Weekly Wrap | One of the biggest rivalries in country football was reignited for the first time since 2017 when the Goulburn Valley FNL faced off against the Ovens & Murray FNL in an interleague match for the Ash-Wilson trophy at Mooroopna.

In a fierce rivalry that began 92 years ago, it was the Ovens and Murray FNL who gained the early ascendancy in the match, leading by 3 goals at quarter time. This would be the pattern for the day as they would end up running out 55 point winners, 18.11 (119) to the Goulburn Valley FNL 9.10 (64). Yarrawonga FNC’s Leigh Williams continued his good run of form, kicking 5 for the victors, backing up on the 15 goals he kicked last weekend while his representative teammate, Wangaratta FNC’s Joe Richards, was named best on ground. For the Goulburn Valley FNL Kyabram FNC’s Lachlan Smith kicked 4 and was also named the league's best player on the day. The win means that of the 25 matches which have been played between the arch rivals the OMFNL have now won 16, to the GVFNL’s 10.

One of the biggest names in recent AFL history took to the road to visit the struggling Wahgunyah FNC in the Tallangatta and District FNL. Multiple premiership coach Mick Malthouse took training for the battling club on Thursday night to support them with their current on field challenges as well as helping to raise some funds off the field as well. The visit must have had a positive impact as while Wahgunyah FNC didn’t win their weekend's match, they did only lose by 89 points to Mitta United FNC which is a significant improvement on their previous season defeats which have been regularly north of 250 points.

While on the topic of big wins, this week's biggest score took place in the Kyabram and District FNL with Shepparton East FNC kicking an impressive 41.22 268 in their 249 point win over Longwood FNC. In the South West District FNL it was Coleraine FNC piling on 41.13 259 to run out 247 point winners over Westerns FNC. Ellinbank FNC remarkably also kicked the same score of 41.13 259 in their 231 point win over Nilma Darnum FNC in their Ellinbank and District FML clash.

For the big wins this week, close games were also common, with two draws taking place this weekend. In the Bellarine FNL Queenscliff FNC and Anglesea FNC couldn’t be separated, finishing on 15.10 100 apiece, while in the East Gippsland FNL it was Lucknow FNC and Orbost Snowy Rovers FNC who were tied on 11.15 81 when the final siren sounded. Luckily the inaccurate kicking of 12.17 89 by Yarram FNC in their North Gippsland FNL clash with Glengarry FNC (13.10 88) didn’t cost them victory, as they ran out 1 point winners. The same could be said for Strathfieldsaye FNC who kicked a wayward 12.18 90 to scrape home by a point against South Bendigo FNC (13.11 89) in their Bendigo FNL match.

Speaking of accuracy, 16 forwards across Victorian country leagues this weekend snagged goal hauls of 10 or more, headlined by a bag of 17 by Bell Post Hill FNC forward William Ford who ended the match against ANakie FNC in the Geelong and District FNL with 17 goals. Close behind him was Ellinbank FNC’s Mark Vassett with 16 and two bags of 14 each from Joel Brett from Golden Square FNC in the Bendigo FNL and Jake Keogh from Trentham FNC who kicked his in his teams big win against Campbells Creek FNC in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL

For the season to date there are now 4 players who have passed the 50 goal mark, headed by Natte Bealiba FNC’s Danny Brewster and Marong FNC Brandyn Grenfell tied on 58 goals each, closely followed by Violet Town FNC’s Johsua Mellington on 53 and Bambill FNC’s Bradley Congress who has 50.