FLAG favourite Corryong has sent the Tumbarumba dynasty crashing down to earth with a thumping 93-point win in its season opener at Corryong on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Demons’ crushing 20.11 (131) to 5.8 (38) victory signals the end of one of the most dominant eras in Upper Murray football.
Since 2012, the Roos have been the standout side of the competition and entered the match on a 23-match winning streak including the past two flags.
But the departure of several of Tumbarumba’s premiership heroes including Nick Molkentein, Wade McPherson, Shane and Chase Macintosh and Mark Parr has left the Roos a shadow of the powerhouse they once were.
In contrast, Corryong is widely being touted as the new benchmark after the arrival of prized recruits Adrian Rijnbeek, James Paton, Shannon Gilson and Troy Cooper over the summer.
Rijnbeek booted six goals against the hapless Roos and should rival Matt Molkentein and Tom Hickey as the league’s premier forward by the end of the season.
Corryong coach Andrew Reid was blown away by his side’s performance against the reigning premier.
“We didn’t get off to the greatest start but we just seemed to get better and better as the match progressed,” Reid said.
“I never expected the score to blow out like it did against a side that has won the past two flags.
“Our recruits led the way and slotted in nicely.
“But we are not getting ahead of ourselves and have got Bullioh this week who I expect will give us a better indication of where we are at.”
In other matches Bill Deery and Ben McEvoy combined for nine goals in Cudgewa’s 92 point trouncing of Federal while Bullioh had a huge 136-point victory over Border-Walwa.