Murray: Congupna smashing its way towards back-to-back Murray flags

A team that didn’t win a flag for 32 years until last season has taken its game to even higher levels. See all the undefeated teams to date.

David Johnston

2 min read

June 19, 2025 - 5:00AM

The Weekly Times

Congupna is storming towards back-to-back Murray league flags with a rarely seen domination in the first half of the season.

After clinching its first flag since 1993 with an epic one-point grand final win last year, The Road has ruthlessly disposed of its opposition in the opening 10 games to build up the best percentage of any team in the state.

Congupna has a mammoth percentage of 509.22 following six wins by more than 100 points and two others by more than 90 points.

It’s next opponent on Saturday is second-placed Moama.

Tallangatta and District league pacesetter Kiewa-Sandy Creek has the second highest percentage of 443.08 with two wins by more than 200 points.

Congupna and Kiewa-Sandy Creek have average winning margins of 119 and 109.1 points to date this season.

At the other end of the scale, Geelong league club North Shore has the worst percentage in the state of only 7.32 per cent.

Congupna’s domination has been helped by some anticipated challengers suffering major injury blows to key personnel.

Congupna coach Ben Bingham calls the shots in last year’s Murray league grand final win against Finley. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

But coach Ben Bingham said the retention of the bulk of the 2025 premiership line-up had also been a big factor in being well placed to complete back-to-back flags.

“We haven’t really gone out and recruited too much,” he said.

“We’ve literally recruited two players new into the club this year who have played seniors.

“Continuity helps, but a couple of the teams up the top have had a couple of injuries to key players.

“We’re very mindful of that as well.

“The second half of games is where we’ve got going as we like to pride ourselves on our fitness.

“We’re running out games really well.”

Congupna’s Kyle Mueller brought up his 100th goal in last year’s grand final. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Congupna topped up its ruck stocks with the signing of Shepparton East big man Tom McCluskey, but had been without 2024 century goalkicker Kyle Mueller for two matches due to a knee injury.

Mueller returned on Saturday and booted five goals against third-placed Nathalia.

“If it was last year we would have kept playing him,” Bingham said.

“But we’ve given him a couple of weeks off before coming back last weekend.”

Mulwala, which won back-to-back flags in 2022-23, shaped as one of the biggest threats to Congupna, but lost Matt Gorman and James Elliott to season-ending knee injuries in round 1.

Another danger, Cobram, has been without reigning O’Dwyer Medallist Sam Beasley with a broken hand since round 3 and younger brother Harry ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in round 1.

Last year’s runner-up Finley has plummeted to 11th spot with only two wins.