Darcy Hope, 23, is a powerful centre-half-forward from Karingal who was named in the position in the league’s team of the year; the previous year was named in the Darwin’s team of the year.
Connor Leslie, also from Karingal, is a classy midfielder who “oozes leadership” according to Roos coach Steve Owen.
“Darcy and Connor know each other’s game. Connor knows where Darcy’s leading,” Owen told The Free Press.
“We (Owen, Brett Skinner and Dean Druce) watched Darcy play in Darwin (with Waratahs) and were impressed. Sam Carpenter has strong ties in the Mornington Peninsula and the feedback we’ve had has been very good about both.
“They are very good footballers and even better persons. We will have them for 2024. It’s something we look for when recruiting – their ability, their character and knowledge of and fitting into Corowa.
“Connor has strong family ties in Corowa. Darcy’s auntie in Corowa is Annie Atkins. They’ve holidayed up here.”
Corowa Football Netball Club President Graham Hosier said the two signings was the accumulation of hard work. “There’s still a lot of hard work to do,” the club president said.
“But it’s the start of exciting times for the club.”
A lot of work has indeed gone on behind the scenes this season regarding recruitment of players to the John Foord Oval.
“I’ve been in constant dialogue with players but out of respect with players still playing finals I can’t say much at this stage,” Owen said. “Hopefully we’ll have most of our players from last season back.”
Pre season will be underway early November according to the coach. Befoehand, The Free Press will be on the ball accordingly.
At a public meeting in the Corowa Civic Centre on February 27, the club resolved not to play at the senior level due to flood damaged club facilities and shortage of players this year and to reset for season 2024.
The Roos reset centres around a strategic framework. The framework is forming the direction and the drive for the CRFNC Board with the Roos Reset.
The key to the reset, are four key themes, Our Football, Our Facilities, Our Operations and Our Rest assured based on the above, the CRFNC will have access to its current Away changerooms.
The CRFNC Board has been working with the Federation Council to establish adequate temporary facilities for football and netball participation to occur in 2024 in the Ovens & Murray Football Netball League.
At its latest meeting, on August 29, council resolved to request financial assistance to prepare a design for a new building be referred to the prioritization of flood repairs against NSW Disaster funding and insurance claim funds still pending.
The AFL has verbally committed to CRFNC temporary home and away changerooms that will arrive in 2025. The changerooms are currently supporting the Shepparton Swans who are going through a facility redevelopment after also being affected by floods.
These change rooms will replace the 2024 temporary facilities and remain at Corowa for the duration of the new building at the site in future years.
