Weekly Wrap | This weekend saw another club that was impacted by the devastating floods of 2022 take to the field for their first home game of the season.
Like Rochester FNC and Shepparton Swans FNC from the Goulburn Valley FNL in the last two weeks, it was the time for Avoca FNC in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL to host a game whilst still in the rebuilding process regarding their facilities. Whilst they weren’t able to celebrate a win, going down to Lexton FNC 8.9 57 to 9.13 67, the weekend was another small step on the rebuilding path with the club hoping to have all repairs completed by June.
Staying in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL, the mooted merger of two of their current clubs, Maryborough Rovers FNC and Royal Park FNC has become official after both clubs members voted for the two clubs to become one for the 2024 season. Whilst both clubs will play out the current season as separate entities, a board will be established during this year to start working on the finer details and logistics such as the new club name, colors and jumper. Unfortunately on the back of this news, neither club was successful on the weekend with the Rovers going down to Maldon FNC and Royal Park defeated by Talbot FNC.
Another former AFL premiership player made a return to country football this weekend with former Saint and Hawk captain Ben McEvoy joining his two brothers for Colbinabbin FNC in their Heathcote and District FNL clash against Mt Pleasant FNC. McEvoy, drafted originally from Dederang Mt Beauty FNC, via the Murray Bushrangers, was unable to help the Hoppers get across the line as they were unable to contain the Mounts who kicked 6 goals to 1 in the last quarter to run out comfortable 49 point winners.
This week saw another long standing undefeated run come to an end, this time in the Kyabram and District FNL, where the Longwood FNC claimed their first victory since way back in June 19 2019. The Redlegs were able to defeat Undera FNC, 15.12 102 to 10.7 67. Last week's drought breakers, the Carngham Linton Saints FNC in the Central Highlands FNL, are now 2 from 2 for the season with another win this time by 5 points over Rokewood Corindhap FNC.
We’ve had another draw from this weekend's round of matches where once again, wayward kicking cost a team victory. An inaccurate Boort FNC kicked 12.10 82 to be level at the final siren with Wycheproof Narraport FNC who were impressively accurate with 13.4 82. Close games were the order of the day in the Omeo and District FNL where the average winning margin across all games was only 8 points. There was also a dramatic 1 point thriller in the Ovens and Murray FNL where Myrtleford FNC edged in front of the Wangaratta Rovers FNC with a goal in the last minute. In the final passage of play, a Rovers player was heavily concussed, resulting in an ambulance being called, and under league rules, the game had to be abandoned with 7 seconds on the clock due to a lengthy delay in the ambulance arriving. This resulting 1 point win for Myrtleford is their first for the season.
A new high tally of goals kicked by an individual for this season took place as part of a new highest score for 2023 as well. Casey Geroge from Yackandandah FNC snagged a haul of 20 goals in their massive total of 49.25 319 against Wahgunyah FNC in their Tallangatta and District FNL match, in which they were 317 point winners. Nine other forwards kicked bags of 10 or more over the weekend, with Mitta United FNC’s Ethan Redcliffe still leading the state with 36, followed by Jerilderie FNC’s Mitchell Conlan on 30 and Frazer Judd from Greta FNC in third place on 28.
