We got our first taste of real winter footy weather over the weekend with the cold conditions and rain impacting games all over the state.
The wintry blast may have played its part in a couple of long standing winning and losing streaks coming to an end.
The state’s second longest active winning streak came to an end in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL where Harcourt FNC lost for the first time in 33 games, a streak running all the way back to July 2022. In the top of the table clash with fellow undefeated side Natte Bealiba FNC, the winning run came to an end when the Swans were victorious 12.12 84 to 9.4 58.
It was a 1-point thriller that ended Torquay FNC’s 15-game run in the Bellarine FNL when third-placed Geelong Amatuer FNC upset the league leaders 12.11 83 to 11.16 82. Other sides to experience their first loss for the season included Sandhurst FNC in the Bendigo FNL, Penshurst FNC in the Mininera and District and Narre Warren FNC in the Premier Division of the Outer East FNL.
Whilst the regular winners felt defeat for the first this first time in a while, it was a weekend when two significant country Victorian senior footy losing streaks ended. Firstly, in the Omeo and District FNL Swan Reach FNC ended a run of 27 losses when it recorded a 71-point win over Buchan FNC 20.12 132 to 9.7 61. Despite actually winning some games last year, they were stripped of all their premiership points due to player points breaches so their last ‘official’ win was way back in August of the 2022 season.
A similar losing streak was broken in the Upper Murray FNL, when Corryong FNC snapped their 26-game losing streak with a 24-point win over Tumbarumba FNC. This win will give the club some confidence going into the last month of the season, where they will play finals despite being on the bottom of the ladder in the four club league. Up in the North West of the state, Swan Hill FNC in the Central Murray FNL and Murrabit FNC in the Golden Rivers FNL, also secured win number one for the 2024 season.
A couple of former AFL players made cameo appearances over this round of matches, with former Essendon star and Coleman Medallist Matthew Lloyd lining up for Old Collegians FNC in their Warrnambool & District FNL clash against Kolora-Noorat FNC. Lloyd managed 1 goal to help the Warriors to a 12-point win 6.8 44 to 4.8 32.
Lloyd’s former Essendon FC team mate Gary Moorcroft donned the navy of Thorpdale FNC in the Mid Gippsland FNL, who are coached by his former Essendon teammate Jason Winderlich. The Blues were too strong for Mirboo North FNC winning by 36 points, with Moorcroft kicking 1 goal in the win.
In off-field news, former Magpie and Hawk Max Lynch was this week announced coach of Albury FNC in the Ovens and Murray FNL for the next three seasons.
While the wet weather put a dampener on the forwards from getting amongst the goals, three players did manage to get into double digits, including our biggest haul for the 2024 season so far. In the Picola and District FNL match between Strathmerton FNC and Yarroweyah FNC, Tom Looby was able to kick 20 goals in his side’s 212-point win. This huge bag has rocketed him to the top of the statewide leaderboard, overtaking season leader Josh Mellington from Bears Lagoon Serpentine FNC who is now stuck on 93 courtesy of a hamstring injury he sustained last week. He now sits second overall with fellow Loddon Valley FNL forward, Bridgewater FNC’s Lachlan Sharp in equal third with Murchison-Toolamba FNC’s James LLoyd. The pair both have 91 and the race to be the first to hit 100 looks likely to come next week from this trio.
