Country footy: Clubs without a win in the 2022 season

More than 25 country footy clubs are yet to win a match this year, but some are fighting hard for a victory before the season’s end.

Country footy is headed for its first full season since 2019 and while some clubs might be flying high and undefeated, there are also those still searching for a win.

Campbells Creek, Wahgunyah and South Mildura are among those sitting on the bottom of the ladder yet to record a victory, but are all determined to improve next year.

CAMPBELLS CREEK (Maryborough-Castlemaine)

Campbells Creek has July 23 circled on the calendar. It is a date the Maryborough-Castlemaine league team hopes its winless return to footy will end.

The club, where Richmond superstar Dustin Martin first played, emerged from a one-year recess this season and has found the going tough, with the closest it has come to winning a match being 94 points.

Dustin Martin started his career at Campbells Creek. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

But the team it plays on July 23, Maryborough Rovers, is in the same boat and yet to record a victory.

“Someone is going to get their first win that day and I can guarantee Rovers are wanting it as much as Campbells Creek,” Campbells Creek secretary Marg Stevens said.

She said its return season was always going to be hard.

“It’s been more about being back,” she said.

“We’ve got a lot of players who haven’t played together before whereas other teams have got well established playing groups.

“Our expectations were to get back as a club and not worry too much about the scoreboard in this rebuilding phase.

“But we’d love a win, who wouldn’t?”

The club’s last win was in 2018 and its present predicament is in stark contrast to the 1990 season when it set the record for the highest score kicked in country football of 100.34 (634). It still holds the record today.

Kris Bagley has coached Campbells Creek in its return season and is expected to be reappointed for 2023.

WAHGUNYAH (Tallangatta and District)

Wahgunyah president Daryl Hore is calling for parity on the amount clubs can spend on player payments on either side of the Victoria-NSW border.

His club, which is anchored to the bottom of the ladder with the lowest percentage of any team in the state, plays in the Tallangatta and District league administered by AFL Victoria with a salary cap of $65,000.

But across the Murray River in the Hume league administered by AFLNSW, clubs can spend $80,000 on players.

“Our biggest issue in this area is between AFLNSW and AFL Victoria,” Hore said.

“The league has raised it with the AFL a few times and all we get is answers that it is a constitutional thing and both state bodies run their own show.

“It’s a massive issue.”

But steps are being taken within the club to emerge from a season from hell on the field, after another 300-point plus pounding last week.

This year Wahgunyah doesn’t field under-17 or under-14 teams.

But the club will appoint coaches for those age groups and potentially a new senior coach for 2023 as early as next week.

“It’s probably our biggest push to get those junior teams back for next year,” Hore said.

“The days of appointing a coach in October and then starting recruiting players are all over.”

Recently, AFL coaching legend Mick Malthouse attended a fundraiser at the club.

SOUTH MILDURA (Sunraysia)

Signs are emerging to suggest South Mildura’s winless start to the Sunraysia league could soon come to an end. Two weeks ago it pushed undefeated Wentworth to nine points.

South Mildura began last season with four wins and one loss before Covid-related border travel restrictions kicked in and players living in South Australia couldn’t come into Victoria to play.

Getting players motivated after two years of stop, start or no football at all in 2020 and last year has also been a challenge.

But club president Kevin Burke said it wasn’t in the business of making excuses for its present predicament.

“We’re obviously pretty isolated where we are and recruiting people into town, particularly after Covid, has been hard,” he said.

“We’re just relying on our local stocks and unfortunately it’s not up to the standard we hoped or expected.

“But we’re working very hard behind the scenes recruiting.

“We’re not going to run out and buy 10 players.

“We’ve got a good group of kids coming through, but we’ve just got some deficiencies and they’re key position players.”

Another setback was the loss of playing coach Ben Dalton to a serious shoulder injury two months ago.

OTHER WINLESS CLUBS IN 2022

Portarlington (Bellarine)

Maryborough (Bendigo)

Carngham-Linton (Central Highlands)

Western Eagles (Colac District)

Nilma Darnum (Ellinbank District)

St Albans (Geelong)

Anakie (Geelong District)

Port Fairy (Hampden)

Huntly (Heathcote District)

Taylors Lake (Horsham District)

Lockhart (Hume)

Longwood (Kyabram District)

Meringur (Millewa)

Moyston-Willaura (Mininera District)

Rosebud (MPN Division One)

Crib Point (MPN Division Two)

Rumbalara, Echuca United (Murray)

Charlton (North Central)

Cowwarr (North Gippsland)

Bruthen (Omeo District)

Belgrave (Outer East Division One)

Wodonga Raiders (Ovens and Murray)

Yarroweyah, Blighty (Picola District)

Timboon (Warrnambool District)

Garfield (West Gippsland)

NHILL AND KANIVA-LEEOR DECISION

Meanwhile, Wimmera league club Nhill and Horsham District league team Kaniva-Leeor had been in discussions since the start of the year about a potential merger.

But this month, in a joint statement, the two clubs confirmed they would stay as separate entities.

“As a result, the discussions for an amalgamation have ceased,” the statement said.

“Both (clubs) are working hard to ensure that both clubs remain viable and sustainable into the future, both on and off the sporting fields and courts.”

Nhill has won just one match and Kaniva-Leeor has won two games.