Weekly Wrap | Despite the cold and wet weather, there was no dampening of the grand finals and other finals matches that took place over the weekend.

Starting with the close grand finals and it was a come from behind thriller in the Mid Gippsland FNL were Fish Creek FNC who were held scoreless in the first quarter rallying to run down Yinnar FNC and come away with a 2 point win, 7-4-46 to 6.8 44. This keeps Fish Creek as the club with the most premierships in country Victoria with 38 and also comes on the back of a horror start to the season when their clubrooms were burnt down.

It was a similar path for Penshurst FNC in the Mininera and District FNL as they also enjoyed a dramatic come from behind win as well after trailing Wickliffe Lake Bolac FNC by 15 points at three quarter time. With a five point win in the end 8.5 53 to 7.6 48 Penshurst not only won their first flag since 2012, but they also gave a second loss to Wickliffe Lake Bolac who went through the home and away season undefeated, only to fall in the 2nd Semi and Grand Final.

In the Sunraysia FNL, it was a three point result in favour of Imperials FNC who went from wooden spooners last season to premiers just twelve months later. After a goalless 1st quarter by both sides, Imperials were able to keep the edge over Wentworth FNC, despite former West Coast and GWS forward Jarrod Brander kicking 5 of Wentworth’s 6 goals. Former Bomber Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked 2 in his sides 5.11 47 to 6.8 44 victory.

Several other former AFL players walked away with premiership medals this weekend with former Adelaide and Geelong FC forward Josh Jenkins was part of a back to back Sea Lake Nandaly FNC premiership side in the North Central FNL, while former Roo and Pie Levi Greenwood was best on ground for Healesville FNC as they had a 52 point win in the Outer East FNL Div 1 grand final against Warburton Millgrove FNC. His former Roos teammate Aaron Edwards kicked 3 goals in the 9.9 63 to 1.5 win. While it was a former Victoria Sheffield Shield captain in Travis Dean getting best on ground honours in the Central HIghlands FNL starring for Daylesford FNC as they broke a 12 year premiership drought with a 27 point win against Bungaree FNC.

Woodside FNC broke the longest premiership drought of the weekend, winning their first flag since 1974 with a 15 point win over Traralgon Tyers United FNC which also ended TTU’s 16 games winning streak. In terms of streaks, three clubs on the weekend completed the ultimate season by being undefeated Premiers and Champions of their leagues. Harrow Balmoral FNC in the Horsham and District FNL kept the longest current winning streak in country Victoria going with their GF win, making it 37 straight victories. Buln Buln FNC in the Ellinbank and District FNL and Murchison Toolamba FNC in the Kyabram & District FNL rounded out the perfect seasons with their weekend wins

There were other pieces of history created over the weekend’s matches. In the Geelong and District FNL Thomson FNC became the first club in league history to win four finals, coming from the Elimination Final to claim the premiership over Belmont FNC by 54 points. In the Tallangatta and District FNL Yackandandah FNC completed a clean sweep on the day winning all five football finals on offer from the under-12s to the Seniors. They even add in an under-15 netball premiership as well. Similarly in Division 1 of MPNFL Mt Eliza FNC also completed a clean sweep of flags, winning the seniors, reserves and thirds

For the second week in a row we had a final go to extra time, with East Point FNC in the Ballarat FNL Preliminary Final progressing through to next week's Grand Final after outlasting Darley FNC at the end of overtime, after the teams couldn’t be split at the end of the regulation play. While it took until the final 30 seconds of the Murray FNL Preliminary Final for Finley to kick a goal against the strong wind, courtesy of a mark and subsequent 50 metre penalty to give them a 2 point win, 7.7 49 to Moama FNC’s 7.5 47. They now progress to take on ladder leaders Congupna FNC in next week's Grand Final.

Some other premiership contenders will now have to contemplate a long preseason after going out in straight sets, with Alvie FNC in the Colac and District FNL, Woori Yallock FNC in the Outer East FNL and St Mary’s FNC in the Geelong FNL all having an earlier than planned Mad Monday. St Joseph’s FNC in the Geelong FNL are also teetering on the edge after suffering their first loss for the season after winning 18 straight games and ending the season on top of the ladder undefeated. They now face South BArwon FNC in this week's Preliminary FInal

This coming weekend there are another 11 premierships on offer across Victoria. (last flag)

Ballarat FNL | 1 v 2 | Melton FNC (2022) V East Point FNC (2019)
Bendigo FNL | 1 v 2 | Sandhurst FNC (2016) V Gisborne FNC (2022)
Central Murray FNL | 1 v 2 | Kerang FNC (2023) V Nyah Nyah West FNC (2001)
Colac & District FNL | 2 v 3 | Lorne FNC (2019) V Irrewarra Beeac FNC (2010)
Gippsland FNL | 1 v 2 | Leongatha FNC (2023) V Traralgon FNC (2015)
Goulburn Valley FNL | 1 v 2 | Echuca FNC (2023) V Shepparton FNC (2018)
Hampden FNL | 1 v 2 | South Warrnambool FNC (2023) V North Warrnambool FNC (1994)
Murray FNL | 1 v 2 | Congupna FNC (1993) V Finley FNC (1988)
Outer East FNL - Premier | 1 v 3 | Narre Warren FNC (2022) V Wandin FNC (2023)
Ovens & Murray FNL | 1 v 2 | Yarrawonga FNC (2023) V Wangaratta Rovers FNC (1994)
Wimmera FNL | 1 v 2 | Southern Mallee Thunder FNC (2017) V Ararat FNC (2023)