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2017
Chris Day took the reins for the mens team while Luke Le Page had a stint as womens coach.
After the mens team's success of the 2016 season, there was a huge drop off in numbers with retirements and players moving away. The team battled through the opening rounds but with some huge defeats and dwindling player numbers, the side finally withdrew from the competition in late July.
The women fared much better finishing in 4th position with two wins over Parkes. Their elimination semifinal against Orange was a little one-sided with the tigers winning by 86 points.
The Under 14s under coach David Bryant battled through the season without a win but plenty of players gained important experience.
Marc Hyland coached the Under 12s won 7 games to finish second on the ladder. They toppled Bathurst Giants in the Preliminary Final but were well beaten by the undefeated Orange team in the Grand Final.
First Grade: Wins 0 Losses 12 Position 7th
Senior Women: Wins 2 Losses 12 Position 4th
Player Milestones:
50 First Grade games: Allan Lovett, Kenny Webb
2018
Small town, small footy club and there just weren't enough players to form a men's team, the first time in the club's history. The women kept the senior component of the club going, coached by Sarah Day.
The team were beaten by over 100 points in 7 games, but recorded 2 solid wins over the Parkes Panthers to finish in 5th position. Not a lot of joy in seniors.
It was happier times for the juniors. In Under 12s, with 9 wins, a draw and 2 losses, the team finished the home and away season on top of the ladder, straight into the Grand Final which they won 4-4-28 to Orange 1-4-10 for the club's first Under 12s Premiership.
The Premiership team was: Mason Bright, William Roe, Kaleb Williams, Stephanie Dresser, Ryan Sandry, Brendan Reid, Toby Swain, Rodrick Roe, Olivia Kacarovski, Shakaila Reid, Aaron Hall, Maiah Bright, Blake Sandry, Mathew Kacarovski, Eleisha McKone, Lucas Sandry, Tahlia Lazanski, Cooper Ballard, Laina Kennewell, Nataiya Williams, Chamberlain Gillham Coach: Frank Bright
It was almost an identical season for the U14s who also finished on top of the ladder. Favourites for their first ever flag, they won the Grand Final powering away in the last quarter kicking 4 goals to win 7-10-52 to Orange 3-2-20.
The Premiership team was: Jake Roberts, Craig Johnson, Kaitlyn Spring, Braydon Hyland, Connor Munroe, Tobi Lee Casey, Caleb Worth, Jayden Gordon, Tyson Williams, Jacob Haeata, Sarah Buckley, Isaac Petty, Jayden Williams, Mathew Bell, Lavinus Howarth, Kalara Kennewell Coach: Marc Hyland
Senior Women: Wins 2 Losses 13 Position 5th
2019
The 2019 season saw the Blues re-enter the senior mens competition coached by Ben Roden with the women coached by Chris and Sarah Day.
Undermanned and largely inexperienced, the mens side suffered a number of 20 goal losses but had a solid 52 point win against Parkes who were also rebuilding.
The womens team also found some success against Parkes with two wins but weren't much of a match against the rest of the competition with some big losses.
Again, it was the junior teams that led the way. The Under 12s on the back of 9 wins and 2 losses (both to Dubbo), finished the home and away series in second spot behind the Demons. The Preliminary Final was a resounding victory over the Orange Tigers, and followed up with a 35 point Grand Final win over Dubbo 9-12-66 to 5-1-31 for back-to-back Premierships.
The Premiership team was: Samone Hyland, William Roe, Taiden Sandry, Tyrhys Walford, Toby Swain, Brodi Bright, Jo Roberts, Rodrick Roe, Ryan Sandry, Mason Bright, Aaron Hall, Mucho Landro, Shema Parafait, Cameron Murray, Brody Fiene, Nashayea Walford, Cooper Ballard, Daniel Bakini, Lucas Sandry Coach: Frank Bright
The Under 14s twice lost to the Orange Tigers during the season, undefeated otherwise and also finished second on the ladder with 8 wins and two losses. They also had a strong Preliminary Final outing beating Bathurst Giants by 23 points. The strong Orange Tigers team kicked 4 goals in the second term of the Grand Final to set up their 39 point win12-7-79 to 6-4-40, but still a great effort by the team coached by Marc Hyland.
