Cory Goodwin, Lual Lual, Ararat Eagles: The inspiring stories from regional Victorian footy in 2021
There have been amazing individual and team achievements in regional football in a stop-start season. We profile some of the most inspirational. SEE OUR TOP 10
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From an amputee who refused to believe his football days were over to a former AFL gun’s amazing goalkicking feats, there has been no shortage of inspiring stories in country Victorian football this season.
The finals series is already underway in some county football leagues but more competitions are set to take to the field on Saturday.
Leagues kickstarting their finals series across regional Victoria the Central Highlands, Horsham and District, Loddon Valley, Mininera and District, North Gippsland, Ovens and King, South West District and Warrnambool and District.
Country football remains on knife’s edge after 12 Covid cases were confirmed in Shepparton.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews did not rule out another lockdown for regional Victoria.
In celebration of the country football series so far, we profile some of the amazing individual and team performances from 2021.
Cory Goodwin
When they talk comeback kid in the bush leagues, one name stands in a class of its own.
No one, to the best of everyone’s knowledge, has achieved anything close to Cory Goodwin.
When North Melbourne’s Jason McCartney made his fairytale recovery from the 2002 Bali bombings to play just one more game of AFL footy, and kick that goal in the dying moments, he immediately retired.
When Moulamein’s Cory Goodwin’s car wrapped itself around a tree in 2017 as he drove home from work; his football days were over.
The 25-year-old was so badly injured he lost his right leg. His appalled family and friends, constantly at his bedside, were offering any words of encouragement they could imagine.
Except none dared even hint their son, brother and mate would ever set foot on the field again.
But Goodwin was doing his own thinking, setting his own goals and he was sure he could, and would, play again.
And when he was named in the reserves for the Moulamein Swans earlier this season; everyone realised miracles do happen.
One game was what had kept McCartney going through his painful recovery from shocking burns.
One game for Goodwin was just to prove to everyone else he could do it.
The next nine were played because he had held his position. If it weren’t for the Covid chaos he would have racked up even more games.
“Initially I never thought I would get back out on the field again,” Goodwin admitted.
“Footy was the last thing on my mind after the accident, I was just worried about getting my life back,” he said.
“But when I eventually got this new prosthetic; which allowed me to run; I just couldn’t resist the thought about giving it a go. With my old mechanical leg I was only able to stand around and have a kick with my mates at training – now I’m out there kicking to them in a real game.”
McCartney would later say he needed to have that one game, not just for himself but for all those who had supported him.
For Goodwin that driving force would also be the opportunity to play alongside his brother Tyler, 15, and stepfather Paul Alford.
“We had joked about it; but because of our differences in age I never expected it to happen after the accident,” he said.
“Tyler is definitely a better player than me and has shown me up on the field a few times this year. But he is a really talented player.
“I’ve got big hopes for him going forward.”
Getting back on the field meant Goodwin had to learn to kick on his left foot; having grown up as a right footer.
“It certainly wasn’t easy and sometimes I still have to take that extra second to think,” he said.
Goodwin has predominantly been used in the forward pocket this season; but that hasn’t been because he holds himself back in the contest.
“Going hard at the footy is something on which I have prided myself,” he said.
“I used to be an onballer as a junior and made my senior debut when I was 15. There isn’t too much running involved and at this point in time that suits me perfectly.”
After everything he’s been through, Goodwin knows the Moulamein Football Club will always be there for him.
“I’ll always be grateful for every opportunity they’ve given me,” he said.
“They raised a lot of money when I was down in Melbourne to support me and I don’t think I will ever be able to say thank you enough.”
Lual Lual
The senior debut of Lual Lual for the Cora Lynn Football Club in the West Gippsland league earlier this year was the start of something special.
After impressing in the reserves at the beginning of the season, the 19-year-old earned his opportunity against arch rivals Bunyip.
It meant he was the first South Sudanese player to play a senior football game for the Cobras.
He was the first of 23 African boys who have gone through the club’s entire playing pathway from fourths to the top grade.
Lual had never played footy until his year 7 teacher Michael Dillon asked whether he would be willing to give it a go.
The pair would strike up a special relationship with Dillon, driving the talented prospect to every training session and game for the next six years.
And when his moment came, Lual didn’t let his supporters down, kicking a goal with his first kick in senior footy.
Cora Lynn coach David Main said he couldn’t believe the impact one player had on his team.
“From the moment we announced his debut the morale around the entire club lifted,” he said.
“Lual blew everyone away with his raw ability and hunger for the contest. He always found himself in the right place at the right time.
