Weekly Wrap | During the week Gisborne FNC held a club vote to again start the process to leave the Bendigo FNL and return to the Ballarat FNL.
In no surprise to anyone, the vote was overwhelmingly in favour of moving leagues so the club will again undertake the process to apply to move leagues for the 2027 season.
Last week saw the return to country football, albeit in WA ,of Lance Franklin. This week an equally high calibre former superstar, ex Richmond premiership player and Brownlow medalist, Dustin Martin made a country football return for the Port Douglas FNC in the Cairns FNL. Martin, originally from the Castlemaine FNC in the Bendigo FNL, kicked 2 goals in his side's 47 point win over the South Cairns FNC.
There was controversy on the netball courts in the Murray FNL this weekend when the Echuca United FNC decided to forfeit their A grade games against Rumbalara FNC. The decision was made as a result of Rumbalara having a player who is a biological male, who identifies as non-binary. The club did bring the matter to the attention of Netball Victoria in the week before the game was due to be played. It will be interesting to see how this plays out for the rest of the season from a league and Netball Victoria policy perspective.
It was another weekend for big scores with 7 clubs kicking totals over 200 points and four leagues, the Outer East, South West District, Tallangatta and District and Upper Murray FNL’s all having a weekend average winning margin of 100 points or more from their games. This round of matches also saw a total of 30 games across the state had sides winning by more than 100 points and the statewide average winning margin for the weekend was 60 points
The big scoring was headlined by Russell’s Creek FNC in the Warrnambool and District FNL who piled on 48 goals on their way to the second biggest score for the year so far, amassing 48.25 313 to Dennington FNC’s 0.1 1. In the Upper Murray FNL Bullioh FNC had a big day out too, kicking 40.19 259 running out 230 point winners over Corryong FNC, while the Yarra Glen FNC in Division 1 of the Outer East FNL also enjoyed a 230 point win when they finished up kicking 38.25 253 to Powelltown FNC’s 3.5 23. Former Magpie forward Travis Cloke had a day out in front of the big sticks, kicking 18.7 for the match.
At the other end of the spectrum there were three 1 point thrillers. In the Picola and District FNL, the winless Blighty FNC almost pulled of a major upset against third placed Picola United FNC when they kept the Blues scoreless in the final quarter but kicked a wayward two goals and five behinds, going down 8.12 60 to 9.7 61. Inaccurate kicking also cost Geelong Amateur FNC a win in their Ballerine FNL clash against Newcomb FNC. Whilst they kicked 4 goals straight in the final quarter they ultimately went down 13.13 91 to 14.8 92. In the Ovens and Murray FNL the Wodonga Raiders FNC came agonisingly close to breaking a 33 game losing streak when they came from 4 goals down against Corowa Rutherglen FNC to hit the front, before being overtaken again in the final minutes of the game. They had a late chance to regain the lead, but were denied by a game saving tackle in their goal square, going down 12.7 79 to 12.8 80.
Whilst the Raiders didn’t break their streak, in the Bendigo FNL, Kangaroo Flat FNC sang the club song for the first time in 24 games after they celebrated victory over league newcomers Broadford FNC, 21.25 151 to 9.4 58. In the Gippsland FNL, Drouin FC had their first win in 9 games with a resounding 81 point victory over Sale FNC. A big winning streak also came to an end this weekend in the Ballarat FNL where last year's premiers Darley FNC lost for the first time in 23 games, going down to Melton FNC by 24 points. Another reigning premier had their winning streak of 9 games ended when Katamatite FNC in the Picola and District FNL lost to Katandra FNC 7.13 55 to 4.13 37.
As mentioned earlier Travis Cloke had a day out kicking the biggest individual bag so far for 2026, while another former AFL player, ex Demon Michael Newton booted 16 goals for Whorouly FNC in their 190 point win over Tarrawingee FNC in the Ovens and King FNL. They were two of a total of eleven forwards who ended their matches with double digit goal hauls across the weekends games
Last week's overall leader, Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC’s Guy Telford, kicked seven against Thurgoona FNC to keep the overall lead with 36 goals so far in 2026, with a bag of 11 goals helping Robbie Hare from Allansford FNC into second position on 32. Hare sits just two goals ahead of early season leader Greta FNC’s Harry Moran who is also joined on 30 goals by Newton, one ahead of Waaia FNC’s Connor Brown who followed up his bag of 16 last week with another 5 this round.
