Barooga members to vote on leaving the Murray league after 36 years

Former Murray league powerhouse Barooga faces a crucial member vote to leave the competition where it won four flags between 1992 and 1997.

Barooga will make an 11th hour bid to rejoin the Picola District league next season after conceding it had been “outgrown” by rivals in its home since 1989, the Murray league.

Club officials last week met with the Picola District league, which is not subject to the same club transfer rules as other competitions in the state due to its non-affiliation with AFL Victoria.

Barooga didn’t record a victory this year after winning only two matches in 2024.

The appointment of highly respected coach Jeremy O’Brien at the end of last season hasn’t translated into an on field revival for Barooga, which became an instant powerhouse when it joined the Murray league.

Barooga won four flags between 1992 and 1997 and champion rover John Brunner claimed two O’Dwyer Medals.

It’s arch rival Cobram has become a Murray league heavyweight, winning an against the odds flag this year against undefeated Congupna.

Picola District operations manager Shane Railton, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Barooga president Darrell Bowden said it also struggled to retain junior players.

“We’ve just got to face geographical facts,” he said.

“We’re a town of 1700 people with a small primary school with 100 kids in it and no high school.

“In the Picola league we will be playing towns of similar size and it should all level out.

“We’re just a little town and the Murray league has changed from what it was with Jerilderie, Berrigan, Strathmerton, Tocumwal all previously being part of it.

“Our juniors have struggled to be competitive in the last 20-odd years and no matter how you

dress it up, kids love winning.”

Barooga’s GT Dunn gets a kick away in the 1996 Murray league grand final against Deniliquin, which was won by the Rams.

Barooga requires the backing of 75 per cent of paid up club members at a special general meeting on November 27 to apply to join the Picola District league.

Picola District’s 15 clubs will be consulted before a board call on accepting Barooga is made.

“Obviously Barooga’s geographical location is a good fit for our league,” Picola District league operations manager Shane Railton said.

Barooga’s 1992, 1993, 1997 premiership cups won in the Murray league. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Picola District’s unaffiliated status means juniors can’t be selected for the Murray Bushrangers teams.

But on the flip side clubs receive a financial dividend from league, reported to be close to $8000 this year.

Picola District lost Yarroweyah and picked up Dookie United at the end of last season and was in talks with Hay, Moulamein, Macorna, Murrabit and Wandella when the Golden Rivers league was shut down this year.

The Murray league will become an 11-team competition if Barooga departs.

In 2023, the Murray league attempted to form a second-tier competition that could have included Barooga, but couldn’t get the required backing of the AFL Goulburn-Murray Commission.