Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 15 July 1950, page 16


Breeding ground for League stars

Ovens-Murray League

has fine record

STRONG BODY

By PERCY TAYLOR

THE Ovens and Murray Football League,

which is one of the most prosperous in the State, has produced some of the top

stars in V.F.L. football.

Two of the most famous - Dinny Ryan and Haydn Bunton-both won the coveted Brownlow

Medal.

Other Ovens and Murray stars to shine in League football were the Strang brothers from Albury, and Maurie Hunter, who also came from that district.

Although the Ovens and Mur-ray League, like most other coun-try football bodies, suffered a slump during the war years, it has recovered, and now has 10 teams in the competition.

Wangaratta, winners of last year's premiership, are again on top of this year's list. The coach is Mac Holten, former Collingwood player and Melbourne cricketer.

Holten has been able to intro-duce part of the Collingwood sys-tem. The side is very good and well balanced. Wallace is regarded as a "crackerjack" centre half-back, Williams and French (a follower) each kicked eight goals last week; Nish is shining at centre half-forward.

Playing well

Albury, coached by Leo Merrett, vice-captain of Richmond last year, are playing particularly well to be in second place. One of their best players is Mann, a

rover.

Jim Matthews, interstate ten-nis player, who has played in only three or four games at centre half-forward, possibly won the game a fortnight ago.

Benalla, third on percentages, are coached by Ken Walters, for-merly of Preston and St. Kilda.

Benalla are showing, great form, and moved from sixth to third place last week.

They have been lucky in find-ing a good player-Pinder - who is mainly a follower. Gleeson is a good player at full forward.

With the accent of youth, North Albury (fourth) are doing well. The captain-coach is Don Wilks, formerly of Hawthorn. They meet Corowa today, and victory would almost assure them of a place in the semi-finals.

Young star

Among the youngsters the best is probably Ross, who, although only 16 years of age, is doing a fine job in the centre. Hunter, a relative of Maurie, is a star wing man, and was the best in the side last week.

Bensted is shining as full for-ward, and although he broke a thumb early in the season is now regaining his form.

Corowa are going "great guns' under Bill King, who played with South Melbourne. Ron Bywater also from South, will be eligible to play today, and Wally Eyers a former player who has beer coach of Balldale, has also been

secured.

Rutherglen, coached by Keith Williams, from Fitzroy, have not been defeated at home this sea-son. They are fifth on percent-

ages.

Williams is playing well, and Alan Dunn, who has won tin Morris medal for best and fairest in the League, is a star rover. Jack Dinsdale is doing a great job on the half-forward wing, anc there are other young players of ability.

Carnival player

King has been a dominant figure, and the full back, Ken Hansen, has been chosen as full back in the N.S.W. carnival side.

F. Stevens, centre half-forward is one of the best kicks in the country.

A team that might surprise is Yarrawonga, now seventh. Re-cently they included Ron Jory late of Essendon and Oakleigh, and he has made a great differ-ence to the side.

Len White, Geelong, is captain coach, but he has been handi-capped by injury. Another young player of class is Whelan.

Stars of Wodonga, coached by Jack Eames, from Richmond, are the Watkins brothers, but of-ficials are concentrating pn dis-trict boys.

Tom McGuire, a former Wan-garatta star, is the non-playing coach of Myrtleford, who have had only two wins, but all they need is experience.

The other new team is Wanga-ratta Rovers, who played off in the grand final of the Ovens and King League against Myrtleford

last season.