Weekly Wrap | Week 5 of the 2025 country footy season saw a number of clubs suffering their first loss while others celebrated their first victory of the year.
Across the state, 28 clubs endured their first defeat, including Healesville FNC in the Outer East FNL Premier Division who had their run of 11 straight wins ended by Woori Yallock FNC 10.8 68 to 4.5 29. Unfortunately in the North Gippsland FNL, Gormandale FNC lost to Heyfield FNC by 139 points to register their 50th straight defeat which is currently the longest active losing streak in country Victoria, 9 ahead of Bunyip FNC from the Ellinbank & District FNL whose loss on the weekend to Nilma Darnum FNC made it 41 consecutive defeats.
At the other end of the spectrum, 31 clubs sang their song for the first time including Nyora FNC in the Ellinbank & District FNL who had a win after 21 straight loses when they beat Poowong FNC by 45 points while Natimuk United FNC in the Horsham & District FNL had a 20 point win over Rupanyup FNC to bring to an end to 18 straight losses. Over in the Ballarat FNL Sunbury FNC travelled to play Ballarat FNC and ended the day 64 point winners. In doing so the Lions registered their first win on Ballarat’s home deck for 6 years.
In the nearby Hampden FNL, Portland FNC who ended their run of 33 straight defeats in the opening round, now sit undefeated and equal ladder leaders after notching up win number 4 for the season. They will play the other undefeated team, North Warrnambool FNC next week. While up in the North East of the state Dookie United FNC, who returned to the Picola & District FNL this year, celebrated their first win back in the league and for the season with an 89 point defeat of Rennie FNC 20.19 139 to 8.2 50.
The weekend saw the two biggest scores kicked so far in 2025. St Mary’s FNC in the Geelong FNL kicked a massive 48.16 304 to run out 276 point winners over Lara FNC. This total was 1 point shy of the league record score held by North Shore FNC of 47.23 305 way back in 1988, but they do now hold the league record for the most goals kicked in a Geelong FNL game, kicking 16 of them in the second quarter. Equally impressive was the 43.27 285 kicked by Boisdale Briagolong FNC in their East Gippsland FNL match against Paynesville FNC which resulted in a 265 point win to the Bombers.
More ex AFL players found ways to make an impact in country football this week. Returning to his former home club, ex Melbourne FC player Michael Newton kicked 13 goals for Whorouly FNC as they cruised to an 138 point win over the Benalla All Blacks FNC in the Ovens and King FNL. His former teammate and ex Hawk and Saint James Frawley, snagged 8 goals and best on ground honours in Devon Meadows FNC’s 42 point win over Somerville FNC, 16.11 107 to 9.11 65 in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean FNL Division 2 match.
A couple of former Richmond Tigers were also involved across the state this weekend with Marlion Pickett playing his first game for Great Western FNC in their 69 point loss to Moyston Willaura FNC in the Mininera & District FNL, while Tyrone Vickery kicked 6 for Edithvale-Aspendale FNC as they kept their 23 game winning streak alive with an 18 point win over Mt Eliza FNC.
With plenty of big scores kicked across the state, there were some equally big goal hauls headed by Yarra Glen FNC’s who finished his days work with 14 majors out of his sides 25 as they ran out 119 point winners over Yarra Junction FNC 25.19 169 to 8.2 50 in their Division 2 Outer East FNL match. Long time country football goal kicking machine Darren Sheen helped Heyfield FNC to a 139 point win over Gormandale, collecting 11 goals for his efforts, while the big win by St Mary’s FNC was aided by Sam Bourke and Patrick Dowling both kicking bags of 10 each.
Birchip-Watchem FNC’s Ben Edwards continues to stay at the top of the overall leaderboard, despite not playing this weekend, but he has been joined by Longwarry FNC’s Jason Wells with the pair sitting on 32 goals so far for the season. A 10 goal bag in the Murray FNL by Nathalia FNC’s Liam Evans has seen him rocket to equal 3rd on the table with 31, joined by Goorambat FNC’s Duane Haebich and Brady Bartlett from Milawa FNC on the same tally.
