Weekly Wrap | Following on from Easter being a theme last weekend across country football grounds, this weekend many leagues took the time to honour Anzac Day with matches spread out from Friday to Anzac Day itself.
Another theme this weekend seemed to be the return to country football for some former AFL stars, namely former Hawthorn premiership star James Frawley who was back in the Ballarat Football Netball League with his boyhood club East Point FNC, alongside former Essendon player Jackson Merrett. While in the Murray FNL it was ex Blue and Crow Eddie Betts lining up for Rumbalara and creating plenty of highlights, with a couple of goals and some trademark forward craft and high marking.. While neither East Point or Rumabalra were able to end their games with a win, having the ex AFL stars gracing the fields certainly created a great buzz for both clubs and leagues.
Concerns about player numbers were again at the forefront of conversations across the state with several more clubs having to forfeit their reserves games this weekend. This is an issue which is impacting at high level leagues, such as the Goulburn Valley FNL where Benalla were unable to field a reserve side, but the smaller leagues as well where Federal FNC, who have been in existence since 1892, are in a race against time to be able to field a senior side for their first game in the Upper Murray FNL next week. The club which has just enough numbers for a stand alone Reserve side, will be forced into recess if it cannot field a senior football side for the season.
Wahgunyah FNC who is also battling with player numbers this year were again on the wrong end of the biggest score kicked this week where Chiltern FNC piled on 50.23 323 in their Tallangatta & District FNL match. Three were several other big scores this weekend, with Neerim South in the Ellinbank & District FNL kicking a massive 39.22 256 in their clash against Nilma Darnum FNC and Golden Square FNC in the Bendigo FNL amassing 36.19 235 against Maryborough FNC. The current lopsided nature of matches across all levels of leagues must be a major concern for AFL Victoria administrators, as this weekends matches across all leagues had an avergage winning margin of 67 points.
While the big scores have continued so far in season 2022, there are still the odd nail biters taking place, with 4 games decided by a point this weekend. There were also two draws with Greta FNC and Goorambat FNC unable to separated with 6.9 45 apiece in their Ovens and King FNL match, while inaccurate kicking by Hill End FNC in the Mid Gippsland FNL, saw them end up tied with Boolarra FNC 7.11 53 to 8.5 53.
Of course with all the big scores, there was always going to be some big bags of goals kicked across the weekend. 13 forwards managed double digit hauls and none were bigger than the bag of 20 kicked by Ethan Boxall for Chiltern in their huge win over Wahgunyah FNC in the Tallangatta and District FNL. Former Brisbane Lion and Bomber, Damian Cupido, had a fair day in front of the sticks as well kicking 16.4 for Girgarre FNC in its big win over Longwood FNC in the Kyabram and District FNL. The weekend also saw two hauls of 14 and two bags of 13 as well.
FInally in a year where player numbers and clubs going into recess are a major concern, congratulations to Katamatite FNC in the Picola & District FNL who celebrated their 125th year anniversary with a win on the weekend.
