Wagga Wagga – the City of Good Sports.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
You know a city boasts a rich sporting history when it’s best-known slogan celebrates it.
And The Daily Advertiser has been front and centre over the past 150 years to share the highs and lows.
Wagga is renowned across the world for it’s sporting prowess and is often the centre of debate when the subject of Australia’s most successful sports breeding ground is bandied around.
As part of The Daily Advertiser’s 150th birthday celebrations, we are celebrating the city’s rich background.
Arguably Wagga’s best known sporting success story is The King – Wayne Carey.
A product of North Wagga Saints, Carey is considered by many as the greatest AFL player of all time alongside Leigh Matthews.
Carey captained North Melbourne to AFL premierships in 1996 and 1999 and finished with 727 goals from his 272-game career.
He is a seven-time All Australian, four as captain, and has since been inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
One of Wagga’s proudest sporting moments came in the 1996 AFL Grand Final when both teams were led by products of our city.
Carey led North Melbourne to victory over Sydney Swans, captained by fearless leader Paul Kelly.
Kelly is another of Wagga’s greatest products. He won the 1995 Brownlow Medal and has also been inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Wagga has also produced a number of brilliant rugby league players.
The Mortimer brothers – Chris, Peter and Steve – put Wagga on the map during the 1970s and 80s as they starred for Canterbury-Bankstown in four grand finals and all represented New South Wales.
Chris and Steve went on to represent Australia.
Another significant moment in Wagga’s sporting history was when Michael Slater joined Mark Taylor to open the batting for Australia in Test cricket.
Taylor, a former Australian captain, is one of the city’s greatest exports.
Steve Elkington helped mark Wagga on the world stage when he won the 1995 PGA Championships.
Alicia Quirk became the city’s first Olympic gold medallist when she helped Australia to victory in the women’s rugby sevens in Rio in 2016.
Tony Roche, Scobie Breasley, Peter Sterling, Brad Kahlefeldt, Sally Shipard and Geoff Lawson are just a few more that have enhanced Wagga’s reputation as the City of Good Sports.
While you’re with us, did you know that The Daily Advertiser is now offering sports and local events as part of its growing email newsletter service? Our sports email will keep the sports-mad up-to-date with a round-up of all the weekend’s sports action - sign up here.