Weekly Wrap | While this weekend has seen the start of the 2023 finals seasons for a couple of leagues, others are getting ever closer to the pointy end of theirs while there are still eyes being cast to the future with discussion around potential league structures for 2024.
It also took a couple of weeks longer than we thought, but we finally got to the magical 100 goals as well.
During the week the AFL Central Vic Commission contacted clubs in their region to see if there was any interest in the concept of a new senior football and netball competition for next season. Conversations have also continued this week between more clubs from the Kyabram and District FNL and the Picola and District FNL with the Murray FNL, about the development of a new league to support the ongoing sustainability of clubs in the Goulburn Murray region. It's important these conversations are held by all leagues and clubs to be a part of to ensure the sustainability and longevity of country football in all areas across the state.
Not for the first time this season we’ve experienced another game being abandoned due to a serious injury. In the Colac and District FNL the round 16 match between the Western Eagles FNC and Otway District FNC. Play was called off during the third quarter due to a serious head clash between two players which resulted in an Otway District FNC player being knocked unconscious and subsequently taken to hospital due to some facial injuries that were also sustained. Otway Districts FNC were awarded the win as they were leading 11.11 (77) to 6.3 (39) when the game was officially abandoned.
It last happened way back in round of 2019, but this weekend the club song was finally heard being sung again by the St Albans FNC in the Geelong FNL, after they defeated Lara FNC by 26 points, 11.12 78 to 7.10 52. This breaks a 41 game losing streak by the SuperSaints which was the fourth longest current streak in AFL Victorian country footy. Two league leading sides tasted defeat for the first time this weekend as well with Dromana FNC in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean FNL Div 1 going down by 5 points to the 9th placed Langwarrin FNC while in the Bellarine FNL, wayward kicking by Torquay FNC saw them go down by the barest of margins to second placed Drysdale 10.15 75 to 11.10 76.
In a strange quirk of fixturing due to being part of a 4 team league, the Corryong FNC who were winless across the 2023 Upper Murray FNL, took their place in the 1st Semi FInal on the weekend. They were no match for Bullioh FNC who ran out 145 point winners. The Omeo & District FNL also started their finals this weekend and the result was a much tighter affair where Bruthen FNC held on by 2 points kicking 8.10 58 to Buchan FNC’s 8.8 56.
We’ve had the largest score for the 2023 season recorded in the Mininera and District FNL this weekend in the match between Wickliffe Lake Bolac FNC and Moyston Willaura FNC. The Wickliffe Lake Bolac Magpies kicked an astounding 60.30 290 to record a 284 point victory. Incredibly all bar 1 player managed to kick at least 1 goal for the victors. While this was an amazing feat to have 20 individual goal kickers, Echuca UNited FNC in the Murray FNL only really needed James Harney who managed a whopping 25 goals of his own in their big 197 point win against Rumbalara FNC. Harney kicked 25 out of his team's 36 and now holds the largest single goal haul for season 2023, beating the previous biggest tally of 24 which was only kicked last week. A total of 12 players kicked a bag of 10 or more goals from the weekend's games while another 15 players reached the 50 goal benchmark for the season.
As mentioned earlier we finally got not 1, but 3 players reaching the 100 goal milestone that has been within striking distance over the past 2 weeks. After coming agonizingly close last week, Alvie FNC’s Dominic Dare kicked 5 to move to 104 for the season, 1 ahead of Marong FNC’s Brandyn Grenfell who after having the bye last week, kicked 4 to move to 103 to be equal with Mitta United FNC’s Ethan Redcliffe who booted 7. Harney’s big tally has moved him to outright 4th with 91, 1 behind Cora Lynn FNC’s Nathan Gardiner (92) and these two now appear to be the next most likely to reach the ton this year.
