The Weekly Wrap | A massive Grand Final weekend has come and gone and what a weekend it was, with 18 premierships decided across country Victoria.

There were dynasties extended, long premiership droughts broken, one-point thrillers, massive comebacks and even a couple of pieces of history made along the way.

And just when we thought the season couldn't produce many more stories, the finals have delivered another batch of them. There were some comfortable victories, but there were also plenty of Grand Finals that went right down to the wire.

The closest of the lot came in the Geelong & District FNL, where East Geelong FNC produced the ultimate Grand Final finish, defeating Werribee Centrals FNC by just one point, 8.11 59 to 8.10 58. The winning point came with the last kick of the game to settle one of the weekend's most dramatic finishes.

There was also plenty of excitement in the Picola & District FNL, where Katamatite FNC defeated Waaia FNC by five points, 12.8 80 to 10.15 75, to claim back to back premierships, led by home town heroo fomer Port player Tom Clurey 

In the Ovens & King FNL, Whorouly FNC added another chapter to its remarkable history, defeating minor premier Bright FNC by eight points, 8.8 56 to 6.12 48.

At the other end of the scale, Bridgewater FNC produced arguably the most dominant performance of the weekend, smashing reigning premier Marong FNC by 99 points, 24.10 154 to 8.7 55.

It was a Grand Final that looked one sided on the scoreboard, but the real story was what happened after half time. Marong's quest for a fifth consecutive Loddon Valley premiership was always going to be one of the biggest stories of the weekend. It was also the club's final match in the competition before its move to the Bendigo FNL next season.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, Bridgewater had other ideas. After a relatively competitive first half, the Mean Machine exploded after the main break, piling on 19 goals to four to run away with the 99 point victory. Oscar McKinley was almost unstoppable, finishing with 11 goals as Bridgewater FNC turned what had been a contest into a procession.

For Marong, the five-peat dream is over as they head off to the Bendigo FNL in 2027, while for Bridgewater, it is a premiership that will be remembered for a very long time.

There was no such heartbreak for Nirranda FNC. The Eagles defeated Allansford FNC 15.6 96 to 10.10 70 to claim their fifth consecutive Warrnambool & District FNL premiership. That puts Nirranda into some very exclusive company, becoming only the second club in league history to win five flags in succession.

One of the best stories of the weekend came from the MPNFNL Division 2, where Red Hill FNC completed an incredible transformation. Just 12 months ago the they were sitting at the bottom of the ladder as the competition's wooden spooner.

Now they are premiers.

Red Hill finished third on the ladder before knocking off the top side Chelsea FNC, winning 11.7 73 to 6.9 45 to complete one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the 2026 season. From wooden spooners to premiers in the space of 12 months.

There was another terrific comeback in the Mid Gippsland FNL, where arch rivals Foster FNC and Fish Creek FNC produced a Grand Final worthy of the occasion. Foster led by 20 points at half time, but Fish Creek refused to go away. The Kangaroos turned the game around after the main break to eventually run out 12 point winners, 18.11 119 to 16.11 107. Foster's former Port Adelaide player Brett Eddy did everything he could, kicking 11 of his side's 16 goals, but it wasn't enough.

The victory gives Fish Creek premiership number 39, further extending their status as country football's most successful club.

There were plenty of other significant moments across the 18 Grand Finals.

Cowwarr FNC claimed its first North Gippsland FNL premiership in 20 years with a 35 point victory over Woodside, while Pakenham FNC completed a perfect undefeated season by defeating Seville FNC by 30 points in the Outer East Division 1 decider. Lismore Derrinallum FNC went back to back in the Mininera & District FNL, while Mildura FNC also completed back to back premierships in the Sunraysia FNL.

In the Riddell & District FNL, Diggers Rest FNC defeated Wallan FNC by 14 points, with former Richmond player Callum Moore booting six goals. Wallan's Jake Carlisle, who had been cleared to play last week following a tribunal matter, was unavailable after the RDFNL successfully appealed the original penalty, with the former Saint and Bomber ultimately suspended for two matches.

Across in the Central Highlands FNL, Dunnstown FNC's 12 game winning streak came to an end at the worst possible time, as they were unable to carry their extraordinary late-season form through to the premiership as Daylesford FNC returned to the top after two years, defeating them,18.16 124 to 11.11 77

And in the Horsham & District FNL, Noradjuha-Quantong FNC's search for its first premiership continues after the Bombers lost their third consecutive Grand Final, this time going down to Laharum by 12 points.

There were plenty of long waits finally brought to an end.

• East Geelong FNC ended a 17-year premiership drought.
• Whorouly FNC broke through after 19 years.
• Cowwarr FNC ended a 20-year wait.
• Pakenham FNC won its first flag in 17 years.

While 18 premierships were decided, there were still plenty of stories from the other finals series around the state.

The Wimmera FNL produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the weekend, with Nhill FNC booking its place in the Grand Final when Petros Politis kicked a goal after the siren to defeat Horsham Saints by just three points, 11.12 78 to 12.3 75. Nhill will now face reigning premier Ararat FNC in the Grand Final.

In the Ballarat FNL, Sebastopol FNC kept its premiership dream alive with a thrilling four point preliminary final victory over minor premier North Ballarat FNC, 10.6 66 to 9.8 62. The result gives the Burras a chance to win their first premiership since 1975.

There was also a three point preliminary final thriller in the Outer East Premier Division, with Mt Evelyn FNC booking its place in the Grand Final against undefeated Wandin.

For Newtown & Chilwell FNC, the Geelong & District FNL finals campaign came to an end in straight sets, despite being coached by former Geelong and GWS star Steve Johnson.

And just like that, the focus turns to the final big weekend of the 2026 country football season.

There are 15 more Grand Finals to be played this coming weekend, with some enormous clashes and some very long premiership droughts on the line.

And there are some fascinating stories among those match-ups.

Nhill FNC will be chasing its first premiership since 1981, Sebastopol FNC has the chance to end a 51 year wait while the Cohuna Kangas FNC is chasing its first flag as a merged entity.

Mt Evelyn FNC hasn't won a premiership since 1998, coming up agaisnt and undefeated Wandin FNC

There is also another chapter in the Bendigo FNL rivalry between Sandhurst FNC and Gisborne,FNC while the Murray FNL will deliver another Grand Final rematch between Congupna FNC and Cobram FNC.

The Gippsland FNL sees Moe FNC chasing its first flag since 1967 against reigning premier Leongatha FNC, while in the Ovens & Murray FNL the two Wangaratta clubs will meet in a Grand Final derby.