Shane Crawford leads Ardmona Bush Cats footy team finally to a win

Shane Crawford coached country footy battlers Ardmona to their first win since 2015, sparking huge celebrations on Saturday.

Shane Crawford has led the struggling Ardmona Bush Cats football team to their first victory in 2121 days.

It has been more than five years since the battling club had savoured the taste of success but years the Club’s long, long run of outs ended today with a 172 to 45 victory over Longwood.

Addressing his elated, if motley, band of footy battlers in the club rooms after the game, Crawford said this was a special day for the Bush Cats.

“Congratulations. This is awesome, well done,” he said.

Shane Crawford took on the coaching gig at the struggling country football team. Picture: David Caird

The team savoured the long-awaited success on Saturday. Picture: David Caird

“I am so pumped for you because I know it has been six years of just grinding away, trying to stay alive, trying to stay in the competition, and then going ‘OK, yes, we want to be around,’ and then starting to work together.

“Today was awesome the way you moved the footy. It just goes to show you can do it when you really want to.

“It is so much easier when we are kicking goals and we are in front, isn’t it?

“It is so much more enjoyable.

“Today is a really special day for this football club because this is the start.”

The former Hawthorn premiership player and Brownlow Medallist urged his players to enjoy their success on Saturday night.

“Really get around each other, that is what it is all about.”

“What a huge day! Congratulations to all our hard working boys on and off the ground,” the Club posted on Facebook after the much hoped for win.

Ardmona is located near Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley, about 200km from Melbourne.

He has always firmly believed he could lead the team the 100 year old club to at least one win this year.

“I went along to watch them play a few games (in 2019) and when I saw them walking off the field with their heads bowed, I thought ‘I’ve got to help them’,” Crawford told The Herald Sun last month.

Ardmona celebrate their first win in 2121 days.

Ardmona players celebrate after the game.

“I know the area well. I’m familiar with how important footy is for country towns such as Ardmona. If you take footy away from these guys, they won’t go to another club.

“They would have been lost to the game forever.

“There was a lot of talk about how we needed to keep the club alive for its 100th season (which was meant to be 2020). But this isn’t about one year.

“I just wanted to help Ardmona get back on its feet and hopefully that means they will be around for another 50 or 100 years.”

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