Mid-Season report: Farrer Football League
The Farrer league in NSW’s Riverina region is absolutely pumping in 2022 with any club able to win on its day. Or perhaps that should be any club can draw on its day… There have been three draws this season to Round 12, with each of the top four sides all having played in a draw.
Ladder
Marrar Bombers 9-1-1
EWK Hawks 7-2-1
TRYC Magpies 6-4-1
North Wagga Saints 5-5-1
CSU Bushpigs 5-5
Barellan Two Blues 4-6-1
Northern Jets 4-7
Temora Kangaroos 3-7
Colleambally Blues 2-8-1
Full ladder available here.
Summary
The first tied match was in Round 1 between Farrer heavyweights Marrar Bombers and East Wagga Kooringal Hawks. The teams were top of the table in 2021 before the COVID cancellation. Reid Gordon saved the day for Marrar, with a goal after the siren to even the scores. Reid’s kick completed a monumental comeback by the Bombers who trailed by 29 points at half time.
Footy fans had barely caught their breath from Round 1, when Colleambally and Barellan drew in Round 2, scoring 61 points each. Barellan resurrected themselves from 22 points down at three quarter time but when the scoreboard showed 60-61 at full time, everyone thought Colleambally had taken the win (including the Blues who belted out their song). Alas, the scoreboard was incorrect and both goal umpires’ scoresheets showed a draw.
The Rock-Yerong Creek Magpies and North Wagga Saints played out the third draw for the season in Round 6. Again, it was a heroic act that evened up the scores after the final siren, with Josh Thompson of the Saints sinking Magpies’ hearts bagging a goal to make it 74 all.
The Farrer league has been one of the most exciting in the state in 2022, and it’s not just the drawn games. Barellan is pushing for the finals, having been unbeaten for the first five rounds. This is significant because since its entry into Farrer in 2015, the Two Blues haven’t played finals. At the other end of the spectrum, in Round 3 The Rock-Yerong Creek managed what no team has since 2016, defeated Marrar at its Langtry Oval fortress.
We can’t wait to see how the rest of the season plays out in Farrer!
NOTE: The Southern NSW Women’s league is contested before the AFL Riverina competition kicks off. Ganmain Grong Grong Matong Lions defeated North Wagga Saints on 1 April 2022.