Weekly Wrap | There was as much off field news as on field this week in country football.
With Moama FNC in the Murray FNL declaring last week they are staying put for the foreseeable future, two other clubs signalled potential moves for next year. Wonthaggi FNC, who wore their heritage guernsey this weekend to celebrate 20 years, have indicated they are interested in moving from their current Gippsland FNL to the nearby West Gippsland FNL, pending the league changing to a potential 2 tier structure.
After being unsuccessful last year in an attempt to leave the Golden Rivers FNL, Ultima FNC have again indicated they will again look to move to the nearby Central Murray FNL for season 2026. This comes at an interesting time for all clubs in this region who are eagerly anticipating the release of the ‘The Northern Rivers Project’ report which is looking at both aforementioned leagues to see what the future holds for country football and netball in this part of the state. The Central Murray FNL was also in the news this week when the Cohuna FNC’s Under 12 coach, Ben Edwards, received a 16 match suspension and was also deregistered by the Central Murray FNL tribunal as a result altercation with an opposing coach in their match against the Mallee Eagles FNC.
On field this weekend, as like last week, a couple of big winning streaks came to a crashing end. In the Ballarat FNL, last year’s premier Melton FNC lost for the first time in 19 weeks when they went down to East Point FNC by 9 points, 11.13 79 to 10.10 70. Similarly in the Riddell and District FNL it another reigning premier who had their run of victories ended with Riddell FNC coming up 23 points short against Diggers Rest FNC who remain the only undefeated team in the competition so far for the season after ending the Bombers 15 game streak.
Central Highlands FNL club Daylesford FNC lost for the first time in 8 games while it was a run of 7 straight games ending for Natte Bealiba FNC in the Horsham and District FNL.
Players and supporters of the Garfield FNC sang the song for the first time in 9 games when they ended a run of outs with a come from behind 4 point win over Dalyston FNC in the West Gippsland FNL while both the Western Eagles FNC and Mornington FNC’s each won for the first time in 5 games. Spare a thought however for the Bunyip FNC who came agonisingly short of ending their run of 42 consecutive losses, falling 1 point short in their clash with Nyora FNC in the Ellinbank and District FNL with scores ending 10.8 68 to 9.12 67.
There was another exciting end to a game up in the Heathcote & District FNL between Leitchville Gunbower FNC and Heathcote FNC. Heathcote absolutely dominated the last quarter kicking 7.5 to 1.1 fly home but ultimately saw scores tied on 11. .73 to 10.13 73 when the final siren sounded. This weekend also saw another draw in the Horsham & District FNL where a wildly inaccurate Rupanyup FNC kicked 2.8 in the final quarter while their opponent Taylors Lake FNC managed 3.0 to end up with a 12:12 84 to 13.6 84 result.
The first hint of wintery weather made it more challenging for the forwards this week, however it didn’t slow down Neerim South FNC’s Mason McGarrity in the Ellinbank & District league who kicked the second biggest bag of goals so far this season when he managed 18 of his teams 28 goals in their 150 point win over Yarragon FNC. Tungamah FNC’s Ned Mckeown snagged 11 while Brandyn Grenfell (Colbinabbin FNC), Darcy Hourigan (Mallee Eagles FNC), Francesco Miceli (Cardross FNC) and Lachie Sharp (Bridgewater FNC) all walked away with 10 goals each to their names when the siren sounded.
There was also some movement on the overall goal kicking leaderboard this weekend. Longwarry FNC’s Jason Wells still holds onto top spot with 45 goals so far, however a bag of 6 from ex AFL BLue and Roo Aaron Mullett (Wandin FNC) sees him jump into second spot with 44 goals, while Bright FNC’s Cooper Thomason who also kicked 6 on the weekend to now sit third with 41 so far for the year. The race to see who will be the first to bring up 50 goals in season 2025 is now on in earnest as someone should pass this first season goal kicking milestone next weekend.
