With Cobram Football Netball Club claiming three premierships for 2025 in a bumper finals series for the Murray league recently, perhaps one should pose the questions: what are the ingredients to success on the sporting field? Is it the players, the coach, the president and committee, or the club as a whole?
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Cobram took out the Coxon Cup in the seniors, coming in as underdogs to Congupna in the grand final and defeating the undefeated 5.21 (51) to 8.6 (54).
The Tigers absolutely had nothing to lose and from the outset indicated they were going to be difficult to beat.
When the final siren went, hordes of Cobram supporters surged on to the ground, congratulating the team which had broken a 27-year drought to take the momentous win.
Cobram is undeniably unique as a club: here there is a unity, a feeling of being one massive family.
Players care about each other, mates look out for mates and mentor the younger players, with quiet encouragement.
The family atmosphere is working when you consider the thirds and fourths each won their own grand finals at Moama, making it an impressive day for the entire club.
There are three families who have a long family history at Cobram: the Beasley, Allan and Hyde families.
Where previously the dads played, now the sons are exhibiting rare skills and play their own important roles in the future of the club.
Cobram had a tough season with many bumps along the way.
It experienced an injury crisis, where several top players were out for much of the season, yet overcame this and got some good wins on the board to help it into the finals.
Cobram’s first-year coach Mark ‘Bobby’ Meyland had a lot on his hands and was forced to play 42 in the side to get through, bringing in some of the younger ones from the seconds and thirds.
Meyland, with considerable experience and several premierships won at his previous club Waaia, knew what he had to do.
Every person involved in the running of the club — from the president and the members of the committee, to the coaching and playing body — contribute towards the uniqueness of Cobram.
You can feel the camaraderie after training on a Thursday night, when the club caters with a hot meal for up to 250 hungry players and supporters.
It doesn’t just happen: it is thanks to the generosity of some wonderful volunteers.
President Matt Demaio, in his first year in the role, remembers the heartbreak of losing the grand final in 2018 and 2022 when Cobram was considered heavy favourite.
“This year we were the underdogs and there was very little pressure. We were fairly confident we could put it together and the players gave it everything,” the proud president said.
Matt previously played at Barooga, where his father was president, but many of his friends played at Cobram and so in 2019 he made the switch and has not regretted anything.
“Working with Sasha Parish, our VP, is absolutely amazing. She is efficient and willing to take on any task to get it done. She has been a part of the club for many years and is extremely knowledgeable,” he said.
“We work well as a team and have similar ideas and just make it happen.
“This year has taken some adjustment, learning the ropes as president while also playing in the senior side. However, the hard work of so many great people around the club has made it possible.”
The addition of his third daughter also added to the year, which has proven to be one of highlights for the 30-year-old.
He is married to Amy and his sweet girls are aged one, four and 10.
Club vice-president Sasha Parish thrives on her involvement with the club and has been involved in different capacities for a great many years, including with the netball section as treasurer, president and executive committee.
“I am unbelievably proud of CFNC and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Sasha said.
Back at the club after a break of six years, Sasha feels at home.
“My role as VP is to support and do what Matt says,” she adds with a laugh.
Organisation is the key to operating a smooth-running club, and between Matt and Sasha they have it under control.
The pair has led the way to conduct fundraisers, such as the CFNC ball, a goods and services auction with goods donated by local businesses, and ladies’ day.
In August, the club ran a successful fundraising round for the Type One Foundation, to raise funds for those affected by diabetes. The round raised more than $10,000.
None of these events would have happened without many people being involved.
Sasha has a family connection that goes back to the 1990s, when her dad Les ‘Salty’ Parish, who formerly played with Fitzroy, signed with Cobram.
He was awarded the best-and-fairest in 1993 and 1994 and was a member of the illustrious senior premiership side in 1995 when the club brought home nine premiership cups.
Les starred in the centre and across midfield. His young daughter Sasha was his greatest fan and she was left devastated when her much-loved dad passed away in 1998 from cancer.
However, his memory is very much alive at Cobram Football Club, as many of his former 1995 premiership teammates still discuss those glory days and the talent they’d signed to play at Cobram.