Upper Murray: Federal co-coach Darryn McKimmie says future belongs in Tallangatta league
Upper Murray finals begin on Saturday, but big questions remain about the league’s viability and one of the region’s best players is calling for change.
The Upper Murray league finals series starts on Saturday with fresh doubts over the competition’s long-term future following a final round forfeit from one of the senior teams that make up the final four.
Federal’s senior side forfeited its match last Saturday against Bullioh with about a half team unavailable for selection, but it will play Bullioh in the first semi-final this Saturday.
After nearly folding on the eve of the season, Federal has qualified for finals with just two wins.
Federal co-coach Darryn McKimmie said the idea needed to be revisited as a matter of urgency to ensure the future of football in the area.
McKimmie is one of the best players to come out of the Upper Murray in the past 30 years and famously kicked the winning goal after the siren for Lavington in the 2005 Ovens and Murray league grand final.
He has moved back to the area to take over the family farm after coaching highly successful merger club Brock-Burrum Saints in the Hume league.
“It’s the only option that ticks the most boxes,” he said.
“It’s not going to be easy and nothing is when you do mergers and go to another competition.
“But we’re hemmed in where we are geographically.
“It is the most obvious, but unfortunately we don’t all see that.”
Tumbarumba finished on top of the ladder and is searching for its first premiership since going back-to-back in 2012-13.
Tumbarumba president Mont Waters said he strongly opposed the merger idea.
“A merger of the Upper Murray is the end of Tumbarumba,” he said.
“They had two years to work on a merger plan and at no stage did they give any consideration to playing games in Tumbarumba to keep our identity.
“The people pushing this are Corryong-based.”
Waters’ son James coaches Tumbarumba and has recruited six players from Lavington where he previously played.
“Every Upper Murray club has got half a dozen outsiders,” Waters said.
“What everyone is forgetting is netball.
“There is more to country footy than just senior footy.”
Saturday’s first semi-final is being played at Bullioh.
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