Senior Men: Wins 1 Losses 10 Position 7th
Senior Women: Wins 2 Losses 10 Position 4th
Player Milestones:
50 First Grade games: Adam Munroe
2020
A season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, there was only limited games and tight controls to see any football played at all. No handshakes, limited players in the changerooms, signing in and out of training and games, disinfecting footballs during the breaks in play were all a part of getting a limited season played.
The Blues were able to pick up a few players with the local Rugby League team unable to play which helped bolster numbers.
Football didn't start until July with the men racking up some good wins before losing to Parkes by 3 points.
With good numbers but a lot of inexperience among the League Tag players, the women's closest result was a 16 point loss to Orange, mostly losing by 6-8 goals in other games.
WIth just the one loss, Cowra finished on top leading into the 3 team finals. Parkes accounted for Bathurst in the Preliminary Final and on a windy day for the Grand Final, the Panthers kicked important goals into the breeze to take the Premiership 6-6-42 to 4-11-35 with the Blues having a number of chances in the final quarter.
James McCormack won the League Best and Fairest and Frank Bright was leading goalkicker.
Unfortunately, the club wasn't able to maintain its junior teams with the erratic schedule, problems sourcing coaches and restrictions and resistance to travel.
Senior Men: Wins 6 Losses 2 Position Runner-Up
Senior Women: Wins 0 Losses 6 Position 5th
Player Milestones:
350 Club games: Kim Reid
250 Club games: Marc Hyland
2021
Another COVID affected season had Chris Day coaching the mens team that had nominated for the Tier 2 division in the revamped Central West competition. Unfortunately it was the womens team's turn to fall away with dwindling numbers and sitting out the season.
Big wins for the men against Dubbo and the Bathurst Outlaws, Frank Bright notching his 400th game for the club in the opener, had the Blues riding high as they entered a big round 3 clash at Parkes. Unfortunately, a car accident on the way injuring 2 players saw the game abandoned along with the following week's trip to Dubbo. The next match saw Parkes record a 6 goal win on Cowra's home ground, but the Blues rallied with 4 straight wins interspersed with a washout game and an abandoned game due to a COVID lockdown in July.
Another lockdown period in August saw the final two rounds of the home and away competition abandoned as well. Despite the erratic season where the Blues only played 7 games in a 13 round competition, they still managed to finish second behind the undefeated Parkes Panthers. Unfortunately due to lockdown restrictions, the entire finals series was abandoned as well.
Frank Bright tied with Mitchell Stubberfield of Parkes for the League B & F medal.
Senior Men: Wins 6 Losses 1 Position 2nd
Player Milestones:
400 Club games: Frank Bright
200 Club games: Nathan Worth
2022
Marc Hyland was appointed senior coach after a successful stint with junior teams.
It was a poor start with a sizable loss to Parkes first up but a string of wins only interrupted by losses to Bathurst Rebels and another to Parkes had them second on the ladder. The Panthers remained undefeated and beat the Blues by 22 points in the Qualifying Semi in Parkes. Cowra never really got going in the Preliminary Final bowing out of the competition losing to Bathurst Rebels by 28 points.
Brayden Harmer-Clark was voted League B & F for the season.
Senior Men: Wins 9 Losses 5 Position 3rd
Player Milestones:
50 First Grade games: Paul Basham
150 Club games: Rod Doolan, Brad Reid, Blair Holgate, Marc Hyland
2023
After a couple of seasons out, the Blues hopes of entering a women's team came to fruition with plenty of recruitment and promotion.
For the 2023 season, Frank Bright took the reins for the men and Sarah Day and Carla Hill coached the newly-formed women's side.
Starting from virtually scratch, the women weren't much match for some of the established sides and suffered some big losses. A fantastic win by 44 points against Orange late in the season was their first win since July 2019 (over 4 years) and the team celebrated accordingly.
