Weekly Wrap | We now have our first Grand finalists for season 2023 with Omeo Benambra FNC set to meet Swifts CreekFNC in the Omeo & District FNL Grand Final next weekend, while it’s the undefeated Cudgewa FNC talking on Bullioh FNC in the Upper Murray FNL.
Omeo Benambra FNC are looking to break the longest premiership drought of the four clubs involved, last tasting success in 2007, while Swifts Creek FNC (2011), Cudgewa FNC (2015) have had longish waits, as opposed to Bullioh FNC who last won in 2019.
While those two leagues arrive at their grand final days, another 17 Victorian country leagues will also start their 2023 finals seasons next weekend. Four sides will enter these as red hot favorites after completing their home and away season undefeated. Harcourt FNC (Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL), Newborough FNC (Mid Gippsland FNL), Sea Lake Nandaly FNC (North Central FNL) and Ararat FNC (Wimemra FNL) all have the chance to end up as premiers and champions if they can complete the perfect season. This leaves just 10 leagues to complete their home and away seasons this upcoming weekend. North Geelong FNC in the Geelong & District FNL waited until their very last round of the season to claim their first 2023 victory, defeating Corio FNC by 30 points and finally singing their club song.
On the field this week there were some exciting finishes with the Round 18 top of the table clash in the West Gippsland FNC seeing a thrilling draw take place between 1st placed Inverloch-Kongwak FNC and 2nd placed Phillip Island FNC, 7.14 56 to 8.8 56. Similarly the final round of the Riddell and District FNL had a heart stopping finish where a 50m penalty enabled Wallan FNC to score a goal on the final siren to defeat the current reigning premier Riddell FNC by two points and move into outright second place, 8.8 56 to 7.12 54.
Another late 50m also helped seal the fate of Russell Creeks FNC in the Warrnamabool & District FNL Elimination FInal, when Kolora-Noorat FNC took advantage of the penalty to kick a goal in the final stages of the last quarter to come from behind and hold on to progress, 11.19 76 to 10.11 71. The North Gippsland FNL Elimination Final also saw Churchill FNC come from behind to advance to week 2 of the finals after overcoming a 26 point 3/4 time deficit to down the reigning premiers Yallourn Yallourn North FNC by 3 points 18.10 118 to 17.13 115. In a third Elimination Final thriller for the weekend, Heywood FNC and Dartmoor FNC in the South West District FNL played out a 1 point heartbreaker, with Heywood FNC holding on to win 9.12 66 to 9.11 65
This week two more forwards hit the 100 goal milestone for the season, with Cora Lynn FNC’s Nathan Gardiner kicking 8 in the game against Koo Wee Rup FNC to end the home and away season on 103, while in the final Murray FNL home and away game, Echuca United FNC’s James Harney bagged 7 against Cobram FNC to end his season on 102. Ben Edwards from Birchip Watchem FNC in the North Central FNL was this week's best performing forward with a haul of 15 in his club's 155 point win against St Arnaud FNC.
With only a few leagues left to finish their home and away season, and barring a record bag of goals next weeknd, there can be no change to our top Victorian country football forward. Congratulations to Alvie FNC’s Dominic Dare who finished on top of the table with 113 goals for the season, 1 ahead of Carisbrook FNC’s Anthony Zelencich who completed his home and away season with 112, followed by Ethan Redcliffe from Mitta United FNC in third place with 110. Gardiner’s haul of 8 moved him into equal 4th place sharing this position with Marong FNC’s Brandyn Grenfell on 103, while the bag of 7 from Harney earned him 5th position on 102 for the season.
