Weekly Wrap | Whilst we focus on Victorian country footy each week, it’s hard not to have a focus on the plight of poor Elizabeth FC in Division 6 of the Adelaide FL who suffered a staggering 516 point loss to Fitzroy FC who kicked a mammoth 82.24 516 to nil.
The huge score puts itself second in terms of highest scores in South Australian football and fourth all time across Australia. The result still sits far behind behind the giant score that Campbells Creek FNC kicked in 1990 against Primrose FC, when they amassed 100.34 634 to 3.0 18.
Closer to home in the Bendigo FNL, and in a similar vein, two high scoring records were broken this weekend.
Sandhurst FNC now lay claim to the highest score ever kicked in the Bendigo FNL as a result of kicking 54.23 347 to Maryborough FNC’s 2.2 14. The resulting 333 point win is also the new highest winning margin for the league as well. After the weekend the Bendigo FNL had the biggest average winning margin for games which was a whopping 151 points. Three other leagues also averaged over 100 point winning margins for the round, with the Upper Murray FNL (132 pts), Tallangatta and District FNL (107 pts) and Division 1 in the Outer East FNL (105 pts) all continuing the 2024 trend so far of 100+point weekly winning margins.
Even though there were big wins this weekend, there were also a couple of 1 point thrillers. In the Mornington Peninsula FNL Div 2 Edithvale-Aspendale FNC were able to withstand a 5 goal last quarter from Devon Meadows FNC to hold on to a one point win, 11.13 79 to 11.12 78. Whilst in the Geelong FNL round four match between Geelong West Giants FNC and Bell Park FNC, inaccurate kicking in the end cost the Giants the four points, despite having a shot after the siren to win, they still fell 1 point short, 11.16 82 to 12.11 83.
There were plenty of celebrations in the Yea FNC rooms on Saturday after winning their first game back after being in recess for the 2023 season. The Tigers recorded a big 84 point win over Yarra Glen FNC 23.12 150 to 10.6 66. The victory breaks a long 1114 days since being able to sing the club song.
A couple of long standing winnings streaks came to an end this weekend with the 21 game run of Sea Lake Nandaly FNC in the North Central FNL coming to a halt at the hands of Birchip Watchem FNC who ran out 13 point winners in their clash. Back to back premiers from the Goulburn Valley FNL, Echuca FNC, also lost by 13 points to Rochester FNC to bring an end to a 15 game stretch of wins. The second longest active winning streak came perilously close to being broken as well, however Harcourt FNC in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL were able to hold onto a two point win over Trentham FNC to keep it alive for another week.
As with last week, 15 goals was again the benchmark for the forwards this week. Aron Burns from Mathoura FNC snagged 15 in his team's 192 point win over Yarroweyah FNC in the Picola and District FNL. Sandhurst FNC’s Lachlan Wright bagged a dozen in his club's record breaking win while former Port Adelaide Power player Brett Eddy kicked 11 for Pearcedale FNC in an 149 point victory over Rye FNC in Division 2 of the Mornington Peninsula Nepean FNL.
Overall, our statewide leaders have swapped positions again with Bright FNC’s Cooper Thomason leapfrogging his Ovens and King FNL competitor, Frazer Judd from Greta FNC, to top the table with 43 to Judd’s 41. Six more goals this weekend to Bears Lagoon Serpentine FNC’s Josh Mellington has him in equal second spot with Judd, with his fellow Loddon Valley FNL forward, Lachlan Sharp from Bridgewater FNC is now in third with 36 for the season so far.
