Home » Sport » Rivergum in the unknown over premiership

Rivergum in the unknown over premiership

Rivergum is none the wiser whether it will be declared premiers in the North Metro Cricket Association Jika Shield.

Set to face Rosebank in an eighth straight grand final, the match was called off last week due to the growing coronavirus crisis.

While the match was called off on Wednesday, no decision has been made on who will be premiers on Friday, at deadline.

Kookas captain Matt Perri said everything was still up in the air.

“We were told there was likely not going to be any winners,” he said.

“They’ve since told us they are reviewing the process. It’s a bit up in the air and it’s a weird one, we don’t know what to do.”

In some other competitions the top ranked team headed into the grand final has been awarded the premiership, while in others the minor premier has been.

Rosebank was the minor premier, but after losing to the Kookas in the first week of the finals, entered the grand final as the lower ranked team.

If the grand final was washed out, Rivergum would have won.

Perri said they trained early last week in preparation to play in the grand final and were keen to get on the work.

He said if they were awarded the premiership they would take it, but it wouldn’t be the same as the others they’ve won in recent years.

“It’ll still have an asterisk next to it,” he said.

“You don’t get that feeling of playing in the grand final and talking about the game and the special moments.

“Reunions you won’t be able to talk about the grand final”

While nine players of the first XI have played in premierships and grand finals with the club, there was a couple who will miss out on the opportunity.

Perri said he felt for them the most in this situation.

“Chris Dunbar is the heart and soul of the club and has never played in an A-grade grand final,” he said.

“And it has been ripped away from him. He might never get the chance again.

“Liam Henkel is new at the club and I don’t think he has played in an A-grade premiership. I feel for them the most.”

Perri, who is in his first year as coach, said overall it had been another good season for the club, which has finished in the top two nine seasons in a row.

He said it was a little bit unknown how they would go early on, but had really come together.

“We lost a fair few blokes like Alex Jesensek, Gary Bell and Scott Morley,” he said.

“Blokes have stepped up. We’ve got better and better and peaking at the right time. It’s a shame we didn’t get to put out a great performance and win the premiership.

“It felt like we would have won it.”

Meanwhile, Perri has won back-to-back Bill McFarlane Medals for the best player in the Jika Shield.

Digital Editions


  • Moore steps in at Eagles

    Moore steps in at Eagles

    Meadow Park has announced that Danny Moore will coach the club following the decision of Ian Anderson to step down as coach. The Eagles announced…

More News

  • Cancer researchers supported

    Cancer researchers supported

    The next generation of cancer research leaders are being supported through a four-year cancer research fellowship program, supported by the state government. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has announced the inaugural…

  • Duffin headed to Abers

    Duffin headed to Abers

    Aberfeldie has boosted its list with another former AFLW player for the Essendon District Football League women’s premier division season. After announcing the signing of former North Melbourne player Tahni…

  • Who are these Australians?

    Who are these Australians?

    The iconic ‘Three Well-Known Australians’ has made its way to Melbourne’s west for a limited time. The work, painted by Martin Shaw in 1982, depicts three figures – a blue,…

  • Support Sweethearts for HeartKids

    Support Sweethearts for HeartKids

    Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), and this February HeartKids is calling on Australians to help support these children and their families…

  • Power bill relief a bonus

    Power bill relief a bonus

    The state government used one of the hottest days in Victoria’s history to urge households to apply for its power saving bonus program before it ends on 31 March. Before…

  • Help for heart kids

    Help for heart kids

    Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a childhood-onset heart disease (CoHD), and this February HeartKids is calling on Australians to help support these children and their families…

  • Slow down around schools

    Slow down around schools

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 206998 With Victorian students returning to school for Term 1 of 2026, police are reminding motorists to slow down and take extra care around…

  • Geislinger’s perfect timing

    Geislinger’s perfect timing

    One of Hume City Broncos new imports for the Big V women’s championship was sitting right under their nose. Maddi Geislinger joins the Broncos having played with Melbourne University in…

  • Tubes of survival

    Tubes of survival

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 532349 February 1-7 was Feeding Tube Awareness Week, which aims to increase the understanding of tube feeding. Jena Carr spoke with two women with…

  • Have your say on Wollert buses

    Have your say on Wollert buses

    The state government is calling on residents to have their say on changes to bus services in Wollert and Epping before development plans are finalised. Public and Active Transport Minister…