Last November, the Tallangatta footy club's committee members were scratching their heads and wondering how they could turn their fortunes around.
Their senior team had finished the recent Tallangatta and District league season on the bottom of the ladder, so they were desperate to bring in a few recruits. But they were struggling to land even one signature.
"We hadn't signed anyone," club president Richard Fraser recalled. "The four or five of us who do most of the committee work were really worried."
There was a breakthrough when Tim Brook, a tough midfielder who had previously played for North Albury, Wodonga Raiders and Howlong, decided to join Tallangatta.
"Another couple of blokes then came out to have a look at us, and they were like, 'Oh, he's playing here is he?' Next minute, they signed. It just snowballed," Fraser said.
Tom Russell from Wodonga was the second player to sign. Then Ben Heinrich, Brent Hibberson and James Breen – all former teammates of Hoppers senior coach Zac Fulford – jumped on board as well.
"We were really lucky with the way it all came together," Fraser said.
"In the last three or four years we've had a very young side. I think we only had one married man in our senior group last year.
"We get uni students from Albury, but they are usually light bodies. They would be very competitive until half-time, before falling away as the stronger opposition bodies got on top of them.
"It meant our captain Tyson Smith had to carry the team on his back.
"So we targeted onballers with stronger bodies, who are better able to protect the ball and could give Tyson some support.
"And by the start of this season we were confident that we had as good a group of onballers as anyone."
Nevertheless, the Tallangatta hierarchy had only modest expectations when the season began.
"We are coming from a long way back," Fulford told the Border Mail in February.
The comments reflected the fact the Hoppers' senior side had not made the finals since winning the 2009 grand final. In fact, it had won just 12 games in its previous three campaigns.
Since this season began, however, Fulford's team has emerged as the TDFL's big improver.
Prior to taking on fellow premiership aspirant Thurgoona on Saturday, the Hoppers boasted a 7-0 record and a percentage of 241.
"It's probably a surprise to us how well we have started the season," Fraser said.
"Some sides who were tipped to do well are down the ladder a bit, while we've been able to make a really good start."
Tallangatta suffered a relatively rapid fall from grace after winning the flag in 2009. The Hoppers won nine games in 2010, four in 2011 and just one in 2012.
"Once you start to slip it just seems to make it harder and harder to hold your ground," Fraser said. "It was a frustrating time."
The Hoppers' turnaround began when the state government and the Towong Shire committed to funding a $1.4 million redevelopment of the facilities at the club's home ground, Rowen Park.
The Tallangatta Multi-Sport Precinct, as the development was labelled, was officially opened in May last year.
"It's fantastic," Fraser said. "You can watch both the netball and the football from our new social room, behind big glass windows. The opposition seem to enjoy coming in and having a beer with us now."
Having some of the best facilities in the north-east certainly helped the Hoppers' recruiting campaign over the summer.
The club's rise up the ladder has also been assisted by the way the Tallangatta league's fixture is structured, with the bottom teams from the previous year only having to play the top sides once.
This means the Hoppers don't have to play the flag favourites and defending premiers Kiewa-Sandy Creek for another month.
Still, Tallangatta has already proven its finals credentials by ending Beechworth's unbeaten run in round five, and by kicking the highest score ever recorded in the TDFL's history – 49.23 (317) – against the hapless Wodonga Saints in round six.
Those results created a real buzz around the club and the town.
"People like to see you win," Fraser said. "You get a few more through the gate, a few more buy a beer, and it all rolls on from there."
There are still plenty of footy fans up in the north-east who doubt that Tallangatta can go all the way from wooden spooners to premiers. But Fraser and his crew are aiming high.
"I'm hoping we can finish in the top three," Fraser said. "Kiewa-Sandy Creek is the measuring stick, but anyone can beat them on their day regardless of how strong they look on paper."
TALLANGATTA FNC
The Tallangatta footy club was known as the Magpies until it merged with Bullioh Valley prior to the 1978 season. The new club was called the Tallangatta Valley Hoppers. A new Bullioh club was formed prior to the 2001 season, so the Hoppers later dropped the word "Valley" from their name.
By Adam McNicol