The result was a timely reminder that the Timbercutters are not alone in their struggle to be competitive in the 15-club competition after a significant exodus of players in the off-season.
In fact, across country — and, in many cases, metropolitan — Victoria, there are teams who are battling against the odds to field teams, let alone remain competitive.
Not far to the east of Echuca, one club has already gone into recess in the past few months.
Kyabram District League club Ardmona finally succumbed to the pressure of a horrific run of results after being offered a lifeline by media personality, Finley boy and former Hawthorn Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford in 2021.
Crawford, who had observed the club’s struggles from afar, stepped up to coach the team and even guided it to a win during his short stint at the helm of the Bush Cats.
Not all that long ago there was talk of Mathoura going into recess, with a lack of volunteers for the club’s executive positions forcing a crisis meeting where a passionate group of supporters stepped into those roles.
The Timbercutters’ 101-point weekend win over Yarroweyah came after a 163-point loss to 10th-placed Rennie in its opening round, a 255-point defeat to top team Waaia a week later and a 200-point drubbing at the hands of eighth-ranked Katandra.
Mathoura is currently 12th on the ladder, breaking away from the winless teams that occupy the bottom three rungs — Deniliquin Rovers, Yarroweyah and Blighty.
Until the weekend, Yarroweyah had not been fielding a senior team, with its reserves team not scoring in its opening two games and then kicking one goal in a 110-point loss in round four.
Against Mathoura at the weekend, it fielded its reserves side at senior level, the result a 19.16 (130) to 4.5 (29) defeat. Nick Ferrari was the man of the moment, kicking 10 goals for the Timbercutters.
Mathoura will front up against Blighty, which is currently on the bottom rung of the ladder, on June 4. Blighty lost its opening round match to Jerilderie by just 57 points, but in the past three weeks has lost by 190, 119 and 130 points.
A quick look around some of the neighbouring country leagues confirms the suspicion that Mathoura is not alone.
Kyabram District League club Longwood has lost its opening four matches by an average margin of 191 points.
Its opponent at the weekend, Lancaster, kicked 46 goals in a 304-2 scoreline.
In the opening round of the season, Violet Town’s Jack Exell — son of former Geelong star and Bendigo league great Gavin — and former Fremantle player Josh Mellington kicked 30 goals between them as Longwood lost by 250 points.
Longwood made national headlines during the week when it was among eight clubs involved in the Carlton Draft. It selected renowned Geelong hard man and three-time AFL premiership player Cameron Mooney to appear in it colours for one match later this season.
The inaugural draft was conducted live on Fox Footy, with Brisbane premiership star Jonathan Brown acting in the “commissioner’’ role.
Popular Adelaide and Carlton goalsneak Eddie Betts went as the number one pick, while Dale Thomas (Collingwood/Carlton), recently retired Melbourne star Nathan Jones, former number one draft pick Brendan Goddard, 400-gamer Shaun Burgoyne, Hawthorn premiership star Jarryd Roughhead and Richmond’s star defender Alex Rance were also in the draft.
Longwood is the bottom team of the 14-club KDL competition, an unenviable mantle it shares with Goulburn Valley league side Benalla and Murray league’s Echuca United.
Benalla has been beaten by 123 points, 113 points and 95 points in three matches, but against second-bottom side Tatura it lost by just one point.
Echuca United is among four teams in the Murray league to have lost all its opening five matches. To be fair, the team has faced the top five teams — all of them unbeaten — in the opening five matches of the season.
The Eagles have lost by 149, 107, 139, 151 and 100 points, but the next stretch of games will be much different if results of other clubs are any indication.
Elmore is on the bottom of the nine-team Heathcote District Football Netball League ladder, winless in its opening three games, and the Bendigo league’s bottom team is Maryborough.
It is also winless from four games in the 10-team competition, its biggest loss a 235-17 defeat in round three to second-placed Golden Square. It has lost its other matches by 71, 50 and 141 points.
Ovens and Murray league team North Albury has lost all its opening four games, by 105, 117, 103 and 169 points, the latter to top team Wangaratta.
If the country league results aren’t enough to echo the struggling nature of smaller clubs, or less financial clubs, then the 21-team VFL acts as a significant reminder for football fans.
Four of the bottom five teams in the competition are standalone clubs. The one splitting the likes of Williamstown, Coburg, Northern Bullants and Port Melbourne is the Essendon Football Club.
The Bombers are by no means in the same danger as some of the country clubs which have been copping weekly whacks by opposition clubs, but they are on the 20th rung of the second-tier competition ladder.
