Weekly Wrap | This weekend saw nineteen of the twenty remaining Victorian country leagues kick off their 2026 season, leaving just the Upper Murray FNL yet to begin, with their season starting on ANZAC Day.
While the Colac and District FNL started on Saturday the Western Eagles FNC got some challenging news earlier this week before their season began, with their home ground the Irrewillipe Recreation Reserve, being deemed not suitable for use at this time. The ground was used as a staging area for emergency services during the January bushfires and the usual pre-season preparations were disrupted during that time. The Council is assisting the club with alternate training and playing facilities while the work to restore the playing surface takes place.
It’s not the first time that we’ve had an early season player points breach, however this time there was an admin error at the Geelong and District FNL level that meant Belmont FNC played above their points allocation in their 43 point win over Anakie FNC. Both clubs have been alerted to the issue and have accepted the league explanation, therefore the result will stand.
Last week we announced the state's newest country footy team, the Surf Coast Suns FNC in the Bellarine FNL. Well this week, we can share that they had their first ever win, 15.12 102 to Portarlington FNC’s 13.7 85. Former North Melbourne and Geelong player, Aaron Black, made his club debut and kicked two goals in the victory.
While first wins are great, breaking a long running winning streak is equally as exciting. Gormandale FNC who currently hold the longest losing streak in country footy, 63 games, came agonisingly close to doing that on the weekend when they drew with last year's North Gippsland FNL runners up TTU FNC, 7.11 (53) to 8.5 (53). Down by seven points at three quarter time, the Tigers kicked the last two goals of the game to tie things up by the final siren.
Even though Gormandale couldn’t break their losing streak, some other clubs were able to. In the Sunraysia FNL, former Essendon live wire Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked three goals to help Merbein FNC to a 16.7 103 to 9.12 66 win over Ouyen United FNC to end a twenty four game run of losses. In the North Central FNL, Donald FNC won for the first time in 19 matches with a tight ten point win over Boort FNC and Calivil United FNC in the Loddon Valley FNL ended a 15 game run of outs with their 7.17 59 to 6.13 49 victory over Mitiamo FNC.
On the other side of the coin, two significant winning streaks came to an abrupt halt when 2025 Premiers and Champions from the Ellinbank & District FNL, Neerim FNC lost for the first time in twenty games, 10.10 70 to Longwarry FNC’s 12.8 80. In the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL it was another 2025 premier, Trentham FNC losing after seventeen straight wins, when Carisbrook FNC overturned last season's grand final loss with a 13.5 83 to 6.5 41 win.
Alongside the ex AFL players we’ve already mentioned, former Port Adelaide FC champion Travis Boak returned to his home club Torquay FNC as they took on Queenscliff FNC. Boak's two last quarter goals were not enough to get a first up win as the Coutas held on for a fifteen point win, 11.8 84 to 10.9 69
Former Essendon midfielder Ben Hobbs kicked a goal and was named second best for Horsham FNC in their thrilling 12.14 86 to 12.12 84 win over Minyip Murtoa FNC in the Wimmera FNL. while in the Gippsland FNL, star Moe FNC recruit ex Demon and Western Bulldog James Harmes kicked 2 goals, against Leongatha FNC in their 8.6 54 to 5.12 42 win. Former Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell was named in the best for the losing Parrots side. Premiership Magpie Oleg Markov made his debut for Diggers Rest FNC in the Riddell & District FNL, named in the best alongside former Richmond teammate Callum Moore who ended up kicking 8 goals in the 75 point win over Melton South FNC.
Three forwards got double digit bags of goals this weekend, led by East Geelong FNC’s Zac Smith who snagged a dozen, while Liam Evans (Nathalia FNC) in the Murray FNL and Aidan Lloyd (Murchison-Toolamba FNC) in the Kyabram and District FNL both finished up with 10 majors next to their names.
Overall, Harry Moran from Greta FNC in the Ovens & King FNL still sits atop the statewide leaderboard with 20 goals so far, and the ten from Evans puts into second place on 16. Mansfield FNC’s William Hogan sits equal third on 12 goals, alongside Guy Telford (Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC), Tynan Smith (Torquay FNC) and Zac Smith (East Geelong FNC).
