Border Mail |
NINE rounds into the Hume league season and Culcairn is in unfamiliar territory.
After winning the 2007 flag, the Lions have contested four of the past five preliminary finals but will miss finals this year.
It is the first time in six seasons the Lions have not been involved in finals and are in danger of taking their first wooden spoon since entering the Hume league in 1992.
The Lions lost 13 players in a tumultuous off-season and slipped to bottom of the ladder with a 0-8 record.
Jarrah Maksymow, Shannon Gilson, Leigh Baker, Ben Schulz, Luke Taylor, Michael Hueske, Kyle Lieschke, Matt Thorneycroft, Trent Logue, Travis Gardiner, Nick Finlayson, Nathaniel Stroh and Brendan Mitchell have all departed.
Dual Azzi medallist and club stalwart Brent Barber said the reasons for the mass exodus were many and varied.
“There was a number of reasons why the club lost over half of its senior list,” Barber said.
“Players moving away and going overseas, a few players going to other clubs, but the biggest disappointment was players that were contracted at the club signing at other clubs.
“Then you also get the snowball effect and a few players leaving once they knew we weren’t going to be as strong as previous years.”
A large proportion of former Culcairn players have found their way to Thurgoona in recent seasons including Luke Donnan, Craig Bosley, Jason Sheather, Shannon Gilson, Trent Logue, Sam Field, Daniel Kannenberg, Leigh Baker, Lachie Hutchins, Paul Tucker and Scott Sheather.
“Some of our supporters like to refer to Thurgoona as ‘Culcairn South’,” he said.
“But I suppose the main attraction is less travel for training and Thurgoona has been very competitive in the Tallangatta league in recent seasons.”
Despite the dramatic slide, Barber said the club had quickly put plans in place to maintain its proud record and player morale remained high.
“Obviously we would like to be in a better position, but the club knew it was going to be a tough year after the players we had lost,” he said.
“Everyone is still positive around the club and it has never been in better shape off the field.
“We would like to think we can string a few wins together over the next month and avoid the wooden spoon.
“But in saying that all of the sides over the next month have played similar footy to us and that is good in patches.
“One thing I am certain of is that we will turn things around very quickly, with the club not thinking about finals, we are able to look towards next year and address the areas we need to improve in and the type of players that we need to recruit to be a force again.”
Barber also paid tribute to fellow Azzi medallist Graham Fruean, who announced last year would be his last.
Fruean decided to shelve retirement plans and help the club out and play for another season despite knowing the club was in for a long season.
“We knew that we were going to struggle for player numbers and were forced to call on some old stagers such as Fruey, Luke Schuberg, Steven Brand, Scott McGrath and Brendan Way to help out,” he said.
“It has been fantastic to see their loyalty to the club and a testament to their character.”
