As another week of the 2023 season goes by, there’s been plenty of country footy news across the state.
Firstly, we finally have a decision on the Wangaratta FNC’s appeal in response to the club being stripped of the 2022 Ovens and Murray FNL premiership for breaching the salary cap. An AFL Victoria appointed regional appeal committee ruled that the OMFNL did have the discretion to remove the premiership after the club had already been initially handed sanctions from AFL Northeast Border, which included a fine as well as loss of player premiership points.
In other parts of the state, conversations have already turned to the 2024 season where three clubs who have signalled their intent on moving leagues at the conclusion of this current season. In the Loddon Valley FNL Marong FNC and Maiden Gully YCW FNC have applied to leave and move to the Heathcote and District FNL. This is the second straight year that Maiden Gully YCW FNC have tried to move after being denied last year by AFL Central Victoria. In the Central Murray FNL it’s the Cohuna Kangaroos FNC also looking to join the Heathcote & District FNL. If all clubs are successful, this would make the Heathcote & District FNL increase to 12 teams, whilst the Loddon Valley FNL would become a nine-club league and the Central Murray FNL reduced to 10.
Another week and more former AFL players have left their mark on country footy matches. Former Adelaide FC and Geelong FC forward Josh Jenkins helped Sea Lake Nandaly FNC to a win in their clash against Wedderburn FNC, kicking 6 goals in the process. (Jenkins also bagged 6 against Donald the weekend prior).
Former Collingwood FC Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan played in an eventful game for Merrigum FNC in the Kyabram & District FNL. In the dying seconds of the game, Merrigum FNC’s Jordan Hutton gave away a free kick which gave his Avenel FNC opponent a chance to win the game with a kick after the siren.
Redeeming himself for the late blunder, Hutton managed to smother the shot for goal while standing on the mark to enable the 12.14.(86) to 12.10.(82) victory.
The biggest impact, however, was by former Adelaide FC and Melbourne FC player Bernie Vince who had a day out while playing for the Maryborough Rovers FNC against Campbell’s Creek FNC in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL. Vince kicked 8 goals and 9 behinds while amassing 36 disposals in the 33.26.(224) to 3.2.(20) win.
Celebrations were loud and proud for the Anakie FNC on Saturday who not only had their first win for the 2023 season but a win that broke a 39-game losing streak when they defeated North Geelong FNC 9.12.(66) to 7.17.(59) in their Geelong & District FNL match. It was the club’s first win since round 17 in 2019 when they defeated Winchelsea FNC by 29 points. While Anakie celebrated their win, two league leaders suffered their first losses. In the Goulburn Valley FNL, Echuca FNC had their run of 11 wins broken, going down to Seymour FNC by 8 points. In the Ballarat FNL Darley FNC tasted defeat for the first time losing by 57 points to 4th placed North Ballarat FNC.
This weekend saw Marong FNC’s Brandyn Grenfell (Loddon Valley FNL), Anthony Zelencich from Carisbrook FNC (Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL) and Bright FNC’s (Ovens & King FNL) Cooper Thomason all reach the 50-goal mark for the season. Grenfell kicked 10 to go to the outright lead with 59 for the season, followed by Alvie FNC’s Dominic Dare on 57 and Waaia FNC’s Charlie Burrows on 56. Grenfell’s bag of 10 was one 7 hauls of 10 or more goals this weekend, which was headed by two bags of 11. One by Daniel Campbell from Katunga FNC in their Picola & DIstrict FNL match against Yarroweyah FNC and the second by Lachlan Sharp from Strathfieldsaye FNC in his side’s big 96 point win against Kyneton FNC.
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Image from Dean Stewart Photography via Maryborough Rovers FNC Facebook.
