The Weekly Wrap | Another massive weekend of Grand Final action has come and gone across country Victoria and, with just one senior premiership left to be decided, the 2026 season is almost in the books. And what a weekend it was.

We had one of the greatest Grand Final comebacks you could ever hope to see, a 59-year premiership drought finally broken, several more long waits brought to an end, a couple of dynasties extended and even a Grand Final victory sealed with a kick after the siren.

Perhaps the best place to start is in the Outer East FNL. As it looked for three quarters like Mt Evelyn FNC was finally going to end one of country football's longest premiership droughts. The Rovers led the undefeated Wandin FNC by 38 points at three quarter time of the Outer East FNL Premier Division Grand Final and were just one quarter away from their first senior premiership since 1998.

What happened next was extraordinary. Wandin piled on eight unanswered goals in the final quarter, while Mt Evelyn went scoreless, as the Bulldogs stormed home to win 14.4 88 to 11.3 69 and complete an undefeated season as Premiers and Champions. It was one of the great Grand Final turnarounds, with Wandin extending its undefeated run and somehow turning what looked certain to be Grand Final heartbreak into another premiership.

Another of the weekend's biggest stories came from the Gippsland FNL, where Moe FNC finally ended a premiership drought stretching all the way back to 1967. Scores were locked at three quarter time against reigning premier Leongatha FNC and the final term was every bit as tense as expected. Leongatha had its chances, including a Dyson Heppell behind late in the game, before Moe kicked the decisive scores to eventually prevail 14.7 91 to 11.17 83.

Former Pie and Crow Ben Crocker kicked two goals for the Lions, while former Melbourne and Western Bulldogs midfielder James Harmes was among Moe's best and received the commentators' best on ground award. Former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell was outstanding for Leongatha and received the AFL Victoria medal despite finishing on the losing side. After almost six decades of waiting, Moe is finally a Gippsland League premier again.

There couldn't have been a much better way for Gisborne FNC to farewell the Bendigo FNL.Playing its final match in the competition before returning home to the Ballarat FNL next season, the fourth-placed Bulldogs upset minor premier Sandhurst FNC by 29 points, 12.12 84 to 7.13 55.

The premiership is Gisborne's sixth senior flag during its 26 seasons in the Bendigo FNL and they had to take the long road from fourth position, defeating South Bendigo FNC, Strathfieldsaye FNC and Eaglehawk FNC before taking down Sandhurst in the decider. It was also the end of Sandhurst's 11 game winning streak at the worst possible time.

Moe wasn't the only club finally breaking a lengthy premiership drought. In the Wimmera FNL, Nhill FNC completed one of the great finals runs, winning the premiership from fourth position and denying Ararat FNC a fourth consecutive flag. The Tigers had already needed a dramatic goal after the siren to beat Horsham Saints by three points in the Preliminary Final and then completed the job on Grand Final day.

The result ended a premiership drought stretching back more than four decades for Nhill, their last coming way back  in 1979. There were also celebrations in the Ballarat FNL, where Ballarat FNC ended its own lengthy wait. The Swans entered the finals from third position and finished the job against Sebastopol FNC, with former AFL players having a huge say in the result.

Biggie Nyuon produced a huge Grand Final performance with six goals, while former Western Bulldogs defender Alex Keath received the AFL Victoria meal Former AFL midfielders Brad Crouch and Luke Dunstan were also part of a Ballarat side that claimed its first senior premiership since 2008.

While some clubs were celebrating the end of long waits, others simply kept adding more silverware. In the West Gippsland FNC, Nar Nar Goon FNC completed a three-peat, continuing an incredible run at the top of the competition.

Over in the Hampden FNL, powerhouse Koroit FNC added yet another premiership, defeating minor premier North Warrnambool FNC. North Warrnambool entered the finals after a brilliant 17-1 home and away season record, but it wasn't enough to stop Koroit from claiming an extraordinary eighth premiership in 13 seasons. The result also brought North Warrnambool's 23 game winning streak to an end on Grand Final day. It's another reminder that no matter how dominant a side has been throughout the season, Grand Final day offers no guarantees.

And in the Ovens & Murray FNL, Wangaratta Rovers FNC continued their own remarkable recent run, defeating cross-town rival Wangaratta FNC to complete a third consecutive premiership. It puts the current Rovers group alongside some of the great teams in the club's history and means Wangaratta's eight game winning streak also came to an end on the biggest stage.

Few clubs have dominated their competition recently quite like Echuca FNC. The Murray Bombers demolished Shepparton FNC by 81 points in the Goulburn Valley FNL Grand Final to claim their fourth premiership in five seasons. Echuca led 67-12 at half time and never looked back.

Highly rated youngster Cody Walker was part of the premiership side in what is expected to be one of his final appearances for his home club before November's AFL Draft. Another flag, another emphatic Grand Final performance and another chapter added to what is becoming one of the competition's great eras.

The Murray FNL Grand Final between Congupna FNC and Cobram FNC produced another chapter in what has become a terrific recent rivalry.

After Cobram defeated Congupna by three points in last year's Grand Final, it was Congupna's turn this year, reversing the result and winning by eight points. As Congupna did last year, Cobram will rue its inaccurate kicking in front of goal, but the unusual story came after the final siren.

Players from both sides were left on the Moama Recreation Reserve following the match after emergency services responded to a suspected fire in the social rooms. Spectators had earlier been evacuated from the grandstand while the senior Grand Final was still being played, and both teams remained outside their changerooms while emergency services investigated the incident.

Certainly not the normal way to finish Grand Final day.

There was late drama in the Central Murray FNL as well. Minor premier Nyah Nyah West United FNC looked in serious trouble late against Cohuna Kangas FNC before kicking the final two goals of the match. The winning goal came after the siren, giving NNW United a remarkable three-point premiership victory. After losing last year's Grand Final, the Demons couldn't have found a much more dramatic way to return to the top.

One of the most remarkable journeys to a premiership came in MPNFNL Division 1. Dromana FNC entered Round 18 needing to win just to make the finals. They did exactly that, beating Devon Meadows FNC by 52 points and sneaking into third position by just 0.01 percentage points.

From there the Tigers knocked over the second placed Langwarrin FNC during the finals before facing the 16-2 minor premier Rosebud FNC in the Grand Final. Dromana built the early advantage, before Rosebud came storming home with four unanswered goals in the final quarter. The Tigers managed just a solitary point for the term but it proved enough, holding on 12.13 85 to 12.8 80 for a five point premiership victory. From almost missing the finals altogether to premiers a few weeks later. That's some sort of September run.

Rounding out the other premiership winners from the weekend, up in the North Central FNL Wedderburn FNC won their first flag since 2014, Queenscliff FNC went one better in the Bellarine FNL winning their first flag since 2013 while it’s a second flag in three years for Lorne FNC in the Colac and District FNL after they defeated the Colac Imperials FNC, 12.8 (80) to 9.15 (69).

Despite several thrillers, the overall numbers show this year's finals have been slightly more one-sided than last season. The average Grand Final winning margin sits at 28.74 points, up from 25.70 points in 2025. Across the entire finals series, the average winning margin has been 32.74 points, compared with 29.66 points last season.

So after months of football, hundreds of games and premierships being decided right across Victoria, we're finally down to just one senior Grand Final remaining for season 2026.

St Mary's FNC will attempt to go back to back, while South Barwon FNC is chasing its first senior premiership since 2013.

And then that's it.

After a season of huge scores, one-point thrillers, massive goal hauls, extraordinary winning streaks, some equally extraordinary losing streaks, league movements, finals upsets and premiership droughts finally being broken, the 2026 Victorian country football season has just one game left to play.