President: Todd Basham
Coach: Luke Webb
Best & fairest: Chris Drum
After finishing a disappointing seventh last season, and only playing finals four times in ten seasons, the Blues were keen to take their club to a new level in 2014. Led by a new executive with Todd Basham taking over as president, Lee Loiterton as secretary and Shelly Johnston as treasurer, coupled with an enthusiastic committee, the club was certainly looking to improve their on-field performances. After spending ten years at the Central Hotel as the major sponsor, the club moved to the Hovell Street licensed premises at the Family Hotel, which was huge a win for both parties. The club purchased slightly redesigned jumpers that incorporated a white strip down the side and the final link in the revamp was appointing a new playing coach from out of town. There was plenty of excitement in the Blues camp when former The Rock/Yerong Creek premiership player Luke Webb was appointed as captain /coach. The talented footballer is just what the club needed; giving the Blues discipline, fitness and a genuine focus on playing finals.
With these significant changes, we were hoping to play finals, but we achieved far more, the ultimate prize - winning the premiership! Our previous premiership was in the Farrer League reserve grade in 1997; while our last first grade title was five years earlier in 1992.
We finished the home and away season with a 16-1 win/loss record, which saw us finish as minor premiers with a percentage of 316. We defeated Goulburn in the second semi-final by 23 points and in the grand final against Yass at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter; we had booted 13-2 to 3-1. We ran out winners by 40 points finishing with 18-5-113 to 11-7-73. 18-year-old Dylan McDermott was awarded best on ground in the decider. Individually, Chris Drum won the Club Best and Fairest by just seven votes from Luke Webb, while Luke won the League Best and Fairest by seven votes despite missing five matches and Sandy Maskell-Knight won the League Goal Kicking with 72 goals.
The Presentation Night held at the Cootamundra Ex-Services Club was rated the best in nearly 20 years with 105 members and guests attending. Not only did we celebrate the premiership, we inducted three of the clubs best into the inaugural Wall of Fame.
First inductee: Jim Clarke: who our home ground is named after, was the inaugural secretary in 1960. Jim’s oldest son Peter accepted his award, along with Jim’s widow Norma. Jim Clarke passed away in 1969.
Second Inductee: Max Rudd: A club legend. First player to be a dual best and fairest winner, the second at the age of 39, 41 years on the committee [1960-2001]. Max’s award was accepted by Max’s oldest son Greg and widow Betty. Max passed away in 2011.
Third Inductee: Ron Milthorpe: A living legend of the Blues. Five-time premiership player, inaugural premiership coach, 42 years involvement [1972 to date]. Ron received two standing ovations.
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