Veterans at Yarrawonga and Koondrook Barham step aside

YARRAWONGA club legend Craig Ednie farewelled his beloved Pigeons on Sunday after his side fell 12-points short to Lavington in the Ovens and Murray league preliminary final.

Club hero: Craig Ednie celebrates Yarrawonga’s 2012 Ovens and Murray premiership with his teammates. Photo: Simon Dallinger

YARRAWONGA  club legend Craig Ednie farewelled his beloved Pigeons on Sunday after they fell 12 points short to Lavington in the Ovens and Murray league preliminary final.

Ednie had not lined up for the Pigeons since early July because of a calf injury. The 2006 Morris Medal winner raced against the clock for one final game with the club and was able to get up at the 11th hour.

“The coaching staff were pretty good. They let me make the final decision,” Ednie said.

Ednie will head to Picola and District league club Rennie next year as a playing coach after playing more than 200 games at Yarrawonga.

Elsewhere on the border a favourite son of Koondrook-Barham, Shane Guerra, said he would step down from senior football next season but was happy to run around in the twos. “I’m probably ready just to start winding down,” Guerra said after the River Raiders lost their preliminary final on Saturday to Nyah-Nyah West United by five points.

“If circumstances arise, I’ll help out the ones ... But if we’ve got a heap of kids pushing for spots, they don’t need a 45-year-old clogging the list.”

The veteran’s illustrious career includes more than 400 senior games and a Central Murray league best-and-fairest.

— ADAM RUSSELL