Weekly Wrap | This week saw two decisions that will impact clubs for the 2026 season.
As we’ve previously noted over the past few weeks, several leagues and clubs are in the process of going through the process related to how they will be structured for the upcoming year. Of significant note this week within this space was the news that the Maryborough FNC who have been in recess from the Bendigo FNL this season, have been knocked back in their application to join the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL next year. This now leaves the 153 year old club without a permanent home at this point in time.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Ultima NFC who have moved into the next phase of their move from the Golden Rivers FNL into the nearby Central Murray FNL. With the future of the Golden Rivers FNL and its remaining clubs still up in the air, this is positive news for Ultima who look to have secured a future for the club going forward.
Over the half the leagues across Victoria took a mid season break this weekend before the frenetic run to the finals, but there still was plenty of action still with the 21 leagues who took the field.
Whilst still not back to levels that we’ve had in the past, several leagues did engage in a round of interleague matches for this season. In the north east of the state, the Tallangatta and District FNL took on their cross border rival, the Hume FNL. In the match to decide the newly named Peter Copley Cup, the Tallangatta team was far too strong, running away with a 67 point win, 14.17 101 to 5.4 34. In another one sided affair in the Under 23 match between the Sunraysia FNL and the combined Central Rivers Team made up of players from the Central Murray and Golden Rivers FNL’s. The Central Rivers team ended the day victorious claiming a 14.21 105 to 10.10 70 victory.
However it was a different story in the clash between the Bendigo FNL and a VAFA squad made up of the best players from the amateur league from Premier B through to Division Three. In a cracking game played at Bendigo’s famous QEO, the VAFA kicked off with 7 first quarter goals, but as the game progressed the Bendigo FNL worked themselves into the contest. It eventually then took 2 periods of extra time to decide a winner with the VAFA emerging 10 point victors, 12.9 81 to 9.17 71.
Results across the state also produced an end to the current longest acting winning streak when in the Kyabram and District FNL, the Lancaster FNC defeated Murchison Toolamba FNC by 17 points, bringing to the end a run of 27 consecutive wins for the Hoppers. This title now lands just up the road, pardon the pun for those who know, with the Congupna FNC who coincidentally had win number 27 themselves on the weekend when they were far too strong for the Finley FNC 23.18 158 to 9.4 58.
Ironically there was also a losing streak of 27 matches come to an end this weekend when the Lancefield FNC sang the song for the first time since round 17 of the 2023 season after their 33 point win over new league club, the Gisborne Giants. In the Mid Gippsland FNL, former West Coast premiership player Will Schofield kicked a goal to help Hill End FNC end a 16 game run of losses when they defeated Stony Creek FNC 19.5 119 to 11.11 77. Other clubs breaking double digit runs of consecutive defeats this weekend included the Benalla All Blacks FNC who won after 12 losses and the Heathcote FNC who finally won again after 10 attempts.
In front of goals, we only had three double digits bags kicked with Cora Lynn FNC’s Nathan Gardiner and Mansfield FNC’s William Hogan each ending the weekend with 12 goals each, while former Roo and Blue Aaron Mullett kicked 10 for Wandin FNC. This effort brought him agonisingly close to being the second player this year to reach the 100 goal milestone, finishing on 98. He still sits behind our overall leader, Longwarry FNC’s Jason Wells, who due to a league bye, didn't add to his total of 108. Behind Mullett is Neerim FNC’s Mason McGarritty who has 85, while former Melbourne Demon Michael Newton has moved into fourth place with 82 goals for Whorouly FNC in the Ovens and King FNL.
Four players also hit the 50 goal mark for this season this weekend, lead by former Port Adelaide FC player Brett Eddy, now playing for Pearcedale FNC who now has 55, joined in this milestone by Congupna FNC’s Kyle Mueller (54), Jake Owen from Bacchus Marsh FNC (54) and Huntly FNC’s Sam Dunstan (50).
