Weekly Wrap | The penultimate weekend of Victorian country footy football finals certainly didn’t disappoint.
During the week, several leagues completed their Best and Fairest nights and there were triple dead heats in the Bendigo FNL, Central Murray FNL and the Kyabram and District FNL. The latter actually had a four way tie for the league's top honour, however Shepparton East FNC’s Tom McCluskey was ineligible due to a suspension from during the season. This was the same fate that befell former Carlton FC’s Tom Williamson in the Wimmera FNL last year, however the Ararat FNC gun was able to put that disappointment behind him to win the league medal during the week as well as adding a premiership medal as Ararat FNC were able to claim back to back premierships with a close 9 point win over the newly merged Southern Mallee Thunder FNC.
There were also two 1 point thrillers that played out on Saturday. In the Hampden FNL, it was a tough and dour affair all day between North Warrnambool FNC and South Warrnambool FNC, with scoring at a premium due to the weather conditions. South Warrnambool trailed by 2 points at three quarter time, and ended up kicking the only goal in the final quarter to North Warrnambool three behinds, to walk away with back to back flags by a single point, 4.5 29 to 3.10 28.
In the other thriller it was heartbreak for Finley FNC in the Murray FNL grand final against Congupna FNC. After scraping into the Grand Final with a last second win in the Preliminary Final against Moama FNC the previous week, they came from 24 points down at the last change, kicking six last quarter goals and tying the score twice in the final minutes until a hurried Congupna kick forward, rolled through for a behind with the siren going as the ball was kicked back into play. The scores finished on 9.11 65 to 9.10 64. The win also gave Congupna FNC their first premiership since 1993 and also a first Murray FNL premiership since joining the competition from the now defunct Tungamah FNL in 1997.
Another close and gripping result also produced a second big drought breaking flag from the weekend when the Wangaratta Rovers FNC in the Ovens and Murray FNL recorded a closely fought 3 point win over the Yarrawonga FNC who were looking for back to back flags. With no more than 5 points separating the two teams at each break, Wangaratta Rovers were able to hold on for a 11.6 72 to 9.15 69 victory to record the club's first flag since 1994, ending a 30 year run without success. With both clubs coached by former AFL players in Steven Johnson and Sam Murray, another former AFL player in Cartlon FC’s Ed Curnow, coached his first side to a premiership when Lorne FNC won the Colac and District FNL decider over Irrewarra Beeac FNC.
In the Central Murray FNL Nyan Nyah West United FNC won their first flag since 2001, while Traralgon FNC in the Gippsland FNL ended a nine year run of outs while at the same time denying Leongatha FNC a chance at a premiership three peat.
It would have been a big night in the Sandhurst FNC clubrooms after facing off against Gisborne FNC in all three grades of football and walked away with all three flags. Similarly in the Goulburn Valley FNL Echuca FNC not only claimed their third premiership in a row, but also claimed victory in all three grades of football. Narre Warren FNC in the Outer East FNL Premier division, ended their association with the league by claiming the premiership before the head off to the metro Southern FNL for next year.
As has been the trend this season, another contender has gone out in straight sets with St Joseph’s FNC in the Geelong FNL who were undefeated through the home and away season, losing the Preliminary Final against the 4th placed South Barwon FNC by 30 points. This now sets up a rematch of the 2023 grand final between last year's winner Leopold FNC and South Barwon FNC in the final Victorian country footy match of the 2024 season.
This weekend is the final premiership on offer across Victoria. (last flag)
Geelong FNL | 3 v 4 | Leopold FNC (2023) V South Barwon FNC (2013)