The men had a strong season untroubled through much of it. A narrow on the siren loss to Parkes late in the home and away was their only blemish and probably helped pave the way for the flag. The team beat the Parkes Panthers by 33 points in the semifinal before repeating the dose, winning by 29 points for a first senior men's flag since 2016.
The Premiership team was: Bryton Harmer-Clark Nathan Worth Mason Bright Paul Basham Beau Harmer-Clark Robert Flick-Gibbs Braydon Hyland Clark Melbourne Frank Bright Justin Kelly Chris Day Jack Stott Caleb Worth Brayden Harmer-Clark Blair Holgate Marc Hyland Scott Leary Nathan Collett Lachlan Sutton Laing Whinfield Bailey Taylor Joe Waters Shane McVeety Brendan Reid Nicholas Collett
Laing Whinfield was BOG in the decider with Bailey Taylor won the League B & F.
Senior Men: Wins 15 Losses 1 Position Premiers
Senior Women: Wins 1 Losses 11 Position 5th
Player Milestones:
350 Club games: Chris Day
100 Club games: Paul Basham
2024
The Blues again entered a women's side with Jack Stott and Marc Hyland coaching the team, while Blair Holgate and Justin Kelly took on the men's job.
The women had a stirring win in May defeating Orange but battled throughout the season as they continue to build. Nevertheless, the side fronted up every week despite some lop-sided scorelines.
The men's team cruised through the home and away series undefeated with some sizable wins and entered the finals as clear favourites. The Bathurst Bushrangers had proven their closest opponent and upset the Blues in the qualifying semifinal by 14 points. Cowra rallied for the Preliminary Final and despite inaccurate kicking, progressed to the decider beating Orange by 5 goals. The Grand Final was tight with never much more than a kick in it with Cowra prevailing by 6 points to go back-to-back. John Terry was BOG in the Grand Final also winning the League medal while Justin Kelly was leading goalkicker.
The Premiership team was: Bryton Harmer-Clark Nathan Worth Mason Bright Paul Basham Jason Masclet Beau Harmer-Clark Robert Flick-Gibbs Brady Lestrange Jock Heinrich Braydon Hyland Clark Melbourne Aaron Mooney Frank Bright Justin Kelly Rodney Doolan Chris Day (c) Jack Stott John Terry Caleb Worth Brayden Harmer-Clark Blair Holgate Tyson Williams Marc Hyland
The Premiership team was:
Senior Men: Wins 17 Losses 1 Position Premiers
Senior Women: Wins 1 Losses 11 Position 5th
Player Milestones:
50 Senior Women games: Sarah Day
2025
Chris Day and Emma Nobes coached the men's team, while Marc Hyland looked after the women's side. An attempt was made to field an Under 17s team after many years but the club didn't quite get there.
As in previous seasons, both teams struggled to put consistent teams on the field with the men even forfeiting one game through injury and illness.
The women battled on gamely and had their first ever win against a Bathurst team, defeating the Giants by 50 points in Round 2. Some big losses followed but a good finish to the season saw them losing 3 games by about 4 goals or less in the lead up to the finals. They bowed out in the elimination final going down by 22 points to Orange.
The men's side was erratic losing away to the Bushrangers, Parkes and Dubbo, but beating each at home for a third position finish on the ladder. They accounted for Parkes in the elimination semifinal, before winning the Preliminary Final against Dubbo. Playing the Bushrangers in the Grand Final, scores were close at halftime before the Bathurst team edged away to win by 15 points.
Jason Masclet won the League medal.
The club's first ever Indigenous jumper designed by former player Michaela Jeffries was on display to celebrate the Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Dave Manning, 250+ games for the Blues along with 4 club and 4 League Best and Fairest titles, was inducted into the AFL-Central West Hall of Fame.
Senior Men: Wins 10 Losses 5 Position Runner-Up
Senior Women: Wins 1 Losses 9 Position 4th
Player Milestones:
50 Senior Women games: Megan McKenzie
300 Club games: Marc Hyland
100 Club games: Braydon Hyland
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