Weekly Wrap | There is always something going on in country footy and this week was no exception.
Before a ball was bounced in anger for this weekend's round there was big news coming out of the Hampden FNL where the Port Fairy FNC became the first club this season to forfeit a senior game. Unfortunately due to an overwhelming injury list with more than half of their players unavailable, the club made the decision to forfeit both its senior and reserve games against the Koroit FNC. Hopefully they will get a side up for next week's game against Warrnambool FNC.
On the lighter side, it took some traditional country ingenuity to ensure the game in the Colac and District FNL between Westerns Eagles FNC and Birregurra FNC was able to continue after Westerns ruckman and coach Craig Hardingham, managed to run into one of the point posts, taking it out at ground level. However, to ensure the game continued on, a plastic road bollard was found to be used as a temporary post for the remainder of the game. Birregurra ran out comfortable 69 point winners, but nothing beats some good old fashioned bush ingenuity to ensure a game of footy keeps going.
This week saw finals kick off in both the Omeo & District FNL and the South West District FNL. In the Omeo & District FNL it was Swan Reach FNC ending Omeo Benambra FNC’s 2022 season with a tight 9.5 59 to 7.10 52 win in the Elimination Final, whilst both Cavendish FNC and Tyrendarra FNC progressed to the next weekend of finals after their wins on the weekend. Next weekend sees final series kicking off in the Bellarine, Heathcote & District, Picola & District and Western Border FNL’s.
This weekend saw the Garfield FNC in the West Gippsland FNL celebrate its first win for the season. The Stars were too strong for the Dalyston Magpies, running out 70 point winners, 15.15 105 to 5.5 35. The big win for the week was in the Kyabram and District FNL where Lancaster FNC piled on 41.26 274 to run out 263 point winners over Rushworth FNC. One point games took place in the East GIppsland FNL Orbost Snowy Rovers prevailed 10.14 74 to Lakes Entrance FNC’s 10.13 73, while in the Sunraysia FNL Merbein FNC held on against a wayward Imperials FNC, winning 14.4 88 to 12.15 87. Whilst on the topic of inaccurate kicking, Natimuk United FNC in the Horsham and District FNL blew a win against Taylors Lake FNC kicking an incredible 7.23 65 to lose by 6 points to 10.11 71.
For the second week in a row and for the seventh time this season, we had a bag of more than 20 goals kicked. This week it was Katunga FNC forward Fergus Lappin who managed 23 in his side's 230 point win over Blighty FNC in the Picola and District FNL. Amazingly for the third week in a row, a haul of 18 goals was kicked, this week by Lachlan Thompson from the Benalla All Blacks FNC in the Ovens and King FNL. This effort made him the 4th senior country footballer to reach the 100 goal mark for the season, and he now sits fourth overall behind
Marongs FNC Brandyn Grenfell on 143, Adam Thomson from Gol Gol on 122 who is 1 ahead of fellow Millewa FNL forward, Bradley Congress on 121.
