JAMIE Latta was 10 when he heard what he thought was football’s dirtiest word: merger.
His beloved Walpeup Kangaroos were asking their members if they would agree to amalgamate with arch-enemy Underbool.
“I remember being surveyed as a primary school student about my opinions,” Mr Latta said.
“Walpeup Primary School was unanimous in their objection to joining.”
The merger went ahead anyway. Mr Latta remembers the day: November 17, 1981.
History is now about to repeat itself. But this time, the 44-year-old has a different perspective.
He’s the president of Walpeup-Underbool — the club he once tried to stop in its tracks — as they prepare to merge with fierce opponents Ouyen United next season.
While he’s not thrilled by the prospect, Mr Latta knows it has to happen.
The game goes on.
“We’re all country people, pragmatists by nature, and it’s an inevitable sign of the times that our populations are diminishing,” he said. “It’s logical to have to combine our institutions to stay viable ... and by nature they tend to happen with your closest rivals.”
Mergers have long been the reality for country footy clubs in the Mallee and Ouyen United and Walpeup-Underbool are the last clubs standing.
They’re the combination of 43 different teams, some dating back a century from places most Victorians couldn’t find on a map. The history is important to Ouyen United president Jarrod Munro, but it means nothing without a future.
“It gives you somewhere for your children to play football and netball and that’s definitely the most important thing,” he said.
The merger was recommended by AFL Victoria in a move which spells the end of the Mallee Football League. The new team is set to play in Sunraysia next year.
Both clubs are negotiating the key sticking points: the new club’s name, jumper, where they play and who pays for what.
Both Mr Munro and Mr Latta are cautiously optimistic and their members are supportive, as long as both sides get an honest deal.
“There’s a hell of a lot of work to be done yet,” Mr Munro said.
“But I’ve got strong support for a fair merger.”
MEANWHILE, there’s football to be played, with both sides scrapping for a place in this year’s finals. They will meet next weekend for the final time, enemies squaring off before becoming teammates.
Hundreds of ex-players will gather on game day for a reunion and former Ouyen United president Michael Robertson says “people are coming out of the woodwork”.
“The best things about sport are not necessarily the premierships but the people you meet,” he said.
Mr Robertson feared the worst when fierce rivals Tempy-Gorya-Patchewollock and Ouyen Rovers formed Ouyen United in 1997.
“But it was the best thing that ever happened,” he said.
“These guys we detested and yelled and swore at ended up being great blokes.”
Ouyen United won the premiership in 1998.
“Sport is a huge part of life in the bush,” Mr Robertson said. “It’s the thing that brings us all together.”
Footy and family have always gone hand-in-hand in the Mallee. Mr Latta tells the tale of his grandfather, who debuted for Torrita at 14 in 1934. He retired 46 years later with 800 games under his belt.
Mr Latta’s father won seven best-and-fairests for Walpeup, his two brothers both played more than 300 games for Walpeup-Underbool and his eldest sons now play too. His wife’s cousin’s son, 20-year-old Dallas Willsmore, has even found himself on Hawthorn’s list after playing junior football for Walpeup-Underbool.
Mr Latta describes himself as “more of an off-field contributor” but his passion for footy is obvious.
“ Everyone works together looking after the kids and coming to the footy.”
His club’s name will be different next year. The colours might change and no one knows where the new team will play. But the love of the game will still be burning bright.
ByTom Minear
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