View source for Rutherglen Football Club

{{Short description|Australian rules football and netball club}}
{{For|the original Rutherglen FC|Rutherglen Football Club (1893)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox australian football club
  | clubname  = Rutherglen Cats
  | image     = Rutherglen cats logo.png
| image_size = 150 
| color1 = #1C3C63
| color2 = #ffffff
| color3 = solid #ffffff
  | fullname  = Rutherglen Football & Netball Club
  | nicknames = ''Cats''
  | founded   = {{Start date and age|1979}} {{refn|The original "[[Rutherglen Football Club (1893)|Rutherglen FC]]" had been founded in 1893. In 1978 this club merged with [[Corowa Football Club|Corowa Spiders]] to form "[[Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club|Corowa-Rutherglen FC]]". Additionally surplus players formed the "Rutherglen-Corowa Cats" in 1979|group=note|name=mergers}}
  | colours   = {{colorbox|#1C3C63}} {{colorbox|#ffffff}}
  | league    = [[Tallangatta & District Football League|TDFL]]
  | ground    = Barkly Park, <br/><small>Rutherglen, Victoria</small>
  | premierships = '''[[Coreen & District Football League|CDFL]] (3)''': 1984, 1986, 1990
  | url       =  
| pattern_b1      = _thinwhitehoops
| pattern_sh1     = 
| pattern_so1     = _3whitehoops
| body1           = 1C3C63
| shorts1         = 1C3C63
| socks1          = 1C3C63
  | jumper     = 
}}
The Rutherglen Football and Netball Club is an [[Australian rules football]] and [[netball]] club playing its home games in [[Rutherglen, Victoria]], [[Australia]]. 
The current Rutherglen FNC was created after the merger of [[Ovens & Murray Football League]] sides [[Rutherglen Football Club (1893)|Rutherglen]] and [[Corowa Football Club|Corowa]] in 1979. 
Surplus players from the new [[Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club|Corowa-Rutherglen]] club reformed Rutherglen (initially as Rutherglen-Corowa) and played in the [[Coreen & District Football League]] for 13 years.

A stint in the [[Ovens & King Football League]] followed before moving to the [[Tallangatta & District Football League]]. The club dropped the Corowa part in its name in 2002.

==History==

=== Predecessor club ===
{{main|Rutherglen Football Club (1893)}}
The original Rutherglen FC was established in 1877, with the first recorded match being against [[Wahgunyah Football Club]] on Wednesday, 3 June 1877.<ref>{{cite web |title=1877 - Rutherglen v Wahgunyah |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198225432 |website=Trove Newspapers |publisher=Ovens and Murray Advertiser}}</ref> 
Football was played intermittently in the club's formative years against other local towns and districts in the late 1870s and 1880s before it joined the [[Ovens & Murray Football League|Ovens And Murray Football Association]] in 1893 as one of four original teams.
The club was based at [[Rutherglen, Victoria|Rutherglen's]] Barkly Park, located just off Reid Street and just north-west of the town's center. 
It was a powerhouse in the [[Ovens & Murray Football League|Ovens And Murray Football Association]] during its early days competing in many finals.

=== The birth of the ''Cats'' (1979) ===
<!--FOR LESS CONFUSION PLEASE REFER TO THE CLUB BASED TODAY IN RUTHERGLEN AS RUTHERGLEN-COROWA & THE CLUB BASED TODAY IN COROWA AS COROWA-RUTHERGLEN-->
Following the establishment of the [[Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club|Corowa-Rutherglen Roos]] in 1979, after the merger of the [[Corowa Football Club|Corowa Spiders]] and the [[Rutherglen Football Club (1893)|Rutherglen Redlegs]], a number of surplus players decided to form the Rutherglen-Corowa Cats (known in some record books as the Corowa-Rutherglen Cats). Wearing a navy blue and white hooped jersey along with navy blue shorts and navy blue and white hooped socks for the majority of its history, the club was based at Barkly Park. It joined the [[Coreen & District Football League]], based around the farming districts north of [[Corowa, New South Wales|Corowa]], [[New South Wales]]. The club enjoyed 13 short but successful seasons in the Coreen & District Football League, winning a total of 16 Premierships across the three respective grades, including three senior premierships from eight grand final appearances.

After the 1991 season the club left the New South Wales-based Coreen & District football League for the Victorian [[Ovens & King Football League]], based around the greater [[Wangaratta, Victoria|Wangaratta]] area and encompassing many former gold-rush communities. It spent 11 seasons in the Ovens & King Football League, where neither the senior side nor the reserve side contested a grand final. However, the Under 16s contested four grand finals from 1999 to 2002, claiming the club's sole premiership in 2001 over Bright by 29 points at the [[Tarrawingee, Victoria#Sport|Tarrawingee Rec Reserve]]. The club officially changed its name to the Rutherglen Football Club in 2002, dropping the Corowa name 23 years after the merger. At the end of the 2003 season, the Beechworth Football Club and the Rutherglen Football Club applied for an application to join the [[Tallangatta & District Football League]], but were refused by the Ovens and King board. The clubs took an appeal to the [[AFL Victoria Country|Victoria Country Football League]] and won the right to join the Tallangatta & District Football League for the 2004 season.

