has made his way from Navarre to play for Koondrook Bahram.

Although Grenfell is the main target in attack, NNWU has plenty of goalkicking options through Riley Daniels, Darcy Butler and Jordan Iudica.

The Corey Daniels-coached Demons have Joel Campbell and Joel Walsh to lead the defence, and on-ball division of Blake Larkings, Ethan Saville and Dominic Gallo.

Lake Boga has the bye.

The Dean Helmers-coached Magpies will be home at Lake Boga Sports Club to face Balranald in round two.