Upper Murray FL: Federal records win after almost forced into oblivion

After almost folding, an Upper Murray league club has pulled off an unlikely win which has the coaches daring to dream of glory.

Federal coach Matt Jones is eyeing off finals in the Upper Murray league less than a week after the club stared down the strong possibility of folding.

The Swans beat arch rival Corryong on Saturday by 43 points after Jones miraculously pulled together a senior team in the space of just six days which guaranteed its future in the competition.

The Upper Murray league had rejected Federal’s initial plan to field a reserves football team only due to a shortage of players.

“Some of the players who have put their hand up to come back are good footballers,” Jones said.

“They just might not have the fitness or the speed they once did at the moment.

“We got some younger fellows back and everything sort of fell into place.

“Many of them have moved to Albury-Wodonga and the travel factor is a big issue.

“But when the club was in dire straits they came back.”

Federal’s best player in the win, Harry Pole, had played a match for Mitta United in the Tallangatta league this season as uncertainty swirled around the club.

Cameron Tyrell boots one of his three goals for Federal against Corryong in the Upper Murray league. Picture: Corryong Courier

Mitch Paton, who booted four goals, Mitchell McLean and Danny Hales were also in the best players and have all played with Federal previously.

Hales played in the club’s last senior flag in 2016.

The Upper Murray is a five-team competition and in the absence of a dominant team to date, Jones is daring to dream.

“If we run out our full strength side I think we can give it a shake,” he said.

“But it’s very variable, based on commitment levels, and other things going on.

“When it looked like we were folding blokes had booked a fishing trip and that sort of stuff.”

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Posted by Federal Football Netball Club on Friday, April 29, 2022

Jones previously coached Federal’s senior team in 2014 and also coached the reserves in 2017.

“It has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and it was a good release valve after the game,” he said.

“But I know come the middle of July it’s going to be tough.

“I would have contacted 60 or 70 different people over summer and got one or two to land, but some who I did contact have agreed to come on-board at 11.59 on the clock.”

But Jones still has long term concerns for the league’s sustainability and fielding a joint team in the neighbouring Tallangatta league shouldn’t be discounted.

“The writing is on the wall from a junior perspective,” he said.

“There is nothing other than under 11s and Tallangatta, Kiewa and Wodonga’s junior comp are basically reaping the rewards.

“But if (all teams) actually amalgamated they would have Tallangatta league footy with a full entourage of netball and junior footy and you wouldn’t have blokes 38, 39, 40, playing senior footy.”

Upper Murray league operations manager Nadia Edwards.

Upper Murray league operations manager Nadia Edwards said it was a huge relief for Federal to have certainty about its place in the competition.

“It is really great for Federal to have both sides playing,” she said.

“We hope they can fulfil those for the weeks to come.”

Tumbarumba is the only undefeated team after beating Bullioh by six points on Saturday.