Each weekend when Angus Crichton dons the myrtle green and cardinal red for the Rabbitohs league team in Sydney, his cattlefarmer father Charlie dons his city shoes and heads to the big smoke to watch his son play.
He’s hardly missed a game as Angus has risen through the rugby league ranks, from a 2014 rookie, to an important part of the Rabbitohs forward pack this year, an Origin jumper and now on the cusp of a possible NRL premiership.
“Its been an exciting year and it would top off a good year for Angus if the Rabbitohs won the premiership,” Charlie says.
Angus means two things in the Crichton family, pioneers in the Young district. It’s the son and it’s also the breed – Charlie Crichton runs his family farms, Hartford at Young and now based at at Mingary Park at Taralga, where he says there’s been a little but more rain.
His Angus cattle head to slaughter and then direct to the Crichton’s 1888 Certified butchery shop in Double Bay where they profess farm to plate authenticity. Charlie also has a pad with his family in Sydney so he can easily move between country and city.
Charlie played Australian Schoolboy rugby and so did Angus (before Angus crossed over to league). They both played for the Young Yabbies. A shoulder injury stopped Charlie’s rugby career. “In the sport of rugby Angus did very well, but he also played a bit of league when he was young.” Now he’s loving watch Angus rise through the league ranks, earning plaudits for his great tackling and enthusiasm. They have a close bond.
“There’s a great family atmosphere in Souths and we all sit together to watch the games, the Cooks, the girlfriends and everyone, it’s a fantastic club,” he said. “Angus has always thrown himself into tackling from the start. He always loved the physicality of footy from a young age. He’s always set his sights on different goals, representative honours was one of them and now he’s looking at a premiership.”
Angus still catches up with his Young mates and also with some friendships he’s forged in the Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land. Both will be cheering him on this Saturday.
Charlie has been keeping his Angus herd going as he battles the drought like everyone else, but the basalt country at Taralga has had some fairly good rain recently.
His butcher shop, with his business partner Tim White, was voted the best boutique butcher in Australia last year by Australian Traveller magazine.
Their website says the meat is “100 per cent grass fed & finished, hormone & antibiotic free. There are no animal meal additives used at any time through the animal’s lives.”
The Crichtons have been in the Young area for four generations. Charlie’s grandfather Charles bought Kyle back in 1888 – hence the shop name. They farm sustainably (with the other Young holding Hartford).
Just as Charlie saw a gap in the fresh meat market in Sydney, Charlie is hoping Angus sees the gap in the Roosters defence in the preliminary final.
Angus is the new generation of Crichton footballers, and it is his country origins you see shine through in his game with his toughness and skills. Other country players such as Zac Lomax for the Dragons, who came from Temora, and who the Rabbitohs beat last week by a single point, also are shining in the NRL.
“That would be the biggest thing for me,” says Charlie, “That country players can feel they can have have a dream, you can have a crack at it and do it.”
Charlie is hoping the dream will go on for Angus if the Bunnies can defeat the Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow night - the last game ever to be played in the stadium before it gets torn down. A date with the Storm or Sharks awaits.