The Weekly Wrap | It’s back!! This weekend we welcomed the return of country footy with the start of the 2026 season and therefore the Weekly Wrap returns as well.
Catch up on everything that mattered in Week 1of the 2026 Victoria country football season with the CountryFootyScores Weekly Wrap.
Bringing together results, highlights and key talking points from leagues across the state, this page delivers a complete snapshot of the weekend’s action.
Six leagues had a number of games on offer around the state with full rounds of matches taking place in the North East in the Ovens and King and Tallangatta and District FNL’s while the Central Murray FNL hosted 2 games and there were one off games in the Bendigo, Colac and District and Murray FNL’s.
The match with the most intrigue for the weekend took place in the Bendigo FNL where South Bendigo FNC took on the newly out of recess Broadford FNC. Broadford last played in Division 2 of the Outer East FNL, over 950 days ago, before spending the 2024 and 2025 season in recess and without a league.
It was a tough return for the club, coached this year by ex AFL Hawk and Kangaroo Nathan Thompson, going down to one of last year's finalist by 205 points, kicking 2.1 13 to South Bendigo's 32.26 218. Hopefully one of Broadford's newest recruits for the upcoming year, ex AFL Cat, Power and Docker Quinton Narkle, is available for their next match against last year's runner up, Sandhurst FNC.
Up in the Central Murray FNL league it was the launch of a newly expanded league after the neighbouring Golden Rivers FNL was wound up at the end of 2025. The league, now home to 16 clubs, had two games as part of their 2026 Opening Round.
Wooden spooners last year in the Central Murray FNL Swan HIll FNC had a first up 57 point win against last year's Golden Rivers FNL runners up, the newly renamed Ultima Storm FNC, 18.11 119 to 9.8 62. Ex AFL Crow, Sun and Power player Rory Atkins kicked 3 goals in the win that was officiated by former AFL umpire Ray Chamberlain.
The Opening Round match saw the reigning and last ever Golden Rivers FNL premiers Hay FNC, have a first up 52 point win against existing Central Murray FNL club Tyntynder FNC, 12.10 82 to 4.6 30. A goal each by former AFL players Scott Lycett (West Coast, Port Adelaide) and Sam Gray (Port Adelaide, Sydney) wasn’t enough to help the Bulldogs to a first up win.
There was a thrilling draw in the Tallangatta and District FNL in the rematch of last year's grand final between Barnawartha FNC and Sandy Creek FNC. Reigning premiers Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC came from behind late, with forward Guy Telford kicking his fifth goal for the match to even up the scores. When the siren sounded, both sides were locked on 9.8 62 apiece.
While Telford’s bag of 5 goals was a good first up return, South Bendigo FNC’s Kaiden Antonowicz ended his day with 11 in the outing against Broadford FNC. There was a second double digit haul of goals over in the Ovens and King FNL, where Dominic Payman from Goormabat FNC finished the match against Benalla ALL Blacks FNC having booted 10 of his side's 17 majors.
Next week a further thirteen leagues begin for 2026 with action taking place in the Ballarat, Bellarine, Goulburn Valley, Maryborough Castlemaine District, MPNFNL - Div 1 & 2, Ovens & Murray, Picola & District, Riddell & District, Sunraysia, Warrnambool & District, West GIppsland and Wimmera FNL’s.
Looking for the latest Victoria country football results, highlights and standout performances from Week 1?
The CountryFootyScores Weekly Wrap is updated every week with the biggest stories from across VIC leagues.