From the Record: East Wagga Kooringal

A Club on the Rise: East Wagga Kooringal Seeking Off Field Success in 2017

Douglas Connor – Saturday 8th April 2017

East Wagga Kooringal returns to Farrer football league action this Saturday as a club on the rise, with their 2016 premiership marking their first victory in senior’s football since 1982. After featuring in the grand final in the two previous seasons, the Hawks finally got their hands on the flag after a 40-point win over Coleambally at Robertson Oval.

 
However, it is not only on the playing field that the club is seeing success in recent months, with off-field development sighted by club President Steve Absolum as one of the major goals for the coming season. The club has recently installed a new netball court, while construction of an amenities block is set to be completed by mid-year.

 
“Finals is always a priority but off the field we need to keep doing work for the club, particularly with building our infrastructure, and we really want to build upon our facilities because we want the club to keep surviving, to be here another 30 years and you can’t do that if you only focus on putting money into winning flags.”

 
This season also sees the reintroduction of the clubs under 17s football side, a team which has been absent from the competition in recent years due to a struggle with numbers. Absolum, a former 150 game player for the club, believes that creating pathways for junior footballers is key to the clubs continuing success.

 
“It’s so important to have somewhere for our junior players to come through and develop kids into the senior footy club. You can’t make people play football or netball for you, you need to create a positive environment so people who love their sport will want to come play out here, and success will follow suit.”

 
The Hawks begin their title defence with a first round encounter against last year’s grand final opponents Coleambally, and must contend with the loss of 7 players from the premiership winning side including full-forward Marc Geppert who scored 111 goals in the 2016 season.

 
“That first game of the season is a bit tough, when you beat a team in a grand final and they have to stand there and watch you raise that flag, that’s hard. That puts that burning desire into you a bit. It’s always interesting and you have to take the new season in a new way, but the club is a great place to be at the minute, and it’ll be a very proud moment when the boys raise that flag on Saturday.”