Interleague: O&M to start favourites against Goulburn Valley

A famous name will make his debut for Ovens & Murray against GV on Saturday, continuing a family tradition of more than half a century.

Corowa-Rutherglen’s Jedd Longmire will make his debut for the Ovens & Murray on Saturday in the latest chapter of a rich family history representing the league dating back to the 1950s.

Jedd’s father Beau first played for the O&M in 1999 and again in 2000 at the MCG.

His famous uncle John, who is the present coach of Sydney Swans, was only 17 when he burst onto the scene with eight goals in a country championships match between O&M and Latrobe Valley in 1987.

Jedd Longmire returned to Corowa-Rutherglen this season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The O&M won the country championships in 1987 by beating Sunraysia at Mildura in the grand final with Longmire joining the Kangaroos the following year and winning the Coleman Medal in 1990.

Jedd’s grandfather Fred was also an O&M representative in the late 1960s and his great grandfather Keith Williams represented the league upon his return from Fitzroy in 1949 when he was appointed coach of Rutherglen.

Longmire, 19, has returned to the O&M after Corowa-Rutherglen spent 2023 in recess and the onballer has been picked to play against Goulburn Valley at Shepparton along with Ryan Eyers, whose father Brendan also represented the O&M.

Sydney coach John Longmire started his career with Corowa-Rutherglen. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

North Central recruit Sam Dunstan, who joined Corowa-Rutherglen this season, has also been picked to take on the GV.

The former Assumption College student has played the first five games of this season with Corowa-Rutherglen before the next two with Collingwood’s VFL team.

“Growing up around the club and the amount of stuff they’ve done for me, the least I could do was try and help get the side up and running again,” Longmire said.

“I just wanted to play some good footy in what is one of the strongest leagues in country Victoria, if not the strongest.

“I was just honoured to be invited into the (O&M) squad.

“It wasn’t on my radar as a goal, but as soon as the opportunity arose, I was pretty keen to grab it.

“It’s worked out perfectly because Collingwood’s VFL team has got a bye this weekend.”

Another Collingwood VFL-listed player from the O&M, Wodonga’s Josh Mathey, will also play against the GV after shaking off a slight hamstring injury that has forced him to miss the last two matches.

Collingwood’s Joe Richards starred for the O&M against GV two years ago and was drafted by the Magpies at the end of the season.

“The opportunity and pathway for us younger guys is definitely there,” Longmire said.

GOULBURN VALLEY v OVENS & MURRAY

(Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm)

OVENS MURRAY

B: Z. Pethybridge J. McQuade T. Bracher

HB: J. Hayes C. Morrison (co-capt) N. Bradshaw

C: J. Mathey H. Wheeler (co-capt) A. Gardiner

HF: B. Frauenfelder T. Boyd J. O’Brien

F: L. Conlan S. Dunstan B. Filo

FOLL: W. Christie J. Longmire P. Lewis-Smith

INTER: R. Eyers B. Riccardi M. Wilson M. Casey

EMERG: F. Holland-Dean M. Dalbosco X. Laverty

COACH: D. Sexton

GOULBURN VALLEY

Still to be announced

GV TIME TO SHINE

Goulburn Valley must upset fierce rival Ovens and Murray on Saturday to guarantee the match goes ahead next year.

The two leagues will again battle for the Ash-Wilson Trophy, named in honour of league legends Stephen Ash and Mick Wilson, who both have sons playing at AFL level in Lachlan and Darcy.

They meet at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve with the O&M holding a 2-0 head-to-head record in matches played since the Covid interruptions.

The O&M remains the most committed competition in the state towards representative football and will start favourites against the GV.

Damian Sexton has coached the Ovens & Murray to back-to-back wins against Goulburn Valley. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“We 100 per cent want to win,” O&M coach Damian Sexton said.

“We take the attitude that we’re playing for all the people that volunteer their time at clubs and we want to be the best side on the given day.

“We’re going to have some talented young blokes, and we’re going to have some experienced older blokes, so I’m hoping the balance is spot on.”

Wodonga’s Matt Wilson has been added to the O&M squad off the back of two starring roles, but Wodonga co-coach Jack O’Sullivan has been ruled out after being concussed last round.

O’Sullivan won the GV Morrison Medal playing for Seymour last season.

After a year on the sidelines, Corowa-Rutherglen has three players in contention, Jedd Longmire, Ryan Eyers and Sam Dunstan.

The GV is dealing with late injury concerns also with Echuca duo Jack Evans and Cameron Valentine injured and Benalla ruckman Mark Marriott concussed at the weekend.

GV co-coach Sam Reid hasn’t played since early April with a quad injury.

Goulburn Valley co-coach Mark Lambourn is determined to beat Ovens & Murray on Saturday. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“They’ve certainly had the wood on us the last couple of years,” GV co-coach Mark Lambourn said.

“I thought last year was a fantastic game and when we were up by eight points with 28 minutes gone, I had nearly started singing the song.

“Six minutes later we’re still playing and we’re eight points down.

“It was a heartbreaker.”