“He played his role as a small forward perfectly and took a sensational pack mark.”
Wearing the number 46, Lual played in front of his seven siblings for the first time.
They were treated to an afternoon tea organised by club volunteer Kerry Howard and said they were amazed by what they had witness.
“It was fantastic to have them along,” Main said.
Lual now has three senior games to his name having kicked five goals.
“He’s been getting better with every game,” Main said.
“Lual is also an extremely talented basketballer so whichever way he does end up going, I’m confident he will get the very best out of himself.”
Paul Carter
Remarkably a Gippsland footy umpire has called more than 550 games.
But his proudest moment was when his son was on the field that he was running.
Paul Carter celebrated the impressive milestone earlier this year. He’s also umpired 14 grand finals across more than two decades.
But the opportunity to umpire with his son Max, 13, is something he will hold in the highest regard.
That’s until his 10-year-old daughter Lucy takes to the field in season 2022.
“Umpiring over 550 games is something I’m extremely proud of but getting the chance to be out there with my kids would be special,” the 46-year-old said.
“I was fortunate enough to be out there with Max for his first game and I’m hoping I can be there for Lucy’s as well.”
Carter started umpiring in the 90s because he wanted to stay involved with the game he loves after injuries as a junior player.
He had a brief break from wearing white in the early 2000s because he was single and “wanted to go on some footy trips”.
But looking back he wouldn’t have changed any part of his journey.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of great experiences,” he said.
“Like players, umpires want to be there on grand final day and I’m not different today. I never thought I would officiate over 550 games, it’s kind of just happened.
“It has been the perfect way for me to stay involved in the game.”
A special turnaround
Cavendish president Bob Thomas finds it hard to put into words just how far his club has come in 2021.
In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the Bloods — in the south-west of the state — had just one win to their name.
In 2020 they’ve finished with a record of seven wins and three losses.
“I’m extremely proud of what everyone at our club has been able to achieve,” Thomas said.
“Our seniors and reserves football sides will play finals, as will all our netball teams except one.
“We’ve always had great support from the community and without them we wouldn’t have been able to turn it around.”
Bob’s son, Clinton, has been the senior coach since the start of the 2018 and has seen his club bottom out and now move towards the top of the ladder.
Bob said it all came down to an improvement within the culture.
“We had a lot of our local players come back because they wanted to continue their careers with us,” he said.
“It’s had a major impact on everyone. On a Thursday night we will usually do well in excess of over 100 meals — whether it’s eat in or takeaway.”
Cavendish will take on Westerns in the elimination final on Sunday.
From 509-point losers to finalists
Not in their wildest dreams could the Ararat Eagles have imagined they’d be where they are heading into this weekend.
In 2019, the Mininera and District league club was losing games in excess of 100 points most weeks including a 509-point thumping.
But they’ve managed to turn it around earning a place in the competition’s top five.
They’ll now face an elimination final against Glenthompson Dunkeld to keep their season alive.
Ararat president Nats McRoberts said anything from here “is a bonus”.
“Our goal at the start of the year was to field a competitive side and we’ve managed to do that,” he said.
“The resilience of the club has been fantastic. Everything around the place has picked up by 150 per cent. We’ve had terrific support from people in town.”
McRoberts praised the efforts of co-coaches Brett Sladdin and Damian Joiner who had helped lift the club back up off the canvas.
He said a number of returning players also played an important role in the Eagles’ resurgence.
“We had been prepared to go in 2020 but everything was unfortunately called off,” McRoberts said.
“But it was great to see our group remain together for the most part.”
Josh Mellington
Former Fremantle forward Josh Mellington boasts one of the most impressive records in country footy and in 2021 he’s taken it to another level.
Earlier this season, Mellington reached the magical ton once again for his home club Violet Town.
He did it in nine games.
And it led to some high praise from Violet Town coach Joel Price upon reflection of his achievement.
“I’ve coached and played with a lot of quality forwards and Josh would be right up there,” he said.
“He’s definitely the most unselfish I’ve seen as well because he has given off so many opportunities to get his teammates involved.”
The 28-year-old brought up the milestone with 27 goals against Kyabram District league strugglers Tallygaroopna, shortly after the first Covid interruption of the season.
“It didn’t even cross my mind because you don’t expect someone to kick that many goals in one game,” Price said.
“The way he was able to take hold of that game was amazing to watch. I’ve never seen someone dominate like that.”
He now has 113 goals from 11 games.
