HOW times have changed.

This year the Riverina Football League made its return to Victoria to play representative football.

After years of varied formats against NSW-based leagues, the RFL decided upon a return to Victoria and it proved successful with a win against the Picola South Football League.

Amazingly, 50 years ago this weekend, the 'old' South West League, as it was then, claimed the 1964 Country Championship grand final.

In front of a packed house at Narrandera Sportsground, South West came from behind at half-time to defeat the Hampden League by 22 points.

It was the first time ever a NSW team had beaten a Victorian team to win the crown.

The equivalent in the current day would be the number one ranking in the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) representative format.

To put that into perspective, the Ovens and Murray League is currently rated fifth.

Picola South, who RFL defeated earlier this year, was ranked 30th in 2013 before it opted for this year's fixture.

It was an phenomenal effort by an amazing South West League team.

Among the team was 1956 Brownlow Medallist Peter Box, who was playing with Narrandera at the time, along with a host of former VFL stars.

Box was reported to being a late withdrawal in Saturday's The Daily Advertiser before he made a surprise appearance to help lead South West to victory.

South West was captained by Coolamon's Ian Gillett and coached by Bernie Scully.

It featured the likes of Tom Carroll, Gerald Eastmure, Barry Connolly, Max Kruse, Vic Hathaway, Billy McCaig, Len Sexton, Terry McGee and Des Lyons.

South West was down by five points at half-time before they made a host of key changes at the main break that swung the game in favour of the home team.

Lyons went to centre-half-back and gave South West complete control across that line.

Box moved into the centre, Kevin Coleman and Eastmure changed between the ruck and up forward, while Bill Biron led the fightback with a strong display.

Scully praised the character of the South West representative team in The Daily Advertiser.

"The team spirit which this side displayed to come back from what looked a beaten team to win the match would be well worthy of a club side who has played together for the season," Scully said.

The estimated crowd was reported as 10,000 people with four plane trips from Melbourne filled by supporters, along with a number of busloads.

The game was also televised across the region.

The country championship series was played over two years in those days, in this instance 1963-64.

Interestingly enough, South West actually drew one its games early in the championships and had to replay the fixture the following day.

It beat Ovens and Murray in round one of the championship by 18 points.

Those were the days.

Country championship final

Saturday July 11, 1964

SOUTH WEST (92)

1.4 4.6 10.9 13.14

HAMPDEN (70)

3.2 5.5 8.12 9.16

Goals: (South West) Morris 3, Sexton 2, McGee 2, Eastmure 2, Box, Connolly, Williams, Coleman; (Hampden) Rippon 3, Thompson 2, P Meade, Arundell, Nokes, Bow.

Gate: 1757 pounds. Estimated attendance: 10.000.

South West team

B: G Nye (Turvey Park), M Kruse (Leeton), A Biron (Griffith)

HB: V Hathaway (Griffith), R Clifford (Narrandera), W McCaig (Ganmain)

C: N Morrow (Turvey Park), G Eastmure (Leeton), I Williams (Whitton)

HF: B Connolly (Ardlethan), P Box (Narrandera), L Sexton (Griffith)

F: I Gillett (Coolamon), T Carroll (Ganmain), P Morris (Griffith)

Foll: D Lyons (Leeton), F Fitzpatrick (Ardlethan), T McGee (Grong Grong-Matong)

19th: P Weidemann (Coolamon). 20th: K Coleman (Grong Grong-Matong)