Weekly Wrap | This weekend saw another former country footballer make his debut in the AFL.
Twelve months ago Collingwood FC debutant Josh Carmichael was running around for the Merbein FNC Magpies in the Sunraysia FNL, before being taken in this year's AFL Mid Season draft.. This weekend's debut means Carmicheal joins the list of 3,573 former country footballers out of the 3940 players drafted or listed to have played a game of VFL/AFL football.
At the other end of the spectrum, 2 former AFL champions made appearances to help out country footy clubs. In the North East of the state in the Ovens and King FNL, former St KIlda and Essendon FC champion Brendan Goddard pulled on the jumper for the North Wangaratta FNC in their match against Greta FNC. Goddard managed a goal in his team's win as they knocked off the 6th placed Greta to register the clubs second win for the season. Down south in the Bellarine FNL it was former Melbourne FC captain Nathan Jones who again donned a demon jumper, this time for the winless Portarlington FNC in their match against Ocean Grove FNC. Jones kicked 2 goals, including the first of the match, but it wasn’t enough to get that elusive first win for the season as the Demons went down to the Grubbers by 74 points.
Whilst Portarlington FNC are still searching for win number 1 in 2022, this is no longer the case for Toora FNC in the Mid Gippsland FNL as they managed to salute for the first time this season with a 31 point win over Thorpdale FNC. This weekend also saw 5 previously undefeated clubs taste defeat for 2022. In the Mininera and District FNL both undefeated Tatyoon FNC and Ararat Eagles FNC faced off with the Eagles running out 48 point winners to sit atop the ladder and remain undefeated.
In the Picola & District FNL, poor kicking helped end the winning run of Waaia FNC who lost 5.13 43 to Jerilderie FNC’s 8.10 58. Staying in the north, perennial premiers Nathalia FNC had a thrilling 1 point win over the previously undefeated Cobram FNC to bring to an end their unbeaten streak that stretched back to last years Covid impacted season. In the Bellarine FNL Drysdale FNC’s winning run came to an end at the hands of Torquay FNC, while Marong FNC in the Loddon Valley FNL ended Pyramid Hill FNC’s undefeated season.
This weekend's games saw 3 draws and two 1 point wins. Again poor kicking cost teams with Lake Boga FNC in the Central Murray FNL costing itself a win against Koondrook Barham FNC by managing 8.14 62 to 9.8 62 in the drawn match. Similarly in the Colac & District FNL Colac Imperials FNC ‘s poor kicking cost it a 1 point loss to the more accurate Alvie FNC in the 8.13 61 to 9.8 62 result. Meanwhile the biggest win for the weekend was in the Mininera & District FNL where Woorndoo Mortlake FNC kicked the 5th highest score for 2022 when it managed 52.28 340 to Moyston Willaura FNC’s 3.1 19.
The goal kickers were on fire again this weekend with 13 of them kicking more than 10 goals in matches. Chris Urie from Neerim South FNC topped the list with 14 in his side's big win over Nilma Darnum FNC in the Ellinbank and District FNL. The race to be the first to register 100 for the season will be on in earnest this weekend with Marong FNC’s Brandyn Grenfell stretching his lead at the Top 20 table with 96 goals for the season, 6 ahead of Bradley Congress from Bambill FNC who sits on 90 and Adam Thomson from Gol Gol FNC who has 89.
