Country club in focus: Irrewarra-Beeac Football Club

by PAUL DAFFEY

Irrewarra-Beeac Football Club: Colac and District Football League

FORMED

An early version of the Irrewarra club, known as Wanderers, was formed in 1922. The Wanderers played scratch matches in various paddocks before the Irrewarra Football Club was formed in 1926. Beeac is believed to have formed a club in 1883. A century later, after the 1984 season, Beeac went into recess. The neighbouring clubs merged to form Irrewarra-Beeac in 1986.

LEAGUE

Irrewarra played in various competitions based in Colac before settling in the Colac and District Football League after the Second World War. Beeac played in the Western Plains, Corangamite, Polwarth and Colac and District leagues before settling in the Colac competition around 1970. Irrewarra-Beeac has played in the Colac and District league since the merger in 1986.

GROUND

Irrewarra played on paddocks on the farms of Charlie Buchanan and Frank Higgins before moving to the Irrewarra Recreation Reserve, 10 kilometres north-east of Colac, in 1961. Beeac, about 10 kilometres further north from Irrewarra, played at the Beeac Recreation Reserve. Irrewarra-Beeac shared both grounds before settling at Irrewarra a few years ago. Refurbishment of the Irrewarra clubrooms in 2002 helped make the decision to base the club there. The Irrewarra Recreation Reserve features a ring of pine trees around its perimeter. The oval features a sandy base that, unlike some grounds in the area, drains well.

GUERNSEYS

From 1926, Irrewarra wore Essendon's black guernsey with a red sash and were known as the Bombers. Beeac wore Collingwood's black and white stripes and were known as the Magpies. After the merger in 1986, the club took the Bombers colours and nickname.

VFL/AFL PRODUCTS

Irrewarra: Darren Forssman (Geelong 1990-94); Beeac: David Cameron (Geelong 1986-90, Brisbane 1991), Peter Walker (Geelong 1960-71), Bruce Webb (Geelong 1960).

PREMIERSHIPS

Irrewarra: 1948, 56, 64, 72 (Colac and District league); Beeac: 1910, 1923 (Colac District Football Association), 1927-29 (Corangamite Football League), 1938, 50 (Colac and District Football League), 1956 (Polwarth Football League).

DISTANT GLORY

From 1971 to 1974, Irrewarra played in four consecutive finals series for a victory in the 1972 grand final under playing-coach Don McKay, a midfielder who had sat out the previous season when Colac refused to clear him. Irrewarra scored its grand final victory over Apollo Bay at Colac's showgrounds oval, with Jim Prigg best on ground. The team featured 18-year-old wingman Ken Rodger and his older brother Brian in the back pocket. Ken Rodger went on to become Irrewarra-Beeac's inaugural coach. He and his brother continue to serve on the club committee.

MAD BOMBER

Drew Kettle was a dairy farmer who served Irrewarra, and later Irrewarra-Beeac, as a player, president, treasurer and secretary. In his later years, when he was the boundary umpire, he carried a flask of whiskey in his sock to help him see off the cold. In his 70s, when his arms lacked the strength to hurl the ball back into play, he took the strings out of a badminton racket and carried it around the boundary. When the ball went out of play, he placed it in the racket frame to gain extra leverage with his throw back into play. Kettle was renowned for his long-distance walks for charity. Irrewarra-Beeac supporters were among the many in the Western District who mourned his death on May 31, aged 84, after a battle with cancer.

FALLOW YEARS

Since the merger in 1986, Irrewarra-Beeac has failed to play in a finals series. Over the past five years, the Bombers have fallen just short of the final five but this year, under playing-coach John Bergman, they hope to break through. Three weeks ago, when Irrewarra-Beeac defeated Simpson by 10 goals to move into the top five, Bergman realised how much it meant to supporters to be in such unfamiliar territory. "They got quite excited," Bergman said.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Bergman's leadership is one of the main reasons the Bombers are in contention for action in September. A 34-year-old full-forward, he grew up in Swan Hill and played in premierships at three Central Murray league clubs„Swan Hill (1988 and '91), Balranald (1994) and Woorinen (2002)„before moving to Ocean Grove. Family connections at Irrewarra-Beeac prompted his appointment with the Bombers before the 2003 season. He completes a two-hour round trip from Ocean Grove to Irrewarra for every training session.

IN FORM

Two of Bergman's former Balranald teammates, midfielders Stuart Davies and Adrian Campbell, have helped the Bombers towards success. Jarryd Stinchcombe, a centre half-back from a long-serving Irrewarra-Beeac family, and centreman Tony Walker are also playing well. Bergman said last year's team was similarly talented. "But now we're playing better as a unit."

This article first appeared in The Age on August 7, 2004.

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