Days out few can dream of
There’s been some big bags kicked across country footy this season, but four players stand out above the rest having kicked more than 20 in a game.
The highest individual accolade belongs to Violet Town’s Josh Mellington, who kicked 27 goals in a Kyabram District league game against Tallygaroopna.
The former Fremantle forward is also the only player in the state to have kicked 100 goals.
Maldon’s Rhys Ford, from the Maryborough Castlemaine District league, has the second best effort with 22 goals against Maryborough Rovers.
Ford has 74 goals from nine games this season and appeared likely to beat his previous effort of 91 in 21 had it not been for Covid enforced interruptions.
Two players have kicked 20 goals in a game this season.
Hepburn’s Sam Dunstan was the first to do so when he put Carngham Linton to the sword in round 2 of the Central Highlands league.
He now has 82 goals for the year from 11 games, including a 16-goal performance against Ballan last month.
Cudgewa’s Kylin Morey kicked 20 of his own against Federal in the Upper Murray league back in May.
Before the season was called off, Morey had 61 goals from six games to his name.
Junior goalkickers on the verge of greatness
Make sure you remember the names Beau Butters and Robert Muscat.
That’s because the junior country footballers are two of the hottest prospects in the state.
Both players have kicked a resounding number of goals this season which has them along the highest tally in the state for all ages.
Maldon’s Muscat, who plays in the Maryborough Castlemaine District league, has 89 goals to his name.
He’s been able to reach the impressive figure with 75 goals in 13 under-14s games and added another 14 majors from 10 appearances in the under-17s.
The teenager has reached double figures in a game twice this season including a best haul of 15 against Trentham.
Meanwhile, Butters has been tearing apart the Tallangatta and District league under 17s competition for Barnawartha.
He has kicked 71 goals from 10 matches, although he was held goalless in the first two games of the season.
Butters kicked a season high against Dederang Mt Beauty earlier this season, his third effort in double figures.
Young siblings making their mark
Kolora Noorat senior coach Ben Walsh says young guns Ryley and Darcy Hutchins are pretty quiet around the club — but there’s no doubt they let their actions do the talking.
The pair was among the league’s leading goalkickers in their respective grades — Ryley in seniors and Darcy in under-15s.
Walsh said the Hutchins’ boys were continuing a family legacy at the Power with father Shane, who helps out on the seniors bench on game days, a premiership player with the Warrnambool and District league club.
“I didn’t see a lot of (Shane) but a lot of people around the club say there’s a strong resemblance between their old man and the way the boys go about it,” Walsh said,
“We pride ourselves on being a real family-oriented club so it’s always exciting to see brothers — or sisters involved with netball — doing well.
“A lot of the time their parents or aunties or uncles have played as well, so it’s great when we can celebrate those family ties.”
Darcy kicked 67 goals to be the leading goalkicker in the under-15 competition, averaging five a game and more than doubling the next best goalkicker.
His best return was 12 and he kicked more than five goals in eight matches this season.
“Young Darcy is only a little fella but he’s played a fair bit of under-15s and 17s and he’s kicked bags in both grades at different times during the year,” Walsh said.
“Hopefully he’ll fill out over time and it looks like he’s got a really bright future.”
Ryley finished fourth in the senior goalkicking with 40 and according to Walsh the young star has not taken a backward step after playing every game in seniors this year.
“He’s adding a lot of new elements to his game while maintaining those things that he’s really good at,” Walsh said.
“Ryley is probably that mid-range hybrid. One day he probably kicked five and they were all from snaps in general play and the next week he kicked seven and most of them were from leading and marking.
“He’s got the ability to play different roles. He’s a good size but he’s probably not a key position yet. He can certainly play out of the goalsquare and he’s pretty dynamic.”
Ardmona’s drought breaking win
A country club in the state’s north finally got the win they had long desired after 2121 days earlier this year.
Coached by Hawthorn legend Shane Crawford, Kyabram District league club Ardmona won its first game in six years after beating Longwood.
It was a journey of ups and downs with the Bush Cats almost kicked out of the competition ahead of season 2020 before Crawford came to their rescue.
Even though footy was called off last year, the AFL premiership player remain committed to helping the club overcome their debts and countless on field challenges.
Throughout the season, Crawford has also pulled on the boots to give his players memories of a lifetime.
While recruits have included Olympic gold medallist Steve Hooker.
Against Longwood, the Bush Cats ran out 126-point winners with big man Beau Jackson booting six goals in a best on ground display.
They’ll face tough assignments in their remaining two games against Lancaster and Murchison Toolamba.
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