Weekly Wrap | This week saw 29 current or former Vic country based players put their names forward to be given an AFL opportunity via the AFL Mid Season Draft.
After the night was finished, 5 players with Vic country backgrounds have graduated onto AFL lists, headed by the number 1 pick Jai Culley formerly of Langwarrin FNC in the Mornington Peninsula FNL who is headed to the West Coast Eagles. The Sunraysia FNL had two players selected with former Wentworth FNC’s Oskar Faulkhead heading to the Gold Coast Sun and former Merbein FNC footballer Josh Carmichael landing at Collingwood. Rounding out the selections were Will Hayes, formerly of Euroa FNC heading to Carlton and Wade Derksen who played with Sunbury FNC off to join the GWS Giants. These new additions take the number of former Vicotiran country footballers to make it to a VFL/AFL list from 1897 to 3942 in total.
Covid again played havoc in country football this week with Grovedale FNC in the Geelong FNL having at least 14 players from its senior playing list plus their coach ruled out of their clash with St Albans FNC after they tested positive. Despite this impact and the real possibility of having to forfeit their reserves match, Grovedale was able to field two sides and win at both levels, the senior managing to hang on to win by 6 points, 10.14 74 to St Albans 10. 8 68.
Friday also saw two Western District football netball clubs announce they are taking a proactive approach to the future by opening official discussions about a possible merger. Kolora-Noorat FNC from the Warrnambool & District FNL and Terang Mortlake FNC from the Hampden FNL are investigating the possibility to merge in a bid to battle the changing landscape around their changing population bases, the challenge of having enough volunteers and the increased costs of running a club. We’ll watch this space as this evolves.
Another long running winning drought came to an end this week with the Nhill Tigers FNC in the Wimmera FNL holding on for a 2 point victory to break their 1029 day drought and return to the winners’ list on Saturday for the first time since 2019. Former Collingwood premiership player and ex Carlton footballer Dale Thomas was making a one off appearance and was part of the victory, contributing a goal and playing behind the ball in a tense last quarter to help the Tigers hold on for a famous win. Another former Blue, Michael Gibbons made his season debut for Yarrawonga FNC in the Ovens and Murray FNL in their clash with rivals Albury FNC. Gibbons kicked a goal but it wasn’t enough as Albury FNC managed a 5 point win.
The big winners of the weekend was the Carisbrook FNC in their clash against Maryborough Rovers FNC, kicking 47.22 304 to run out 296 point winners in their Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL match. At the other end of the spectrum was a 1 point win by Eaglehawk FNC in their Bendigo FNL fixture kicking 9.6 60 against Castlemaine FNC’s 9.5 59. As we approach the halfway mark of most leagues 2022 seasons, the list of undefeated teams sits at 31, while there are still 36 clubs yet to sing the song after a winning game. This sets up some mouth watering clashes in the next few weeks as undefeated teams match up against each other such as Gordon FNC v Springbank FNC in the Central Highlands FNL, Ararat Eagles FNC v Tatyoon FNC in the Mininera & District FNL, Cobram FNC v Mulwala FNC in the Murray FNL and Tungamah FNC v Waaia FNC in the Picola & District FNL.
The forwards continued on their merry way this weekend with 10 of them achieving hauls of 10+ goals, headed up by Jason Rowan from Warrnambool FNC kicking 15 v Port Fairy FNC in the Hampden FNL and a bag of 13 from Allansford FNC’s Robert Hare in the match against Timboon Demons FNC in the Warrnambool & District FNL. This week sees 7 players who have hit the 50 goal mark for the season with the list headed up by Danny Brewster from Natte Bealiba FNC in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL with 63, followed by Joshua Mellington from Violet Town FNC in the Kyabram & District FNL with 59 and in third place Brandyn Grenfell from Marong FNC in the Loddon Valley FNL with 58.
