Weekly Wrap | We are getting to the pointy end of the home and away season with another group of leagues entering finals next week.
The Bellarine FNL, East Gippsland FNL, Horsham & District FNL, Loddon Valley FNL, Millewa, FNL Mininera & District FNL, MPNFNL Div 2, North Gippsland FNL, Outer East Div 2 FNL, South West District FNL and Warrnambool & District FNL all played their final home and away game over the weekend. From this group we have 4 clubs who will enter their respective finals series as premiership favorites after going through the regular season undefeated: Harrow Balmoral FNC (Horsham & District FNL), Marong FNC (Loddon Valley FNL), Traralgon Tyers United FNC (North Gippsland FNL) and Merrivale FNC (Warrnambool & District FNL).
In action played over the weekend there was excitement all round for footy fans in the east of the state which included Lindenow FNC Under 17’s player Peter Harrison kicking 42 out of his teams 43 goals in their big 272 point win over Paynesville FNC, while over in the
Omeo and District FNL the Qualifying Final held at Swan Reach on Saturday between Swifts Creek FNC and Omeo Benambra FNC went into extra time. With scores level at 11.10 (76) a piece when the final siren sounded, it was Swifts Creek ending up victorious by 5 points, 12.10 82 to 11.11 77 and progressing to the Grand Final while Omeo Benambra meets Bruthen FNC in next week's Preliminary Final.
Other finals action over the weekend saw the undefeated Cudgewa FNC progress to the Upper Murray FNL Grand Final with an 111 point Qualifying Final win against Tumbarumba FNC, while in the Picola and District FNL it was Katandra FNC and Jerilderie FNC keeping their seasons alive with their Elimination Final victories on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Speaking of winning, two clubs managed to get that elusive first win of the season on the weekend. In the Outer East FNL Div 2 it was Yarra Glen FNC chalking up win number one with a 68 point win over Broadford FNC, while it was also the Warrack Eagles FNC becoming first time winners for season 2023 in the Wimmera FNL. The Eagles, who were trailing the third placed Southern Mallee Giants at 3/4 time, came from behind to edge in front and hold on for a thrilling 2 point win, 8.14 62 to 8.12 60, costing the Giants the chance to move into 2nd place on the ladder with 1 round remaining.
Alternatively it was Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC in the Tallangatta and District FNL tasting defeat for the first time this season, going down by 9 points to Chiltern FNC who currently sit in fourth place. This loss means top spot is still up for grabs with Yackandandah FNC sitting 2 points behind Kiewa Sandy Creek with the final round to be played next weekend.
With only a few rounds to go for most leagues, the chance to reach the magical 100 goal mark for the season is fast slipping away for some of the key forwards across the state. After the weekend we do have a new member of the 100 club with Carisbrook FNC’s Anthony Zelencich reaching 106 in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL. His big bag of 17 helped him move to outright second place in the Top 20, 3 behind Ethan Redcliffe from Mitta United FNC who leads all comers with 109 while Dominic Dare from Alvie FNC could only manage to add one more to his tally to be third with 105. Sitting equal on 95 goals apiece, James Harney from Echuca United FNC in the Murray FNL has 1 game remaining to hit triple figures, while in the West Gippsland FNC, Cora Lynn FNC’s Nathan Gardiner also has 1 more game to get the 5 goals he requires for the ton.
