The Rock-Yerong Creek could be set to take the Farrer League back to its spiritual home this season.
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The Magpies have committed to resurfacing their home ground at Victoria Park, The Rock. That means finding an alternative for matches if and when a shortened season goes ahead.
Where better than Yerong Creek, which hosted the Farrer League grand final for 15 years in a row (plus two replays) from 1966 to 1980.
"It used to be the headquarters of the Farrer League back in the 1960s and '70s," TRYC co-president Mark Driscoll said.
"We thought if we get to a situation where we've got football, we've got Yerong Creek up our sleeve.
"It used to be a beautiful ground and obviously it's still maintained. It's always well-kept by the locals. And with the rains over the last month-and-a-half, it's in good shape."
Driscoll said the winter sport shutdown prompted the club to aim for something positive out of the year by improving the ground at Victoria Park.
The Magpies have committed $10,000, and the The Rock And District Touch Association $5000.
After successfully securing a $14,700 grant from Lockhart Shire Council last week, the parties will go ahead with removing the concrete cricket pitch, laser-levelling the surface and top dressing the oval.
"The Rock ground has deteriorated a bit, that's why we're doing it," Driscoll said.
"We don't get an opportunity usually because touch is pretty big out here and you go from footy season straight into touch. With this coronavirus, we're biting the bullet a bit and getting it done."
Fellow TRYC co-president, David Pieper, said they pursued the four-month project when there was every chance there'd be no football at all this season.
"We wanted to get the standard of the ground a lot better than it has been and make the most of the time of it not being used," Pieper said.
"Obviously everyone wants footy up and going again and if it does, we can rely on Yerong Creek."
Pieper has fond memories of watching his father play on the open expanses of the famed venue, which also hosted Farrer League deciders in 1958 and 1960, prior to The Rock-Yerong Creek merger in 1962.
Until early last decade, the Magpies had still taken occasional home games to the venue.
"It's an amazing ground out there, just the size of it, it's very close to an AFL ground," Pieper said.
"I remember going as a kid when Dad was playing, all the finals were out there, and all the cars around the great. It was great."
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