Weekly Wrap | They say when it rains, it pours, and nothing could be truer for 4 Victorian country football clubs this weekend as they broke their long standing winless streaks.
First up in the Hampden FNL, the Port Fairy FNC tasted success for the first time in 29 games when it overcame a 12 point three quarter time deficit against the Hamilton Kangaroos FNC to run out 10 point winners, 11.14 80 to 10.10 70. Next on the list was the Mathoura FNC in the Picola and District FNL who were victors for the first time since round 15 in 2021. They enjoyed their first win in 24 games by kicking a massive 31.18-204 to Blighty FNC’s 5.8-38.
In the Sunraysia FNL it was South Mildura singing the song for the first time in 673 days when they fought back after trailing Imperials FNC by 18 points at the last change, charging to a 14 point win, 8.10 58 to 6.8 44. Finally, Charlton FNC in the North Central FNL, ended a 19 games winless streak that went all the way back to round 16 2021. The Blues comfortably won their clash against St Arnaud FNC 16.8 104 to 9.6 60.
The first blast of wintery weather made for some close matches, with 6 games being won by the barest of margins. The weekly cliche of ‘bad kicking is bad football’ was apt to describe the Macorna FNC in the Golden Rivers FNL who squandered their shots of goal ending in a wayward 13.13 91 to the more accurate Hay FNC who scores 14.9 92 to come away with the victory. Similarly, the same could be said for the Geelong West Giants FNC in the Geelong & District FNL who were also inaccurate in front of goal managing 11.10 76 to go down to Corio FNC who kicked more truly with 12.5 77.
We also continued the season average of a draw a week, this time between the Phillip Island FNC and Nar Nar Goon FNC in their West GIppsland FNC clash with both sides 9.9 63 apiece when the final siren sounded. The big score for the week was in the Tallangatta & District FNL where the Beechworth FNC scored 43.20 278 to run out big winners over the struggling Wahgunyah FNC.
Following on from former Geelong FC premiership player Nathan Ablet playing for Balranald FNC last week, another Central Murray FNL club had a former AFL player pull on the boots this weekend. Retired Essendon FC defender MIchael Hurley donned the maroon and white for the Swan Hill FC in their round 4 win against Nyah Nyah West United FNC.
When it comes to goal kicking this week, 2 players celebrated achieving the phenomenal feat of kicking 1000 career goals. In Port Fairy FNC’s drought breaking win, Jason Rowan kicked 2 goals, with his first taking him past the 1000 goal barrier. IN the Picola and District FNL it was Rennie FNC’s Chase Strawhorn who also went past the 1000 mark with his third goal for the day in the match against the Deniliquin Rovers FNC. Congratulations to both players on such a remarkable achievement.
Only 7 players kicked more the 10 goals in matches this weekend, with the biggest bags being hauls of 11 by Aron Burns from Mathoura FNC in their big win against Blighty and Marong FNC’s Brandyn Grenfell from the Loddon Valley FNL in his sides win against Calivil United FNC. Overall Ethan Redcliffe from Mitta United FNC still leads the top 20 list with 37 goals with Mitchell Conlan from Jerilderie FNC in second with 31. Four players are in equal 3rd with 29 goals, Lucas Anderson from Torquay FNC, Brandyn Grenfell from Marong FNC, Frazer Judd from Greta FNC and Bridgewater FNC’s Joshua Martyn.
