Weekly Wrap | If you thought the AFL action at the MCG on Sunday between Collingwood and Carlton was nail biting, that had nothing on some of the games played across country footy this weekend which saw two finals games need extra time to decide the winners.
In the Picola and District FNL Qualifying Final between Tungamah FNC and Katunga FNC, it was Katunga jumping out of the blocks to lead by 27 points at quarter time. They held a 19 point advantage at three quarter time before scores were all tied up when the final siren rang. After extra time, it was Tungamah who were victorious 13.20 98 to Katunga’s 13.8 86. Meanwhile in the Omeo and District FNL Preliminary Final, Swifts Creek FNC and Swan Reach FNC were all square on 54 points each at the end of the game. Following extra time, Swifts Creek finally got the win 10.6 (66) to 8.13 (61).
Staying in the Gippsland region, there was more drama across local leagues. In the Mid Gippsland FNL, sixth placed Yinnar FNC were victorious against 3rd placed Foster FNC 7.8 50 to 6.7 43 in the Elimination Final. Yinnar had only scraped into the finals on percentage after a win in their final round 18 match last weekend. In the final round of the Gippsland FNL, Morwell FNC made it into the top 5 after beating 3rd placed Sale FNC and a loss by Maffra FNC to Traralgon FNC, meant the historically dominant Eagles will miss the finals for the first time since the late 1990’s. Finally, in the East Gippsland FNL 1st Semi Final there was another thriller with Lindenow FNC 10.10.70 hanging on to win against Lucknow FNC’s 10.8.68.
Next week will see all but a few Victorian country football leagues involved in their 2022 final series, but we will also have our first Grand Finals for the 2022 season. In the South West District FNL Dartmoor FNC, fresh from their Preliminary FInal win against ladder leaders Coleraine, will face off against Cavendish FNC at Heywood. While in the Omeo and District FNL it will be Swifts Creek FNC after their extra time win, taking on Lindenow South FNC in the decider at the Omeo Recreation Reserve.
Whilst there were lots of close finishes, there was still time for a big win this week, which came from the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL where Natte Bealiba FNC piled on 39.14 248 to run out big 231 point winners against Campbells Creek FNC. This game did see the biggest goal haul for the weekend where Natte Bealiba’s Danny Brewster bagged 20 to take him to 121 for the season and fourth place overall on the Top 20 goal kickers list.
Staying in the same league, Jake Keogh from Trentham FNC entered the round on 99 goals and managed the 1 single goal to take him to the century for the season. There have now been nine 100 goal kickers for the season and with one round to go, Joel Brett from Golden Square in the Bendigo FNL will need a big tally of 8 to reach the ton and become this year's 10th and last 100 goal kicker for the 2022 season.
