As a follow up to last week where we shared that Sunraysia FNL club Robinvale Euston FNC had 12 points stripped from the 2024 ladder as well as copping a $15,000 fine and losing 6 points from their player allocations for next season, the club has decided that it will go ahead and appeal the decision.
At this stage there is no timeline for when a decision will be reached. Robinvale Euston FNC currently sits 5th on the Sunraysia FNL ladder on 16 points. If the 12 points were reinstated now, they would be 1 game out of 4th place with five games to play.
This time of the year is always busy with clubs looking to re-sign coaches for next season. One significant coaching announcement this week comes from the Ovens and Murray FNL where current Yarrawonga FNC premiership coach, former Cat and Giants star Steve Johnson, has informed the club that he won’t be coaching the Pigeons in 2025. Since his appointment for the 2022 season, Johnson has an impressive winning record of 27 out of 30 matches, including last year’s premiership and he has the club primed for back-to-back flags as they sit atop of the OMFNL ladder with a 12-1 win loss record so far.
Another former Geelong premiership star laced up the boots in country footy this weekend when Norm Smith medalist Isaac Smith ran out for Bunyip FNC in the West Gippsland FNL. He was also joined by former Bunyip FNC player and ex-Cat, Swan and Giant Shane Mumford as the Bulldogs looked for their first win of the season and in turn break a run of 31 straight loses. Despite the game being close at half-time, the ex-AFL stars were unable to get the win against Garfield FNC, going down 6.8 44 to 3.7 25. Smith kicked two of his side’s three goals, while Mumford was named in the Bulldogs’ best players.
Speaking of first wins, Moyston Willaura FNC in the Mininera & District FNL sang the song for the first time this season after a 71-point victory over Caramut FNC. This leaves Caramut still chasing their first win for 2024 as well as trying to break their 37-game losing streak. Across in the North Central FNL, Charlton FNC came close to registering their first win for the season. After leading by 29 points at three-quarter time in their clash against Wycheproof-Narraport FNC, they were unable to hang on with the match ending up in a thrilling 13.10 88 apiece draw.
In an interesting side note to the match, with Wycheproof-Narraport FNC’s impending merger with Nullawil FNC for 2025, this is the last time these two nearby neighbouring clubs will play each other as stand alone clubs.
Staying in the North Central FNL, Birchip Watchem FNC had their 10-game unbeaten streak come to an end at the hands of Sea Lake Nandaly FNC, losing by 32 points 13.12 90 to 9.4 58. With that loss, this means we are now down to nine clubs who are still undefeated for season 2024 while a further 24 clubs are still trying to get their first points for the year as we run down through the final home and away rounds.
Despite the wintery conditions, nine forwards made the most of the conditions with big bags of goals, headed by Foster FNC’s Jake Best who slotted 15 in the Mid Gippsland FNL clash against Hill End FNC. In the Millewa FNL Gol Gol’s Gareth Collinson bagged 14 and Bailey Thomas from Katunga FNC snagged 13 in the Picola and District FNL match against Yarroweyah FNC. Former West Coast Eagle and Sydney Swan Jarrod Brander kicked 11 of his own for Wentworth FNC in their 69-point win over Ouyen United FNC in the Sunraysia FNL.
Two more players have reached the magical 100 goal milestone this week with Strathmerton FNC’s Tim Looby kicking 9 goals to take him to 106 for the season and the outright lead on our leaderboard. Sitting equal second is James Lloyd from Murchison-Toolamba FNC who after kicking 6 against Stanhope FNC now has 103, as does Bridgewater FNC’s Lachlan Sharp who last week was the first to get to 100. Long time season leader Josh Mellington from Bears Lagoon Serpentine FNC looks to remain stranded on 93 goals from 9 games as his hamstring injury appears to be much worse than first thought.
For all the latest in country footy, head to Country Footy Scores.
Image from Bunyip FC on Facebook.
