Weekly Wrap | The start of a new season always brings new hope and that was true over the weekend where we saw the end of three substantial losing streaks.
Round 1 of the South West FNL saw Westerns FNC end a 26 game losing streak that went all the way back to rnd 5 of the 2022 season. Saturday saw them convincing 106 point victors over Heathmere FNC 17.19 121 to 2.3 15. Down in the Warrnambool & District FNL it was Old Collegians FNC ending a run of 22 consecutive losses with a 35 point win over Timboon Demons FNC, singing the song for the first time since round 15, 2022 when they defeated Dennington FNC.
Gembrook Cockatoo FNC in the Outer East FNL Premier Division rounded out the end of big losing streaks when they won for the first time in 11 games when they won 10.8 68 to the wayward Berwick Springs FNC 8.12 60, celebrating the close win by 8 points .Like last week we also saw another end to a club v club based losing streak where Gippsland FNL club Bairnsdale FNC, had their first victory against Morwell FNC at Morwell in over a ten years.
Some long time winning streaks also came to an end this week where some of last season's premiers tasted defeat for the first time in a long time.
In the Central Murray FNL Balranald FNC reversed the 2023 grand final results with a close 4 point win over Kerang FNC, which in turn ended their 18 game winning streak. Eaglehawk FNC had s season opening win in their Bendigo FNL clash with reigning premier Golden Square FNC bringing a halt to the Bulldogs 17 game winning streak. In the east of the state, Woodside FNC ended Traralgon Tyers United FNC’s 16 game steak with 31 point win while even further east, Omeo Benambra FNC belted 2023 Omeo and District FNL champion Swifts Creek FNC by 95 points in their grand final replay.
A winning streak of a different note is going to be required by Maiden Gully YCW FNC in the Loddon Valley FNL who will start the 2024 season 12 points in arrears to the rest of the competition courtesy of being docked 12 premiership points by the league for not fielding a junior team for this season. While Maiden Gully YCW are fielding a junior side in the nearby Bendigo FNL for 2024, as this is not their current affiliated league it has brought about the penalty. Despite this and while the club looks at avenues for appeal, the Eagles did get their 2024 campaign underway with a 12 point win over Calivil United FNC.
Unfortunately in the Central Highland FNL we had the senior match between Buninyong FNC and Newlyn FNC abandoned due to an injury to a player who after receiving a knock, suffered concussion that required ambulance treatment. Given the delay to the game being over 30 minutes, the game was officially abandoned with the score at the time Buninyong FNC 4.0 24 leading Newlyn FNC 3.5 23. Each club will now receive 2 premiership points as a result.
There were some big scores this round which meant some major individual goal hauls. The biggest was from Greta FNC’s Frazer Judd who bagged 15 in his team's huge 257 point win over Tarrawingee FNC 43.14 272 to 2.3 15. Five other forwards kicked double digit bags, with former Bomber, Power and Saint Paddy Ryder snagging 11 for Devon Meadows FNC in their 204 point win over Hastings FNC in the MPNFNL - Div 2 clash, while another former AFL player, former Fremantle Docker Josh Mellington kicked 10 of his teams 17 goals as Bears Lagoon Serpentine FNC held on for a close win over Pyramid Hill FNC, 17.10 112 to 14.13 93.
Overall Judd sits atop the statewide tally with 24 goals so far this season, closely followed by Bright FNC’s Cooper Thomason, who kicked 10 goals himself this weekend, on 23 while Congupna FNC’s Kyle Muleller sits third on 22.
Next week we have our final 4 leagues starting for 2024 with the Golden Rivers, Millewa, Mininera and District and Wimmera FNL’s all getting underway.
