Barmedman Clydesdales

Barmedman was a village, dwarfed in size by its Maher Cup rivals. But it was never daunted.
Schlunke’s story can be dated to about 1955, when his nephews Clarrie and Noel were members of the ‘Clydesdales’. This was a very good year. Barmedman travelled over to Boorowa and brought back the holy grail. The first defence against Junee produced a score of 72 to 3, the biggest margin ever in Maher Cup football. West Wyalong, Gundagai, Cootamundra and Grenfell all came, and were all thwarted. But arch rivals Temora drove up the straight road past the newly sown wheat fields, through Gidginbung and Reefton, and on to Barmedman. The red and whites, toughed it out, 16-10, and took the Maher Cup home.
With the Cup 1955
Barmedman’s players were mostly local farmers and wheat lumpers. But the club also attracted legendary players to their team, including Australian representatives Col Donohoe, and Ron Crowe, as well as Billy Bischoff, Keith Gittoes, Tom Kirk and Wally Towers.
Is there any kernel of truth in Schlunke’s story which explains how the village was able to punch above its weight in Maher Cup football for so long?
Perhaps there were special conditions operating in the village? One suspects that the club was in a relatively rare and powerful position where lack of size was overcome by an ability to extract extraordinary resources and commitment from the community.
I’d be most interested in your thoughts.
PS. Why Schlunke named his short story The Village Hampden, is a mystery – Hampden is mentioned nowhere.
Reference:
Schlunke, E.O. (1958). ‘The Village Hampden’, pages 202-240 in the Village Hampden: stories, Sydney, Angus and Robertson. The book contains 16 stories, only this one about football.