The Weekly Wrap | After a week of interleague football, all Victorian country leagues returned to their regular programming this weekend and despite winter finally making its presence felt, the big scores continued to roll in across the state.
While cooler conditions did have some impact on scoring, the overall average winning margin still increased slightly, continuing what has been a season of remarkably one-sided results.
The biggest score of the weekend belonged to Katamatite FNC in the Picola & District FNL, who piled on 35.22 232 against Rennie FNC's 2.1 13. Remarkably, however, that wasn't the biggest winning margin of the round. That honour was shared by two clubs who both recorded 221-point victories. Gisborne FNC demolished Broadford FNC 35.18 228 to 1.1 7 in the Bendigo FNL, while Pakenham FNC almost mirrored that result in Outer East FNL Division One, defeating Powelltown FNC 35.19 229 to 1.2 8.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Wimmera FNL proved to be the most competitive competition in the state this weekend with an average winning margin of just 5.5 points. Not far behind was the Murray FNL, where teams were separated by an average of only 8.5 points across the round.
One of the more unusual statistical quirks of the season occurred in the Omeo & District FNL where both senior matches finished with identical scores and identical margins. Bruthen FNC defeated Swifts Creek FNC 12.9 81 to 10.7 67, while Omeo-Benambra FNC overcame Buchan FNC 11.15 81 to 10.7 67. The chances of two matches in the same competition producing exactly the same winning score, losing score and margin on the same day would have to be among the more unique occurrences seen this season.
There were several nail-biters again across Victoria with 3 drawn games and another 3 with one point results.
For the second consecutive week Finley FNC found itself on the wrong side of a one-point result. Inaccurate kicking proved costly as they went down to Moama FNC 11.5 71 to 10.10 70 in the Murray FNL. North Albury FNC will be feeling much the same pain after kicking 6.16 52 in their Ovens & Murray FNL clash with Myrtleford FNC, who managed the more efficient 8.5 53 to secure victory by a solitary point.
In the Gippsland FNL, Leongatha FNC also suffered heartbreak after inaccurate kicking denied them victory against the undefeated Warragul FNC. Trailing by a point after the siren, Tom Marriott had the opportunity to win the game however his shot only ended in a minor score,, leaving the Parrots to fall 10.13 73 to 12.1 73. The Gulls, coached by hometown hero and former AFL premiership coach Gary Ayres, remain unbeaten in 2026 and continue to establish themselves as genuine premiership favourites.
There was also an intriguing coaching battle in the Hampden FNL between two former AFL players. North Warrnambool FNC, coached by former Geelong and West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy, defeated Terang Mortlake FNC, coached by former AFL Rising Star winner Lewis Taylor. Vardy's Eagles prevailed by 24 points, 10.7 67 to 6.7 43, in what may be one of the more experienced coaching matchups seen in country football this season.
Ten sides won for the first time this season and some long losing streaks came to an end over the weekend. Great Western FNC finally broke through after ten consecutive defeats in the Mininera & District FNL, while Sorrento FNC snapped a ten-game losing run in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean FNL. Rumbalara FNC also returned to the winners list after eight straight losses in the Murray FNL.
Unfortunately, a midweek coaching change didn't produce the same immediate bounce seen recently at AFL level. Wodonga Raiders FNC made a coaching adjustment during the week but were comfortably defeated by Wangaratta Rovers FNC, extending their losing streak to 35 consecutive matches. The win also saw the Rovers move to sixteen straight victories, placing them alongside Mount Pleasant FNC from the Heathcote & District FNL, Wandin FNC from the Outer East FNL Premier Division and Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC from the Tallangatta & District FNL as the current holders of the longest winning streaks in Victorian country football.
The forwards again had a field day around the state, led by ex AFL Port Adelaide and now Foster FNC spearhead Brett Eddy, who produced the biggest individual haul of the season so far with a remarkable eighteen goals against Newborough FNC in the Mid Gippsland FNL. Jake Keogh from Trentham FNC and Harrison Pepper from Moe FNC each kicked thirteen goals, while Gisborne FNC's Pat McKenna reached twelve majors in his side's massive victory over Broadford FNC.
Matthew Ryan helped himself to eleven goals for Pakenham FNC, while Jack Fenner and James Lloyd also joined him with eleven of their own. Lachie Constable, Aidan Lloyd and Kai Mounsey rounded out another productive weekend for the state's key forwards with ten goals each.
The race for the overall goalkicking crown is beginning to take shape. Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC's Guy Telford has moved into outright first place with 61 goals after another nine-goal performance this weekend. Carisbrook FNC's Tim Rinaldi remains second on 54 goals, while Brett Eddy's extraordinary haul of eighteen rockets him into third place on 52 goals. Longwarry FNC's Jason Wells sits fourth on 49 goals, with Cowwarr FNC's Keenan Hughes rounding out the top five on 46 goals.
With several prolific forwards now approaching the midway point of the season, the race to reach the century mark first remains well and truly alive.
