The Weekly Wrap | The off-field news cycle continues to be almost as busy as the action on the field, with several clubs this week looking to explore potential league transfers for 2027 ahead of the June 30 nomination deadline.
In the West Gippsland FNC, Dalyston FNC has announced it will hold a members vote as it investigates a move to the Ellinbank & District FNL. Morwell East FNC members have again backed a move away from the Mid Gippsland FNL, voting for a fourth time in favour of joining the North Gippsland FNL. Up in the north of the state, the Bright FNC has also indicated a desire to leave the Ovens & King FNL and join the Tallangatta & District FNL for next year
The unaffiliated Picola & District FNL also remains one of the more intriguing competitions to watch off the field. League officials continue planning for a potential split of the current sixteen-team competition into a two-tier structure for 2027. Reports suggest as many as five clubs have already expressed interest in joining the competition should the proposed restructure go ahead.
Wet weather swept across much of Victoria over the weekend and while scoring was generally lower than recent rounds, there were still a couple of clubs that managed to post some enormous totals. Cowwarr FNC produced the biggest score of the round, piling on 35.23 233 against Gormandale FNC's 8.6 54 in the North Gippsland FNL, recording a 179-point victory. Not far behind was Eaglehawk FNC in the Bendigo FNL, who kicked 32.32 224 in a dominant 208-point win over Broadford FNC, who were restricted to just 2.4 16.
While no major winning streaks came to an end this weekend, there were five previously unbeaten teams that tasted defeat for the first time in 2026. In this list was Allansford FNC from the Warrnambool & District FNL, who entered the round with nine straight victories before being brought back to earth by the third placed Nirranda FNC, who prevailed 12.7 79 to 6.11 47. Harcourt FNC's unbeaten run also came to an end in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL when Newstead FNC claimed a hard fought 7.10 52 to 5.10 40 victory. In the Millewa FNL, Bambill FNC suffered its first loss of the season, going down to fellow premiership contender Cardross FNC 17.7 109 to 10.12 72.
One of the state's longest losing streaks was finally broken in the Ovens & Murray FNL. After thirty six consecutive defeats spanning all the way back to the 2024 season , the Wodonga Raiders FNC finally returned to the winners list with a six point victory over Albury FNC, 10.10 70 to 9.10 64. For Albury supporters it was another heartbreaking finish, coming just one week after their anniversary celebrations were spoiled by a goal in the final seconds of that match..
There were also celebrations in the West Gippsland FNC where Korumburra Bena FNC finally broke through for its first win of the season, defeating Kilcunda Bass FNC to end a twelve game losing streak. Fellow league strugglers Tooradin-Dalmore FNC, also recorded its first victory of 2026, snapping an eight game losing streak in emphatic fashion with an 80 point win over Dalyston FNC 15.19 109 to 4.5 29.In the Hampden FNL, two winless sides met with Port Fairy FNC finally breaking through for victory. The Seagulls defeated Camperdown FNC to end an eight game losing streak, while the loss extended Camperdown's own run without a win to nine matches.
Three matches were decided by the narrowest possible margin this weekend. In the Ballarat FNL, Redan FNC held on to defeat Melton FNC 5.10 40 to 5.9 39 in a low scoring thriller. Donald FNC edged Birchip Watchem FNC by a point in the North Central FNL, winning 10.4 64 to 9.9 63. The Mid Gippsland FNL also produced a classic contest with Foster FNC sneaking home against Yinnar FNC 10.6 66 to 9.11 65.
Several former AFL players again featured prominently across country Victoria. Former Gold Coast Sun James Tsitas returned to his junior club Grovedale FNC and was joined by former Adelaide, Gold Coast and North Melbourne midfielder Hugh Greenwood. Greenwood kicked a goal, however the pair could not prevent Grovedale from falling to St Mary's FNC by 20 points in the Geelong FN clash.Former Richmond and Western Bulldogs forward Sam Lloyd continued his outstanding run of form, booting another eight goals for Bellarine FNL club Geelong Amateur FNC in an 117-point victory over the Surf Coast Suns FNC. Former Collingwood and Western Bulldogs key forward Travis Cloke was also among the goals, kicking seven for Yarra Glen FNC in a comfortable 50-point win over Belgrave FNC. Up in the Sunraysia region, former West Coast Eagles and GWS Giants player Jarrod Brander kicked six goals for Wentworth FNC despite his side going down to Merbein FNC by 32 points.
The goal kickers again stole the show, led by Cowwarr FNC spearhead Keenan Hughes who booted a remarkable fifteen goals in the biggest score of the weekend. Riley Gow from Barooga FNC wasn't far behind with thirteen goals against Katunga FNC in the Picola & District FNL. Jessi Lampi from Gordon FNC kicked eleven in the Central Highlands FNL, while Christian Howlett (Dartmoor FNC), James Lloyd (Murchison Toolamba FNC), Dean Macdonald (Yallourn Yallourn North FNC) and Brody Stainer (Woodside FNC) all reached double figures with ten goals apiece. Gow became the latest forward to reach the fifty goal milestone this season after his haul of thirteen goals elevated him to exactly fifty majors for the year.
The overall leaderboard has seen some movement following Keenan Hughes' monster bag of fifteen goals. Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC's Guy Telford remains the state leader on 65 goals after another four goal performance. Hughes has rocketed into second place on 61 goals, overtaking both Foster FNC's Brett Eddy and Carisbrook FNC's Tim Rinaldi, who now sit equal on 59 goals. Allansford FNC's Robbie Hare rounds out the top five on 53 goals and remains firmly in contention as the race towards the century mark continues to gather momentum as we enter the second half of the season.
