Weekly Wrap | Three more premiers were crowned over this weekend's round of Victorian country footy and for another 40 clubs, their premiership aspirations for season 2023 are done and dusted.
In the East Gippsland FNL it was Wy Yung FNC victorious over Boisdale Briagolong FNC in a low scoring and tight affair, 6.11 47 to 5.9. There would have been some nervous Wy Yung supporters behind the fence during the game as this season saw them finish clear on top by 2 games, whereas last season they were 4 games ahead at the end of the home and away only to lose that grand final by 20 points to Stratford FNC. This year however they were able to hold strong and claim their first premiership in 7 years.
Up in the Millewa FNL it was Bambill FNC who tasted premiership success with a 13 point win over Gol Gol FNC, 12.12 84 to 11.5 71. The Saints were leading comfortably by 31 points at half time, only to see their lead shrink across the second half before they were able to prevail in the end. This win gives Bambill FNC back to back flags after their victory over Cardoss FNC last year and their 29th overall, moving them to 5th place in the list of most flags won by a senior Victorian country football team.
Down in the Outer East FNL - Division 2 grand final we also saw a reigning premier go back to back with Powelltown FNC the winner by 13 points in their season decider against Alexandra FNC, 17.12 114 to 15.11 101. The Saints who were out to break a 14 year premiership drought, were marginally in front at half time, but a 5 goal to 1 third quarter saw Powelltown leaders by 18 points at three quarter time and they able to keep up the momentum into the last to emerge victorious.
Whilst these results saw back to back premiership teams over the weekend, in the Hampden FNL there will be a brand new premier for the first time in 7 years after perennial premiers Koroit FNC were defeated in Sunday’s Elimination Final by Cobden FNC, 13.7 85 to 7.15 57. This ends a remarkable string of premiership wins that began in 2014 and continued post the Covid-19 interrupted seasons. The run sits comfortably in comparison with some other remarkable streaks in recent years, notably Bridgewater FNC’s 7 in a row from 2010-2016 in the Loddon Valley FNL and Horsham FNC’s amazing 10 in a row in the Wimmera FNL from 2003-2012.
Next weekend sees the following 10 leagues enjoying their Grand Final day: (last premiership year)
Bellarine FNL | 1st v 2nd | Torquay FNC (2017) v Drysdale FNC (1985)
Horsham & District FNL | 1st v 2nd | Harrow Balmoral FNC (2019) v Jeparit Rainbow FNC (1997 in the now defunct Mallee FNL)
Loddon Valley FNL | 1st v 2nd | Marong FNC (2022) v Pyramid Hill FNC (1950)
Mininera & District FNL | 1st v 2nd | Tatyoon FNC (2016) v Woorndoo Mortlake FNC (No flags since merger in 2000)
Mornington Peninsula Nepean FNL - Div 2 | 1st v 3rd | Mornington FNC (2004) v Somerville FNC (1986)
North Gippsland FNL | 1st v 2nd | TTU FNC (2004) v Woodside FNC (1974)
Picola & District FNL | 1st v 2nd | Waaia FNC (2022) v Strathmerton FNC (2019)
South West District FNL | 1st v 2nd | Coleraine FNC (2013) v Cavendish (2022)
Sunraysia FNL | 1st v 3rd | Robinvale Euston FNC (2010) v Irymple FNC (2022)
Warrnambool & District FNL | 1st v 2nd | Merrivale FNC (2014) v Nirranda FNC (2022)
Now it wouldn’t be a weekly wrap without some sort of feature or mention of goal kicking. Whilst there were no big bags of goals kicked across this weekend, there certainly was a shootout that took place in the South West District FNL between a couple of former AFL players. In the Preliminary Final, former Richmond FC tall Tyrone Vickery kicked 4 of Coleraine FNC’s 6 opening quarter goals to give them a commanding 6.4 40 to 02 2 lead over Heywood FNC at quarter time.
Not to be outdone, former Collingwood FC goal sneak Leon Davis kicked 5 of Heywood’s 8 second quarter goals that saw them 2 point leaders at half time. The back and forth continued between the two sides in the second half, with Coleraine FNC holding on for a 10 point win, 16.15 111 to 16.5 101, to proceed to next week’s Grand Final. Vickery finished the match with 8 goals while Davis managed 7 of his own.