The Victorian [[Tallangatta & District Football League]] is based around the small towns and farming districts near [[Tallangatta, Victoria|Tallangatta]] with every finals match being held at the [[Sandy Creek, Victoria|Sandy Creek Oval]], locally referred to as the "MCG of the Bush". Since joining, the club's jersey has been varied slightly to re-introduced the white monogrammed "RFC" of the Redlegs along with keeping the navy blue and white hoops of the Cats. While the club still hasn't tasted premiership success at senior or reserve levels after playing a number of final series, the club won its first Tallangatta & District Football League Premiership in 2007 when the Under 14s defeated Yackandanda by three points. Traditionally, the club does not play on the [[Queen's Official Birthday#Australia|Queen's Birthday Weekend]] as the town hosts the annual [[Rutherglen, Victoria#Festivals and events|Winery Walkabout]]. However, in 2016 the [[Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club|Corowa-Rutherglen Roos]] moved their [[Ovens and Murray Football League|OMFL]] and [[Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club#Return to Rutherglen .2F Back to Barkly Park|Round 11]] match against the [[Wodonga Football Club|Wodonga Bulldogs]] to Barkly Park.

The club's numbers have continued to grow each season, including club staff, supporters and sponsors.

==Honours==
===Premierships and achievements===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Coreen & District Football League|CDFL / Coreen & District Football League]] (1979–1991)''' <ref>[http://www.riverinamurrayfootballhistory.info/html/CoreenFinalsHistory_1909_to_2007.xls Coreen & District Football League]</ref>
|-
|
* '''Senior'''
'''Premierships (3):''' ''1984, 1986, 1990''

'''Runners-up (5):''' ''1980, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991.''

'''Minor-premierships (2):''' ''1987, 1990''
|-
|
* '''Reserve'''
'''Premierships (6):''' ''1979, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988.''

'''Runners-up (5):''' ''1980, 1981, 1984, 1989, 1991.''

'''Minor-premierships (4):''' ''1980, 1987, 1990, 1991.''
|-
|
* '''Thirds (Under 16's)'''
'''Premierships (7):''' ''1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990.''

'''Runners-up (2):''' ''1987, 1988.''

'''Minor-premierships (1):''' ''1983.''
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Ovens & King Football League|OKFL / Ovens & King Football League]] (1992–2003)''' <ref>[http://www.riverinamurrayfootballhistory.info/html/O&KFinalsHistory.xls Ovens & King Football League]</ref>
|-
|
* '''Thirds (Under 16's)'''
'''Premierships (1):''' ''2001.''

'''Runners-up (3):''' ''1999, 2000, 2002.''
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Tallangatta & District Football League|TDFL / Tallangatta & District Football League]] (2004-''present'')'''<ref>[http://www.riverinamurrayfootballhistory.info/html/TDFLFinalsHistory.xls Tallangatta & District Football League]</ref>
|-
|
* '''Thirds (Under 17's)'''
'''Runners-up (2):''' ''2010, 2013.''

'''Minor-premierships (2):''' ''2010, 2013.''
|-
|
* '''Fourths (Under 14's)'''
'''Premierships (1):''' ''2007.''

'''Runners-up (1):''' ''2010.''

'''Minor-premierships (1):''' ''2007.''
|-
|}

===Individual honours===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Coreen & District Football League|CDFL / Coreen & District Football League]] (1979–1991)'''
|-
|
* '''Reserve'''
'''Best & Fairest - "Lewis Family Trophy" (3):''' ''1986 (C.Killeen), 1987 (C.Killeen), 1991 (A.Morris).''
|-
|
* '''Thirds (Under 16's)'''
'''Best & Fairest - "Lewis Family Trophy" (5):''' ''1982 (P.Davidson), 1984 (N.Holten), 1985 (P.Weir), 1987 (C.Edmondson), 1990 (D.Shiers).''
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Ovens & King Football League|OKFL / Ovens & King Football League]] (1992–2003)'''
|-
|
* '''Senior'''
'''Best & Fairest - "Clyde Baker Medal" (3):''' ''1996 (Tony Gayfer), 1999 (R.Milthorpe), 2001 (Scott Francis).''

'''Leading Goal Kicker medalist (2):''' ''1996 (R.Robbins - 81), 1997 (P.Busch - 101).''
|-
|
* '''Reserve'''
'''Best & Fairest - "Ross Schutt (Chronicle) Medal" (5):''' ''1994 (K.Renshaw), 1995 (A.Morris), 2000 (B.Renshaw), 2001 (B.Renshaw), 2002 (D.Hatton).''
|-
|
* '''Thirds (Under 16's)'''
'''Best & Fairest - "Fred Jensen Medal" (4):''' ''1994 (M.Dowdle), 1996 (S.O’Keefe), 1997 (A.Howard), 2002 (J.Seymour).''
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Tallangatta & District Football League|TDFL / Tallangatta & District Football League]] (2004-''present'')'''
|-
|
* '''Senior'''
'''Best & Fairest - "Barton Medal" (1):''' ''2005 (B.Davis).''
|-
|
* '''Thirds (Under 17's)'''
'''Best & Fairest medalists (1):''' ''2012 (M.Brennan - 36)''

