Weekly Wrap | This weekend saw the crowning of our first Victorian country footy premiers for season 2023.
In the Omeo and District FNL it was Swifts Creek FNC successful by 22 points over Omeo Benambra FNC 11.6 72 to 7.8 50. This is the Creekers first premiership since 2011 and their 29th overall, which stretches back to their first ever win in 1893. This win also takes them to equal 6th overall in terms of premiership success of all Victorian country footy clubs.
The Upper Murray FNL also held their grand final this weekend and it saw Cudgewa FNC complete the perfect season by being undefeated premiers and champions with a convincing 94 point win over Bullioh FNC. The Blues hit the ground running kicking 8.5 53 to 0.1 1 in the first quarter to set up their 22.14 146 to 8.4 52 victory, their first since the 2015 season and 31st overall for the club. This moves Cudgewa FNC into outright 4th place on the list of most senior premierships by a club in Victorian country footy.
Next weekend sees three leagues staging their Grand Finals. In the East Gippsland FNL, Boisdale Briagolong FNC takes on Wy Yung FNC, with both clubs looking to break 21 and 7 year premiership droughts respectively. In the Millewa FNL it’s the current reigning premiers Bambill FNC taking on Gol Gol FNC who are out to win the flag for the first time in 12 years.
Finally in the Outer East FNL - Div 2 grand final it’s another reigning premier in Powelltown FNC taking on Alexandra FNC who are out to win their first premiership for 14 years. Third placed Powelltown FNC progressed to the final game of the season after knocking out top of the table Warburton Millgrove FNC in this weekend’s Preliminary Final by 49 points, bundling the Burras out of the finals in straight sets.
After the weekend we now have all country leagues involved in their 2023 final series, with the final 10 leagues completing their home and away seasons. Of these leagues, Kerang FNC in the Central Murray FNL enter the finals undefeated and still have the chance to complete a perfect season if things go their way over the next few weeks. Sandhurst FNC (Bendigo FNL), Echuca FNC (Goulburn Valley FNL) and Narre Warren FNC (Outer East FNL - Premier) also enter the finals as red hot favourites after only dropping 1 game each across the regular season.
The weekends round of action also saw a few bags of goals kicked with Sam Dobson (St Mary’s - Geelong FNL), Jordan Jaworski (Wandin FNC - Outer East FNL) and Sam Gebert (Healesville FNC - Outer East FNL) all managing hauls of 10 goals each. Meanwhile in this weekend's biggest score, 15 players managed to hit the scoreboard with at least one goal each for Gisborne FNC as they managed 38.27 255 in their 240 point win against Maryborough FNC in the Bendigo FNL.
Whilst there were no changes to the overall leader for our Top 20 goal kickers list with all the regular home and away seasons coming to an end, a final round bag of 7 from Strathfieldsaye FNC’s Lachlan Sharp was enough to move him into 7th place overall with a total of 93 for the season. Season 2023 has ended with 6 forwards managing to break the magical 100 goal mark which was 3 below the 9 who hit the ton last season.
