Ovens and Murray: Corowa-Rutherglen seeks extra salary cap and player points

More is needed by the club presently sitting in limbo and on the sidelines in the Ovens and Murray.

Corowa-Rutherglen will apply for significant salary cap and player points concessions for the next two seasons to guarantee a successful reboot in 2024.

The Ovens and Murray league club presently in recess will soon make a formal application for more cash to spend on players and extra player points, with AFL Northeast Border to ultimately decide if the support is forthcoming.

The club was granted an extra $20,000 this season, but the move came too late to prevent it from withdrawing seniors, reserves and under-18 teams this year following a major player exodus and flooded facilities at its home ground.

Corowa-Rutheerglen co-coach John Elmore. Picture: Dannika Bonser

Corowa-Rutherglen co-president John Elmore said he expected no pushback from the other nine clubs with the undisclosed level of support sought.

A figure of at least $200,000 has been mentioned to ensure the club has the best chance of regaining former players and enticing new talent.

“We will be seeking some assistance in that way for sure,” he said.

“We’re hoping that can be for two years because we will definitely need it.”

O and M clubs have a $125,000 salary cap with half of a playing coach’s wage sitting outside the cap and a non-playing coach’s salary entirely outside the cap.

Corowa-Rutherglen has locked in non-playing coach Steve Owen to lead the club next year with the search underway to secure a “well credentialed” playing assistant coach.

Corowa-Rutherglen coach Steve Owen. Picture: Supplied

Last season, Corowa-Rutherglen had 46 player points, the equal highest in the competition, with 42 being the most the club used on two occasions in the second half of last year.

North Albury also had 46 points last season and has retained the same amount this year.

Mr Elmore said the club had ruled out a merger with any other team in the “Corowa Cluster” and was determined to return to the O and M rather than play in the Hume or Tallangatta and District league.

Rutherglen and Wahgunyah, which both play in the Tallangatta and District league, have been talking about a possible merger in recent weeks.

O and M general manager Kane Arendarcikas said the league would back extra support sought by Corowa-Rutherglen with the league also seeking regular updates on recruitment, volunteer retention and facility upgrades from the club.

The O and M league is not actively speaking to clubs from other leagues about joining its ranks.