Ovens & Murray: Corowa-Rutherglen clear Tyler Roos and Darcy Hope

Ovens & King club King Valley has scored a major mid-season coup with the signing of a player who was in contention to represent the O&M.

King Valley has bolstered its ranks with the addition of a third player with recent Ovens & Murray league experience as it prepares to mount a late finals charge in the Ovens & King league.

Darcy Hope played the first six matches of the season for Corowa-Rutherglen, but has not played since mid-May when he booted three goals against Wodonga.

The contracted player had two clearances rejected by Corowa-Rutherglen before the O&M club agreed to release him on Thursday.

As predicted, Tyler Roos has also joined Horsham District league club Kaniva-Leeor where another former Corowa-Rutherglen player Josh Clayton has played in recent weeks.

Hope will reunite with Connor Leslie, who played the first two matches at Corowa-Rutherglen before being cleared to King Valley.

“He’s fallen into our hands a little bit which is always nice,” King Valley coach Jack Davies said of the club’s latest signing.

“We’re looking to build some consistency and get on a bit of a run in the back half of the year.

“We lack a bit of target who can leap at the footy so he will be a good pick up.

“To recruit players during the season is gold.

“There are still a few spot up for grabs.

“A few results have gone our way, but we need to start winning games.”

Darcy Hope playing for Corowa-Rutherglen against Albury. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Hope and Leslie were recruited by Corowa-Rutherglen for its first season after spending 2023 in recess.

Hope was well on track to surpass the 18 goals he kicked with 13 in the opening six games and was named in the initial O&M interleague training squad.

Scott Jansen, who also played at Corowa-Rutherglen last year, joined King Valley in the off-season.

Hope, Leslie and Jansen played together at Karingal in 2023.

King Valley made finals last season, but has only three wins to date to be sitting sixth.

It has a must-win match against fifth-placed North Wangaratta on Saturday following a King’s Birthday weekend bye.

“WE”VE GOT A BIT OF WORK TO DO”

Corowa-Rutherglen coach Daryn Cresswell has conceded his first season at the helm has fallen short of expectations as the Ovens & Murray club braces for more player departures this week.

It is expected to clear star midfielder Tyler Roos and forward Darcy Hope to other country clubs after slumping to another loss on Saturday against North Albury.

Roos is expected to join another former Corowa-Rutherglen player Josh Clayton at Horsham District league club Kaniva-Leeor.

Hope, who hasn’t played the last two matches, has lodged another clearance to join Ovens & King club King Valley where close mate Connor Leslie has played the last five matches after starting the season at Corowa-Rutherglen.

Daryn Cresswell facing his biggest coaching challenge in the O&M midway through his first season in charge of Corowa-Rutherglen. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Corowa-Rutherglen is 1-7 in a season Cresswell hoped would yield “five or six” wins.

“Our footy is not as bad as the win-loss record says,” he said.

“But we’ve got a bit of work to do.

“We didn’t bring any stars in and I think that’s the big thing.

“The players from Cairns and Griffith we recruited are rising up a level.

“We need to recruit a little bit better if I’m really honest.

“Everyone wants to win and you can understand there would be doubts with what is going on.

“But it’s a work in progress.

“Two years ago the club was in recess and last year they got flogged nearly every week.”

Tyler Roos playing for South Cairns last year. Photo: Gyan-Reece Rocha

Roos didn’t take his place in the selected team on Saturday and Cresswell said he would be a big loss.

“I’m very close with the family and he’s followed me everywhere I’ve gone,” Cresswell said.

“I would love to keep hold of him.

“But he wants to go and play with (Clayton) and travelling three hours by yourself to play is pretty difficult.”

Roos and Clayton played under Cresswell in a premiership winning team at South Cairns.

Twelve months ago the pair was released to play a one-off match for Corowa-Rutherglen as it emerged the club was deep in talks with Cresswell about taking over as coach.

Cresswell was let go by South Cairns midway through a two-year coaching contract to take on his third O&M coaching job after previously being in charge of Wodonga Raiders and Wangaratta Rovers.

Corowa-Rutherglen forward Darcy Hope wants to join Ovens & King club King Valley where close mate Connor Leslie is playing. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

His appointment sparked a recruiting frenzy of players with 55 player points and extra salary cap space available.

Corowa-Rutherglen’s only win to date has been against Wodonga Raiders with the victorious team including 16 players who weren’t at the club last year.

“We could have had three wins by now, but we haven’t,” Cresswell said.

“It’s a tough comp and if you’re not on your game you get beat.”