The Weekly Wrap | The 2026 home and away season is now almost complete, with 15 leagues finishing their seasons this weekend and only the Geelong FNL still having one round to play before the entire Victorian country football finals picture is set.

And while finals football produced plenty of thrillers, there was also one of the biggest individual goal kicking performances we have seen in recent years.

There was more news on the 2027 competition landscape this week, with AFL North East Border rejecting Bright FNC's application to leave the Ovens & King FNL and join the Tallangatta & District FNL. Meanwhile, the Loddon Valley FNL is now actively looking for new clubs to join the competition following Marong FNC's approved move to the Bendigo FNL for 2027, and Maiden Gully YCW FNC again expected to explore its options next year.

And in a good news off field story, a missing piece of club history has finally returned home. The 2014 Picola & District FNL South East premiership trophy belonging to Tungamah FNC, which had somehow gone missing, turned up at the local Post Office and has now made its way back to the clubrooms.

With 15 leagues completing their home and away seasons this weekend, the focus now turns firmly to September. The Bellarine FNL produced one of the more remarkable finals finishes, with Newcomb FNC needing a win over Torquay FNC to guarantee its first finals appearance in 19 years. The result did not go Newcomb's way, but other results fell perfectly into place and the Power sneaked into fifth spot.

In MPNFNL Division One, the difference between a double chance and a knockout final came down to just 0.01%. Dromana FNC jumped into third spot after a 52-point win over Devon Meadows FNC, while Mt Eliza FNC's 20 point victory over Edithvale-Aspendale FNC wasn't enough to make up the tiny percentage gap.

The first two 2026 Grand Finals are now locked in. In the Omeo & District FNL, reigning premier Omeo-Benambra FNC produced a huge Preliminary Final upset, getting past arch-rival Swifts Creek FNC to earn another shot at the premiership. The Bulldogs will now face the undefeated Bruthen FNC in the Grand Final.

The Upper Murray FNL will see a battle between first and third, with Tumbarumba FNC producing a stunning two point upset over second placed Cudgewa FNC, winning 10.6 (66) to 9.10 (64). Tumbarumba now faces Bullioh FNC, which remains on course for a third consecutive premiership.

Across the state there were finals thrillers everywhere. The Loddon Valley FNL has a chance to end a 76 year premiership drought is alive, after third placed Pyramid Hill FNC produced  an unexpected 12-point victory over Marong FNC. Pyramid Hill prevailed 12.9 (81) to 9.15 (69), with Marong's inaccurate kicking proving costly.

Bunyip FNC also celebrated a huge moment in the Ellinbank & District FNL, winning its Elimination Final against Buln Buln FNC with a goal after the siren to claim a five point victory. This  ends a 10 year finals drought, coming just two years after the club returned to the competition and only one year after they broke a 45 game winless streak.

In the Mininera & District FNL, fifth placed Caramut FNC defeated Glenthompson Dunkeld FNC by 12 points to stay in premiership contention  after making it to the finals for the first time since 2008, following the end of a 41 game losing streak last season. There were also lower ranked winners in the East Gippsland, Geelong & District, MPNFNL Division Two, Outer East Division One and Riddell & District finals.

It was another huge scoring weekend, with the statewide average winning margin reaching 65.69 points, the highest of the season. But nothing came close to what happened in the Bendigo FNL. Eaglehawk FNC produced one of the biggest scores in Victorian country football history, smashing Broadford FNC 55.29 (359) to 0.0 (0).

The 359 points is the highest score recorded in Victoria this season, a new league record and the 53rd highest score all time, while the 359 point winning margin is also comfortably the biggest of 2026. Other huge scores included Mallee Eagles FNC's 35.20 (230) against Wandella FNC, Woorinen FNC's 32.12 (204) against Tyntynder FNC and Wandin FNC's 31.21 (207) against Upwey- ecoma FNC.

Close games and finals heartbreak began in the Central Murray FNL with a one point thriller, seeing Hay FNC falling just short against Lake Boga FNC 13.5 (83) to 12.12 (84).

In the North Gippsland FNL Qualifying Final, third placed Heyfield FNC upset Woodside FNC by two points, 9.7 (61) to 8.9 (57). There were also two point finals victories for Belmont Lions FNC over North Geelong FNC and Learmonth FNC over Buninyong FNC. And in the Sunraysia FNL, South Mildura FNC won an Elimination Final by a solitary point, defeating Irymple FNC 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60).

In the East Gippsland FNL, Boisdale Briagolong FNC's 12 game winning streak came to an end in the Qualifying Final, with Lindenow FNC winning by 27 points. The league leaders now face Orbost Snowy Rovers FNC in a Preliminary Final with their season on the line. Meanwhile, Yackandandah FNC couldn't repeat its earlier upset of Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC, going down 12.4 (76) to 3.7 (25) in the Tallangatta & District FNL finals.

With all bar one home and away season now complete, the longest active losing streaks can be revealed for Victorian country football:

51 – Tatura FNC – Goulburn Valley FNL
37 – Yarra Junction FNC – Outer East FNL Division One
36 – Lake Wendouree FNC – Ballarat FNL
32 – Merrigum FNC – Kyabram & District FNL
29 – Corryong FNC – Upper Murray FNL

The biggest individual performance of the weekend  and arguably one of the most remarkable of the season,  came from former Port Adelaide player Joel Garner. Garner booted an extraordinary 23 goals for Wandin FNC against Upwey Tecoma FNC, accounting for the vast majority of his side's 31.21 (207) score. The performance also saw Garner claim the Outer East FNL Division One goalkicking award despite playing just eight games.

There were plenty of other big bags, with Moe FNC's Riley D'Arcy kicking 15, while Leongatha FNC's Jenson Garnham and Geelong Amateur FNC's Sam Lloyd both finished with 13.

The 100 goal club grew again, with Sam Lloyd becoming the latest to reach the milestone. The former Richmond and Western Bulldogs player booted 14 for Geelong Amateur FNC to finish the home and away season on 100 goals. Cora Lynn FNC's Nathan Gardiner came agonisingly close in the West Gippsland FNC, kicking 12.3 against Dalyston FNC but finishing on 97 for the season.

With only one league still having a home and away match to play, the statewide top five is now settled with the final 2026 Goal Kicking Leaderboard:

148 – Lachie Sharp – Bridgewater FNC – Loddon Valley FNL
119 – Jhye Baddeley-Kelly – Pyramid Hill FNC – Loddon Valley FNL
116 – Keenan Hughes – Cowwarr FNC – North Gippsland FNL
107 – Tom Barnes – Nagambie FNC – Kyabram & District FNL
105 – Tim Rinaldi – Carisbrook FNC – Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL

A total of nine players reached the magical 100 goal mark during the 2026 home and away season.