Weekly Wrap | Along with a couple of Grand Finals being played across Victoria this weekend, we also had the final league finish their Home and Away season for 2024 with the Geelong FNL now poised to begin finals.

Their final round saw St Joseph’s FNC end Colac FNC’s slim chances of sneaking into the finals with a 28 point win, which not only secured them top spot on the ladder, but also an undefeated season. This is only the third time this feat has been completed in the league's history and makes them one of seven teams to achieve this across Victorian leagues in the 2024 season.

Two of those undefeated 2024 Home and Away sides tasted their first defeat this weekend in finals matches. Bonnie Doon FNC in the Ovens and King FNL who had the states third longest active winning streak with 34 wins in a row, went down in the Ovens and King FNL Qualifying Final by 37 points to Greta FNC, 15.8 98 to 9.7 61. Greta themselves are now on their own 15 game winning streak . In the Mininera and District FNL Qualifying Final, it was a close and thrilling game which saw scores level with two minutes to go before a hurried kick off the ground put Penshurst FNC in front and eventual victors over Wickliffe Lake Bolac FNC, by a point 9.15 69 to 10.8 68. This ended Wickliffe Lake Bolac’s 16 game winning run.

To Grand Final action and there were two deciders that took place over the weekend. In the Millewa FNL Bambill FNC led all day to win their fourth straight premiership, easily accounting for Cardross FNC 15.14 104 to 7.7 49. Luke Stanbrook was the standout for Bambill kicking 7 goals in a dominant best on ground display. There was a drought breaking grand final win in the Omeo and District FNL where Omeo-Benambra FNC kicked away after leading Swifts Creek FNC by 21 points at half time to record a 76 point win, 16.9 105 to 4.5 21 and lift the premiership cup for the first time since the 2007 season.

Plenty of other finals across the weekend produced some gripping results.

In the Central Murray FNL Elimination Final, Balranald FNC produced a comeback for the ages. Trailing Cohuna FNC by 49 points at half time, the Roos kept Cohuna to 1 goal and 6 behinds for the second half while piling on 10 goals and 9 points of their own to run out 8 point winners, 11.14 80 to 10.12 72. In the Murray FNL, it was Deniliquin FNC staging a late comeback to win their Elimination Final over Mulwala FNC, ending the Lions a chance of a Grand Final three peat this season. Down by 26 points at three quarter time, the Rams kicked 7 goals to the Lions 1 to run out 16 point winners. Former Tiger and Western Bulldog Sam Lloyd kicked 4 in Deni’s thrilling win.

A one point game decided the 1st Semi final in the Loddon Valley FNL where it was 4th placed Bridgewater FNC, who led by 21 points at halftime, holding on for a 12.8 80 to 11.13 79 win against 3rd placed Bears Lagoon Serpentine FNC. Two points was the final margin in the North Central FNL where Birchip-Watchem FNC 11.9 75 defeated Sea Lake Nandaly FNC 10.13 73 in the 2nd Semi Final, while in the Ovens and Murray FNL, North ALbury FNC held on against a fast finishing Wodonga FNC, winning the Elimination Final by three points, 11.5 71 to 10.8 68.

In the South West District FNL, season ladder leader Cavendish FNC crashed out of the finals in straight sets, via a two goal Preliminary Final loss to Dartmoor FNC 6.10 46 to 4.10 34. Dartmoor will now meet Tyrendarra FNC in the Grand Final next weekend, with both clubs looking to break seven and eight year respective premiership droughts . A win in the Geelong and District FNL 2nd Semi Final, saw the Belmont Lions FNC progress straight through to the Grand Final for the first time in 17 years in two weeks time, while ladder leaders in the Tallangatta and District FNL, Yackandandah FNC have also moved into their clubs first Grand Final since the 2010 season.

This coming weekend sees another 8 premierships on offer across Victoria. (last flag)

Bellarine FNL | 1 v 3 | Torquay FNC (2023) V Anglesea FNC (1999)
East Gippsland FNL | 1 v 2 | Boisdale Briagolong (1970) V Lucknow FNC (2012)
Golden Rivers FNL | 1 v 2 | Hay FNC (2023) V Ultima FNC (2015)
Heathcote & District FNL | 1 v 3 | White Hills FNC (1988) V Leitchville Gunbower FNC (2018)
MPNFNL - Div 2 | 1 v 2 | Edithvale-Aspendale FNC (2013) V Chelsea FNC (2006)
Picola & District FNL | 3 v 4 | Waaia FNC (2023) V Katandra FNC (2004)
South West District FNL | 2 v 3 | Tyrendarra FNC (2016) V Dartmoor FNC (2017)
Warrnambool & District FNL | 1 v 2| NirrandaFNC (2023) V Merrivale FNC (2014)