Weekly Wrap | The Queen’s BIrthday long weekend meant a few less games took place across the state, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of talking points to come out of the matches that were played under winter skies.
With several leagues having byes, some clubs took the opportunity to ‘recruit;’ some players from other leagues to support their chase for a win. Whilst there is nothing illegal around this practice as clearances don’t close until June 30th, it did create some conversations with several players from some of the stronger Vic country leagues heading to play for clubs at other levels. The most noticeable was former St Kilda player Sam GIlbert who regularly plays for Bonbeach FNC in the Mornington Peninsula FNL heading to Bairnsdale FNC to assist them in their second win for the year in their clash with Warragul FNC in the Gippsland FNL.
Another big name former AFL player also took to the field this weekend, with former four time premiership Hawk, Shaun Burgoyne lining up for Dalyston FNC in the West Gippsland FNL as part of the current Carlton Draught initiative. Burgoyne kicked 2 goals in the 11.9 75 to 3.10 28 win that enabled the Magpies to celebrate their second win of the year against the winless Garfield FNC.
On the topic of wins, two clubs were able to sing the song for the first time in season 2022, with Catani FNC in the Ellinbank FNL having a 9 point win over Nilma Darnum FNC to secure their first 4 points for the year. In the Goulburn Valley FNL it was the Benalla FNC claiming victory for the first time with a 19 point win against the Shepparton Swans FNC, 13.12 90 to 10.11 71. This is a significant win for the club as they were bordering on going into recess at the start of the year with limited player numbers and they have also had to forfeit reserve grade matches as the season has progressed.
While some clubs celebrated for the first time, St Marys FNC in the Geelong FNL had their first loss for the year. Inaccurate kicking cost them in the end with Leopold FNC getting up 12.9 81 to St Mary’s FNC wayward 10.17 77. This means there are now 30 clubs who are undefeated for the year with a further 34 yet to register a victory so far. Next weekend sees two of these undefeated teams, Cobram FNC and Mulwala FNC face off in the Murray FNL meaning that pending a draw, the undefeated list will be reduced by at least one.
Despite the wintery conditions, there were still some big scores kicked this weekend, the biggest being in the Bellarine FNL where Torquay FNC kicked 36.24 240 to run out 231 point winners over Portarlington. In the North East two big scores were also kicked by Waaia FNC in the Picola and District FNL who managed 34.17-221 in their 171 point win over Blighty while in the Murray FNL, Mulwala FNC managed 32.18 210 in their 202 point demolition of Rumbalara FNC.
This match saw Mulwala FNC’s Jack Sutherland kick 11 goals to be the equal leading goalscorer for the weekend, sharing the honors with Kiewa FNC’s Nicholas Beattie who also kicked 11 in the Tallangatta & District FNL match against Wodonga Saints FNC. Despite the round of long weekend byes, Natte Bealiba FNC’s Danny Brewster remains the state leading goal kicker with 63 goals, closely followed by Dominic Dare from Alvie FNC in the Colac and DIstrict FNL with 59 and Violet Town FNC’s Joshua Mellington in the Kyabram and District FNL, also on 59 goals for the season.