'''Leading Goal Kicker medalist (1):''' ''2010 (D.Van Berlo - 50).''
|-
|}

===Team of the Century (1903–2003)===
{{Aussie rules team | title = Team of the Century <ref>[http://websites.sportstg.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-6190-80832-0-0&sID=115069 Team of the Century 1903–2003] on SportsTG</ref> 
| backpocket1 =  [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] F. King
| fullback = [[File:AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg|15px]] D. Sandral
| backpocket2 = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] L. Jackson
| halfbackflank1 = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] W. Francis  
| centrehalfback = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] J. Sandral 
| halfbackflank2 = [[File:AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg|15px]] J. Kingston
| wing1 = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] A. Dunn
| centre = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] W. Gayfer
| wing2 = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] W. O'Donoghue
| halfforwardflank1 = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] D. Carroll
| centrehalfforward = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] N. Hawking
| halfforwardflank2 = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] [[File:AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg|15px]] G. Tobias <sup>1</sup>
| forwardpocket1 = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] A. Francis
| fullforward = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] R. Baker
| forwardpocket2 = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] A. McCauley
| ruck = [[File:AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg|15px]] M. Mills
| ruckrover = [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] J. King
| rover = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] J. Clancy
| interchange1 = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] J. Lane
| interchange2 = [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] A. Way
| interchange3 = [[File:AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg|15px]] C. Dickins
| interchange4 =
| interchange5 =
| interchange6 =
| coach = [[File:AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg|15px]] P. Tossol
}}

;Team ref:
* [[File:EssendonDesign.svg|15px]] [[Corowa Football Club|Corowa]] (1903–78)
* [[File:Rutherglen fc monogram.svg|15px]] [[Rutherglen Football Club (1893)|Rutherglen]] (1903–78)
* [[File:AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg|15px]] [[Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club|Corowa-Rutherglen]] (1979–2003)

;Notes:
* <sup>1</sup> G. Tobias was named in the Team of the Century for his career with the Corowa FC. He was also a foundation player for the Corowa-Rutherglen FC in 1979

===Hall of Famers===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Ovens & Murray Football League|OMFL / Ovens & Murray Football League]] (Est. 2005)''' <ref>[http://www.omfnl.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=337022&Itemid=223 Ovens & Murray Hall Of Fame]</ref>
|-
| 
* [http://www.omfnl.com.au/index.php?view=item&catid=&id=25%3Ajohn-smith&option=com_hall_of_fame&Itemid=228 John Smith] (Inducted: 2006) 
* [http://www.omfnl.com.au/index.php?view=item&catid=&id=18%3Ajack-king&option=com_hall_of_fame&Itemid=228 Jack King] (Inducted: 2008)
* [http://www.omfnl.com.au/index.php?view=item&catid=&id=15%3Afrank-hodgkin&option=com_hall_of_fame&Itemid=228 Frank Hodgkin] (Inducted: 2011)
* [http://www.omfnl.com.au/index.php?view=item&catid=&id=39%3Abill-gayfer&option=com_hall_of_fame&Itemid=228 William "Bill" Gayfer] (Inducted: 2012)
|}

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! '''[[Ovens & King Football League|OKFL / Ovens & King Football League]] (Est. 2006)''' <ref>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-6189-0-0-0&sID=89721 Ovens & King Hall Of Fame]</ref>
|-
| 
* [[Clem Goonan]] (Inducted: 2006)
|}

==VFL/AFL players==
The following footballers played with Rutherglen Corowa FC prior to playing senior AFL football.
*[[Coreen & District Football League]]
**1987 - [[Michael Gayfer]] - Collingwood
**1987 - [[John Longmire]] - North Melbourne
**1988 - [[Brett McKenzie (footballer)|Brett McKenzie]] - North Melbourne
**1988 - [[Mark O'Donoghue]] - North Melbourne
**1988 - [[Michael Garvey (Australian footballer)|Michael Garvey]] - [[Carlton Football Club]]
*[[Ovens & King Football League]] 
**2002 - [[Robert Campbell (Australian rules footballer)|Robbie Campbell]] - [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] (2002–2009) & [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] (2011)

The following footballers played VFL seniors prior to playing with RCFNC.
*1984 - [[Vin Doolan]] - North Melbourne
*2004? - [[Nicky Winmar]] - [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] (1987–1998) & [[Western Bulldogs]] (1999)

==See also==
* [[Rutherglen Football Club (1893)]]
* [[Corowa Football Club]]
* [[Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{facebook|id = RutherglenCatsFootballNetballClub |name= Rutherglen Cats }}
* [https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=0-6200-80939-395649-15305119 Gameday website]

{{Coreen & District Football League}}
{{Ovens & King Football League}}
{{Tallangatta & District Football League}}

[[Category:Ovens & Murray Football Netball League clubs]]
[[Category:Netball teams in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1979]]