How the formation of the Old Yarra Cobras happened..

It has been a lean couple of years for the Yarra Old Grammarians and the Manningham Cobras in the VAFA. Playing in Division 2 in 2022, they combined for five wins and 31 losses, finishing last (Manningham), and third last (Yarra Old) at the conclusion of the home and away season. 

Throughout Melbourne’s winter grind, Nick Paton, in his debut season as President of Yarra felt something had to change. The club was losing games regularly whilst at the same time in the reserves section filling a team of 22 players was becoming more and more difficult. Just down the road at Manningham, it was a similar story. 

Both clubs were regularly putting the call out to friends of teammates, to retired players, to anyone who was willing to pull the boots on and help. Paton told VAFA Media this week, “we were reliant on opponents to offer up players (at different times through the season).”

When it came to the latter part of the season, Paton sat down with the clubs committee to go through a list profile, citing a large wave of retirements either this year or in 12 months time, and from the incoming recruitment standpoint, the numbers weren’t stacking up for the club to be viable, sustainable and successful beyond 2023. 

“We didn’t want to lead the club to a slow death” Paton said.

Twice this year, the Bushrangers had played against the Cobras with the sides squaring the ledger at one win apiece. In the after match functions, discussions were being held of a similar nature about the struggles the clubs were having. Feeling not only the effects of COVID-19, but also the difficulty in getting a team on the park each week, and the recruitment of players to join the respective clubs.  

The concept of an amalgamation between the sides was floated, and from there, the ball was in motion. “The interest was there in keeping both clubs alive, it became a nice, natural fit. We did our due diligence.. it gives extra playing numbers on both sides” said Paton. 

A meeting convened on September 12 confirmed the merger. The decision was made public on September 19 and the Old Yarra Cobras was born. They will compete in the VAFA’s Division 2 Men’s section in 2023. 

The new entity will have two sets of players to call upon, two sets of sponsors and partners to work with, and for Manningham, they will now be aligned with a Women’s team. 

Michael Wines, coach of the Old Yarra Cobras Women’s side, is a former player of the club who played 300 games and also a former President of the club. His sense of disappointment that the Bushrangers are no more has been quickly overshadowed by the proud fact the club will still take to the field beyond 2022. 

“Naturally you do feel there’s a loss of identity, but it’s a great result, both clubs do lose a bit, but they do keep a lot of what’s made them great places to be” Wines told VAFA Media. 

“I’m happy (for us) to take a bit of a hit, to have a stronger and a viable future”.

The Cobras have already appointed the senior men’s coach, gaining the services of Nathan Monaco (appointed for three seasons). Monaco joins the club after spending the last eight years with Kew Bears under the tutelage of Ian Aitken. “The opportunity is there to make something my own, and sculpt it. There’s a pure hunger from both sides to win, (we want to be) a team that’s going to be chased and not chasing.” said Monaco.

On hearing the news of the merge, and the appointment of Monaco, players from both Yarra and the Cobras have already found an extra pep in their step with pre-season now only a few days away from commencing, “one of the players said it feels like Christmas, in the pre-season coming up there’ll be 30-40 people there. It’ll be strong energy” said Paton. 

The men’s team will play their home games at Koonung Park whilst the women’s side will remain at Doncaster Reserve, a ground that’s become a fortress for Wines and his team. 

Monaco now has two sets of club legends he can lean on should they choose to reflect on past history of both the Bushrangers, and the Cobras. 

However, Monaco, Paton and the entire club are hellbent on writing a fresh chapter for the Old Yarra Cobras in 2023 “We do believe we can be a top four side next year… We all yearn to be in a higher division and we believe this gives us the ability to chase that dream” 

The club has officially confirmed the signatures of Matt Young and Nick Zappala. The first two players to commit to the Old Yarra Cobras. 

Young is a silky midfielder with a left boot that knows how to find the goals. 

Zappala is a tough contested midfielder who runs all day and is determined as they come. His hard work has earned him a best and fairest and a spot in Manningham’s Team of the Decade.

The dream in 2023 will begin on Monday, November 7, the first pre-season training session. The Old Yarra Cobras will run out for the first time as a team on Saturday, April 15 2023. 

For more information on the Old Yarra Cobras, click here.