The Weekly Wrap | The 2026 home and away season is now almost in the rear view mirror, with another 18 more leagues finishing their regular seasons this weekend and finals now just days away for a huge portion of Victorian country football.

There was plenty of drama across the state, from flooding and abandoned matches to huge scores, one point thrillers and the final adjustments to the goal kicking leaderboard.

The heavy rain that swept across central Victoria caused plenty of headaches, with Avoca FNC and Natte Bealiba FNC both dealing with flooding around their Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL home grounds after the Avoca River broke its banks. Thankfully, both clubs escaped any significant damage to their facilities.

There was also more movement for 2027, with Marong FNC formally approved to leave the Loddon Valley FNL and join the Bendigo FNL next season. The move will certainly create plenty of interest given the difference in standard between the two competitions, but for now they can start planning for their new challenge in 2027.

Eighteen leagues completed their home and away seasons this weekend, meaning finals football begins next week for the Central Highlands, East Gippsland, Ellinbank & District, Geelong & District, Horsham & District, Kyabram & District, Loddon Valley, Maryborough Castlemaine District, Mid Gippsland, Mininera & District, MPNFNL Division Two, North Gippsland, Outer East Division One, Ovens & King, Riddell & District, Sunraysia, Tallangatta & District and Warrnambool & District FNL’s.

One of the most dramatic finishes came in the East Gippsland FNL, where Lakes Entrance FNC did everything it could to sneak into the finals. They came from behind to defeat third placed Wy Yung FNC by seven points, but Orbost Snowy Rovers FNC's 74 point victory over Lucknow FNC proved to be just enough for them to land fourth spot and a finals position by just 0.43%.

We now have our first two grand finalists for 2026. In the Omeo & District FNL, Bruthen FNC's undefeated season continues, with the Bulldogs defeating Swifts Creek FNC by 35 points to book their place in the premiership decider. Swifts Creek now gets another chance, facing reigning premier Omeo-Benambra FNC in next week's Preliminary Final. In the four-team Upper Murray FNL, Bullioh FNC kept its bid for a third consecutive premiership firmly on track, comfortably accounting for Cudgewa FNC 18.21 (129) to 9.9 (63) in the Second Semi Final.

It was a difficult weekend at a couple of grounds, with two senior matches abandoned because of serious injuries. In the Central Highlands FNL, the Learmonth FNC v Rokewood-Corindhap FNC was called off at half time after a Learmonth player suffered a suspected dislocated ankle late in the second quarter. With the player unable to be moved until paramedics arrived, the match was abandoned after 40 minutes. As Rokewood Corindhap FNC  was leading 4.5 (29) to 3.5 (23) when half time was signalled, they were  awarded the four points. Despite the result, Learmonth still finished sixth and will enter finals next weekend.

The Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL also abandoned both the senior and reserves matches between Harcourt FNC and Navarre FNC before play began following a serious Under-18 injury that required an ambulance. The league subsequently made the decision in the interests of player and participant safety.

Seven teams kicked more than 200 points, while six leagues recorded average winning margins of more than 100 points, the most for any round this season. The Outer East FNL Division One finished its home and away season with a statewide-high 100.10-point average winning margin, while the Sunraysia FNL went in the opposite direction, recording a season average of just 26.52 points, the lowest in Victoria.

The biggest score came from Seville FNC, which smashed Powelltown FNC by 241 points after kicking 38.20 (248). Ararat FNC also finished with 37.21 (243) in a 223-point victory over Minyip-Murtoa FNC, while Winchelsea FNC piled on 36.19 (235) to defeat Geelong West Giants FNC by 216 points.

The Bellarine FNL produced a one-point thriller, with Drysdale FNC edging Anglesea FNC 13.10 (88) to 12.15 (87). The result leaves last year's premier Anglesea FNC now in sixth spot and needing to win next week to keep its premiership defence alive. Rye FNC also survived by a solitary point in the MPNFNL Division Two, defeating Crib Point FNC 9.12 (66) to 10.5 (65).

And in the South West District FNL Qualifying Final, Tyrendarra FNC edged Cavendish FNC 8.9 (57) to 8.8 (56). The result sees third-placed Tyrendarra advance, while Cavendish now faces a knockout First Semi Final against Branxholme-Wallacedale FNC.

There were also some significant winning streaks broken as finals arrived. In the Heathcote & District FNL, North Bendigo FNC's nine game winning run came to an end in the Qualifying Final, with third placed Colbinabbin FNC claiming the upset. North Bendigo FNC now faces a knockout First Semi Final next weekend against Lockington Bamawm United FNC. Meanwhile, MPNFNL Division Two ladder leader Chelsea FNC lost for the first time in eight weeks, going down to second-placed Somerville FNC 12.19 (91) to 7.5 (47), potentially setting up another meeting between the two sides in a fortnight.

A second win ends a long losing run In the Bellarine FNL, where newcomers the Surf Coast Suns FNC celebrated just their second win of the season, ending a 14 game losing streak with a 16.7 (103) to 12.11 (83) victory over Ocean Grove FNC.

There were 14 double digit bags this weekend, including six hauls of 11 and six of 10. The biggest belonged to Longwarry FNC's Jedd Serong, who booted 15 goals against Ellinbank FNC. That haul not only helped Longwarry to victory, but it saw Serong jump from second to first on the Ellinbank & District FNL goal kicking ladder. Winchelsea FNC's Cameron Primmer also enjoyed a huge afternoon with 12 goals.

The 100 goal club gained another member, with Lismore Derrinallum FNC's Lachie Constable reaching the magical mark after kicking seven. Although it was a weekend of near misses too, with Laharum FNC's Jack Fenner finishing on 96 after four goals, while Allansford FNC's Robbie Hare ended the season on 94 after an eight goal haul. Only three players now have an outside chance of reaching 100 in their final match of the season, Dominic Dare (87), Sam Lloyd (87) and Nathan Gardiner (85).

At the top of the statewide leaderboard, Lachie Sharp continues to put together one of the great goal-kicking seasons. His 10 goal haul for Bridgewater FNC took him to 148 goals for 2026, making him the outright leading goal kicker in Victorian country football. It also saw Sharp break the Loddon Valley FNL goal kicking record, previously held by Brandyn Grenfell of Marong FNC, who kicked 143 goals in 2022.

Overall Goal-Kicking Leaderboard:
148  Lachie Sharp – Bridgewater FNC
119  Jhye Baddeley-Kelly – Pyramid Hill FNC
116  Keenan Hughes – Cowwarr FNC
107 Tom Barnes – Nagambie FNC
105  Tim Rinaldi – Carisbrook FNC

With the majority of competitions now heading into finals, the premiership race is about to get serious right across Victorian country football.