RIVERINA FILES: LEETON WHITTON

2015 Result:   4th (finished 3rd on ladder, but knocked out in second week of finals)
Home and Away:   11 wins, 5 losses
Finals Form:  Lost qualifying final to Wagga Tigers
Lost minor semi-final to Collingullie-GP
Club Best & Fairest:    Ben Curley
Best First Year Player:  Danyan Evans
Rising Star:    Mitch Hardie (also League Rising Star)

Snapshot: A great rebuilding year for the Crows might have ended in disappointment when they were unable to see out the season as well as Wagga Tigers and Collingullie-GP, but the Crows are aiming up again for 2016.
There’s a new face at the helm, albeit a familiar one, as Jade Hodge returns to Riverina football to coach the Crows. On a recent weekend visit to meet the players he brought two key position players with him as new signings, both with solid reputations in Tasmanian football, and confirmed Sean Browning has taken on the assistant coaching duties.
With Toby Conroy, Mitch Heaslip and their Canberra connection committed to travelling for another season, and a host of youngsters with another season of first grade under their belts, the Crows have plenty of upside. And they have plenty of rivals talking.

Highlights: Hitting top spot on the ladder after a win over GGGM in July was confirmation of the job the Crows had done in turning around their fortunes. After Dave Meline’s decision to back youth in his first season in charge it was a fitting reward to watch his players celebrate a win over the Lions that installed them as the league’s top team for a week. He kept a lid on the celebrations warning them their three tough wins over finals contenders wouldn’t look so good if they lost the next three – which they did (see below) – but the buzz around the team at the time was a sight to behold.
There was the feeling that they’d done the right thing in convincing Conroy and Heaslip to come home; that the Canberra-based pair had found the right recruits to join them in Neil Irwin, Michael Wescome and Cam Griggs; and with Brad Boots also travelling back from Albury there were good footballers and good mentors for Leeton’s younger players who had a tough initiation in 2014, with just three wins.
For most around the club, the genuine highlight wasn’t the ladder position then, or at any other point of the year. It was the improvement in players like Mitch Hardie and Lucas Meline, among others.
“I think it was seeing those kids grow again, step up and go to that next level,” says president, Mick Fraser.
“Having those Canberra guys teaching those boys and having them around the club made a big difference but just the growth of those young blokes (was the highlight).”
A few more experienced players around also brought the best out in Ben Curley, who won the club’s best and fairest. After bearing much of the responsibility for carrying the team in 2014, the former Tasmanian was freed up to concentrate on playing his own game. He and Bryce O’Garey showed why they are continually referred to as ‘honorary locals’ – clearly a term of respect as well as endearment at Leeton.

Lowlights: Two straight losses to exit the finals is disappointing for any team, even if you’ve been beaten by the two form teams of the competition. Having earned the second chance in the finals, the Crows firstly went down to Wagga Tigers who were on a nine-game winning streak, before running into premiership-bound Collingullie-GP just as they were finding their best form all year.
The Crows didn’t have the legs to match those two teams at that stage of the competition. Injuries had disrupted their momentum late in the season, their younger players were beginning to feel the effects of a long season and they just didn’t have the legs to match the slick Tigers and Demons outfits.
“They just got a bit worn out towards the end and we didn’t have that depth,” Fraser says.
“We were four goals up against Gullie in that final… it just showed a bit of that depth and the young fellas in their first experience of finals footy. They started to get tired.”
The Crows went into the finals a little deflated … they’d hit a lull following that win over Ganmain that took them to top spot. Dave Meline even reminded his players in the sheds after that game to be mindful that they were only halfway through a tough six-week stretch and it was going to take a couple of bigger efforts in their next two games.
They lost, narrowly and on the back of some poor kicking, to Tigers a week later then crashed to defeat against Gullie at home the following Saturday as they celebrated 20 years since the formation of the Crows. A thrashing at the hands of Coolamon followed and suddenly they were back to fifth before the bye and a win over Turvey Park made sure of a top three finish.
“We’re hoping our guys learn from this year and take it in to next year,” Fraser said.

Surprise Packet: Mitch Hardie had made an impression in 2014 but he came of age this year developing into one of the key midfielders in the competition.
The teenager showed a knack for getting his hands on the ball and a maturity beyond his years. In some games, it was the Hardie and Conroy show as the pair piled up possessions in the midfield.
The teenager finished the season tied for fourth in the Quinn Medal count, alongside teammate Ben Curley. The pair polled 14 votes each, just one best-on-ground behind winner Jayden Kotzur (while Conroy was tied for seventh with 12 votes). Such was his form early in the year, Hardie had been a joint leader after five rounds and was the outright leader 10 rounds into the season.

Areas to improve: Fitness and depth might be what makes a difference at Leeton-Whitton in 2015. As well as the Canberra connection around again, the recruitment of Jade Hodge as coach and two key position players, Luke Potter and Josh Grant, will bolster the ranks of the Crows.
Sean Browning is also set to return to the field after a knee operation, and will take responsibility for much of the pre-season planning before Hodge moves to town. Hodge said there’ll be a big focus on fitness and the players are already working under Browning at his gym to get in shape before Christmas.
With Dan Sullivan returning to coach reserve grade, the Crows hope to have plenty of numbers and a greater ability to cover for injuries.
“He’ll drag a lot of people back which will give us the depth that we need,” Hodge said.
“He’s a popular guy at the club and there’s a handful who haven’t played for a couple of years that have already said they’ll come back.”
Hodge hopes to have plenty of numbers, even if it means pressure for players to get a game each week.
“I think the couple of injuries towards the end of last year – without that depth, it doesn’t help if you get those injuries. It puts a lot of pressure on the guys playing every week.”
By the end of the season, the Crows didn’t look quite as slick as the other top sides whereas earlier in the year rival coaches were commenting on the ‘clean’ skills of their players.

What to look forward to: Further development of the Crows young stars is an exciting prospect for the team and the town. Lucas Meline was making a name for himself towards the end of last season, while Hardie was obviously getting plenty of accolades. With another season of experience and a finals campaign behind them, the younger Crows know what it takes to go to that next level.
With some added size and the familiarity of the Canberra crew being in their second season there’s the sense that Leeton’s generation next will have every opportunity to continue to grow into quality first graders. David Meline was quick to point out on a couple of occasions last year that the Crows were still lacking players in the prime of their career, with 100-150 games of experience and knowing exactly what it takes to play first grade. But in 2016 there are plenty heading into their second or third season of first grade and understanding what it takes to compete.
“That’s the key, they’ve got that experience now,” Hodge said.
“The kids were the best thing that I took out of it when I was down there last time (during the season). They showed a lot of promise.”
Hodge said Browning is fit and enthusiastic about returning and his presence will be like having another recruit in itself.
But the real new faces are Hodge, Grant and Potter. There’ll be plenty of interest in Hodge and seeing what sort of footballer he’s become while his key recruits also demand attention. At 6’6 Grant cuts an imposing figure and the 22-year old, a Tasmanian state rep at under 18s, will likely be installed at centre-half-back.
Hodge says Potter, a couple of inches shorter, can play anywhere but he’s likely to move between half forward and the midfield, depending on how the team comes together.
Hodge was thrilled with the interest in the club when back in town a couple of weeks ago.
“It’s pretty exciting times and I know the club is looking forward to it, and I’m really looking forward to it and seeing what we can do.
“Obviously you play footy to play finals and try to go as far as you can and they all seem really keen.”