Weekly Wrap | There was so much going on in country footy this week, it was hard to know where to start!
The wild weather that hit across the state on Saturday not only caused havoc with scoring, but caused two games to be abandoned, one before it even got started. In the Mornington Peninsula Nepean FNL, the game between Tyabb FNC and Langwarrin FNC never got going. Twice the umpires went to begin the game but due to the severe weather and lightning around the ground, a decision was made to abandon the game under the leagues Extreme Weather policy. Meanwhile in the Geelong FNL, the clash between Lara FNC and St Joseph’s FNC was called off late in the third quarter due to lightning around the oval. The decision was vindicated given footage that appeared of lightning striking a tree within the confines of the ground.
After a forfeit featuring last week in senior football, it occurred again this weekend. In the Upper Murray FNL, Federal FNC forfeited its final round clash against Bullioh FNC due to only having roughly half a team of players available. However, the club that almost folded at the start of this season will play finals after finishing in fourth place. While on the topic of clubs going into recess, the Quambatook FNC who announced early during this season that they have made the decision to fold at the end of this season played their last home game, ending 111 years of existence. Despite going into recess in 2023, the club will get to contest this season’s Golden Rivers FNL finals series after guaranteeing second place on the ladder with an 89 point win against Macorna FNC.
It’s taken all season and the last round to get there, but the Timboon Demons FNC has registered it’s first win for the 2022 season with a 10 point win over Allansford FNC in the Warrnambool and District FNL With only a few rounds to go there are still 18 clubs yet to register a win while 5 teams aim to remain undefeated at the end of this year's home and away season. The big win for the week was in the Mininera and District FNL where Lismore Derrinallum FNC piled on 45.15 285 to run out 236 point winners over Great Western FNC who could only managed 7.7 49.
There was plenty of interest in the goal kicking race this weekend, with four players bringing up the 100 goal tally for the year. While Warrnambool FNC’s Jason Rowan kicked the biggest bag for the round with 16 goals against Port Fairy in the Hampden FNL, it was a haul of 15 from Lismore Derrinallum FNC’s Michael lockyer that got him to the century, ending with 101 and he was also joined by Danny Brewster from Natte Bealiba FNC on 101 at rounds end
All eyes were on the Kyabram and District FNL where on Saturday Jack Exell from Violet Town FNC kicked 7 to end up on 102 in a thrilling after the siren win against Avenel FNC. This meant that in the Sunday game, Damian Cupido from Girgarre FNC, firstly needed 13 goals to reach the ton and then 15 goals to tie Exell or 16 to take the league award outright. Cupido managed to kick 14 goals and 8 points to finish on 101 for the season and second place overall. The consolation is that his efforts will mean Girgarre FNC will play finals for the first time in 21 years.
A similar shootout took place in the Millewa FNL, where a bag of 6 goals from Bambill FNC’s Bradley Congress meant he held onto the league lead with 128 goals for the season, 3 ahead of Adam Thomson from Gol Gol who could only manage 3 goals to end up with a season tally of 125. It would take an amazing bag of 43 goals from Natte Bealiba FNC’s Danny Brewster in the final round next week to top this year's state leading goal kicker, Marong FNC’s Brandyn Grenfell, who has finished the 2022 season with 143 goals.
