Weekly Wrap | This week saw plenty of ANZAC Day games with more leagues making this commemorative day part of their season fixture.
Games took place in the Ballarat, Bellarine, Geelong, Geelong and District, Hampden, MPNFNL, Outer East, Ovens and Murray, Riddell and District, West Gippsland and WImmera FNL’s.
The days were well attended and those attending the Outer East FNL Div 1 match between Seville FNC and Belgrave FNC saw Belgrave jump out to a 24 point lead in the first quarter and lead at every change, only to finished tied on the final siren 11.5 71 to Seville FNC’s 10.11 71. It was similar in the Ovens and Murray FNL match between Albury FNC and North Albury FNC which saw an exciting contest as well. It would be the Albury Tigers who would emerge victorious in the end, when the Hoppers wasted shots on goal in the final quarter, kicking 2 goals and 6 points, to end up 2 point losers, 6.13 49 to Albury’s 7.9 51.
Saturday saw another sensational draw in the Bellarine FNL match between Barwon Heads FNC and Geelong Amatuer FNC. Barwon Heads, who trailed by 5 goals at every change, stormed home in the final quarter, kicking 6 goals 5 points to end up tied 11.13 79 to the Ammos 12.7 79. Across the state there were also four one point matches that took place in the East Gippsland, Kyabram & District, Maryborough Castlemaine District and Mininera & District FNL’s.
However for these close games, a consistent story out of the weekend revolved around several big scores that were recorded with nine clubs kicking scores of over 200 points. Seven of this season's biggest winning margins so far were also recorded with the biggest being a 258 point win to Gisborne FNC over Maryborough FNC in the Bendigo FNL. Whilst this was the biggest winning margin, the biggest score honors went to Bambill FNC in the MIllewa FNL who kicked 44.13 277 in the game against Meringur FNC, who only managed 3. 2 20. Unfortunately there were also 8 clubs who scored under 10 points in matches played with Bunyip FNC unfortunately not troubling the scorers whilst their opponents Cora Lynn FNC, amassed a whopping 38.19 247.
In a worrying early season trend there has now been three weeks in a row where leagues have recorded average winning margins of over 100 points. This week there were five, up from three last week led by the Upper Murray FNL with an average winning margin of 137 pints, joined by the Millewa FNL (130 pts), Omeo and District FNL (114 pts), Tallangatta and District FNL (110 pts) and the West Gippsland FNL (107 pts). Another five leagues, the Horsham & District, Kyabram & District, North Gippsland, Ovens & King and the Picola and District FNL all averaged winning margins of over 90 points as well.
This weekend also saw the first forfeit for the year in the Outer East FNL Division 1 competition where Powelltown had to make the regrettable decision to forfeit its seniors and reserves football games against Alexandra FNC. This came on the back of the seasons biggest loss so far the previous week where they suffered a 280 point defeat by Healesville FNC. In a positive the netball games were able to go ahead, so fingers crossed they can regroup and get the footballers out on the park when they face Seville FNC this upcoming weekend.
Another couple of former AFL players put the boots on in the bush this weekend with current Collingwood Development Coach and former Demon, Neville Jetta who lined up for Corowa Rutherglen FNC in their clash against Yarrawonga FNC on Sunday. While in the North Central FNL it was former Sun, Cat and Tiger Josh Caddy lacing up for St Arnaud FNC in their clash against ladder leaders Birchip Watchem FNC. Caddy managed to kick two of the Saints 5 goals which wasn’t enough to get them over the line.
On the topic of goals, a dozen forwards had days out kicking 10 or more. None better were the three bags of 15 goals from Tatyoon FNC’s Marcus Darmody in the Mininera and District FNL and a pair of Loddon Valley FNL guns in Josh Mellington and Lachlan Sharp from Bears Lagoon Serpentine FNC and Bridgewater FNC respectively. Long standing country footy forward Marc Holt, who kicked his 1300th career goal a few weeks ago snagged 13 for Lang Lang FNC in the Ellinbank and District FNL. On the overall leaderboard we see a swap at the top with a pair of Ovens and King FNL forwards trading places from last week with Greta FNC’s bag of 11 taking him to 38 goals from 5 games, followed by Bright FNC’s Cooper Thomason, who kicked 8 of his own. In equal third place, the twin bags of 15 each from Mellington and Sharp take them to 35 apiece.
