By RUSSELL BENNETT
FROM the moment Black Caviar’s 25th race-win blared over the loud speakers at the Cora Lynn football ground during the under-18s match between the Cobras and Kooweerup, it was becoming obvious that Saturday was no ordinary day on the Ellinbank footy league calendar.
A big crowd packed out the ground well before the senior sides squared off at the unique time of 7pm in its Call to Arms cancer clash – in honour of a young Cobras club member battling the disease.
Cora Lynn’s 2012 Under-18 premiership flag was unfurled, before the clubrooms became host to a night of reminiscing about the glory days of seasons past, with Cardinia Shire councillors and Ellinbank and District Football League officials joining local footy legends for a function leading up to the first bounce.
Emcee, and Gippsland football identity, Rick Irwin paid tribute to the Kooweerup Football Club committee – headed by Tony Cammarano – for its role in the night, as well as former Cobras president Andrew Bergmeier for transforming Cora Lynn into a strong, competitive club from top to bottom – juniors to seniors.
Cobras’ director of coaching Nick Rutley spoke about the Call to Arms cause, while Irwin outlined just how close to home it was for many local footy tragics.
“One in two men will be diagnosed (with cancer) by the age of 85,” he said.
“But around a third of all cancers can be prevented by healthy lifestyle choices.”
Some of those close to the Cora Lynn club member battling testicular cancer didn’t even know about the fight he was facing until last Thursday night at training.
“He just accepted it as life and moved forward with dignity,” Rutley said.
“But this (the Call to Arms cause) isn’t a motivator (for the game).
“It’s about gaining perspective and focusing on what’s really important.”
Irwin closed by saying Cora Lynn had become known as “the place with no shops, but the best oval in Victoria”.
With five teams in the Ellinbank league and three in the South East Juniors competition, the club has shown just how far it has come since the senior side was obliterated by more than 20 goals by Ellinbank in 2005.
And after, at one stage, having hosted the Ellinbank league Grand Final 33 times in 40 years, the Cobras have made no secret of their desire to do so again.
If the success of Saturday’s big game was anything to go by, the ground is set for more night matches in the not-too-distant future.
Cobras president Trevor Byrne looked forward to the prospect of the club hosting another Call to Arms clash next year.
A brief three-quarter-time scuffle on the ground between opposing Cobras and Demons player and supporter groups was the only (minor) blemish on Saturday night but Byrne said he was already looking into what could be done to avoid a repeat in the future.
“It was a little bit disappointing to see the amount of alcohol brought into the ground on Saturday,” he said.
“We might look at having a police presence in the future or even look at private security.
“But we were very happy with how the night went (as a whole).
“It helped to highlight men’s cancers in rural areas and we’ll look to have another Call to Arms game next season.”
