Three more forwards bring up tons as country finals kick off
Country Footy Scores • August 21st, 2025 1:34 pm

Starting with a quick recap of the off-field news from last week and it was announced that current Golden Rivers FNL club Macorna FNC have applied to join the Loddon Valley FNL as compared to the Central Murray FNL where the remainder of their fellow clubs are looking to join.
Gisborne FNC have been successful in their process to move leagues with their application to join the Ballarat FNL in 2026 approved while it was a case of third time unlucky for current Mid Gippsland FNL club Morwell East again falling short in getting enough votes to move to the North Gippsland FNL for next year.
This weekend saw 6 leagues begin their 2026 finals campaigns while a further 19 completed their home and away seasons. As always there were some weird and wonderful results thrown up in the final weeks of the season. In the last round of the Bellarine FNL none of the teams currently in the top five walked away with a win in the final round of the season. The round also saw a draw and the bottom placed Newcomb FNC break a run of 13 straight losses with a dramatic last minute win over the top of the ladder Geelong Amateur FNC 10.10 70 to 9.14 68.
In the first week of the South West District FNL final series, Cavendish FNC, who went goalless in their last home and away game last weekend, had a quick turnaround in form with a 19 point win over Coleraine FNC 11.7 73 to 8.6 54. Coleraine FNC were also in the news the next day when their Reserves team won the Elimination Final against Tyrendarra FNC by 61 points, only for it to be discovered they may have fielded ineligible players. Following a league investigation, the result has now been reversed and Tyrendarra FNC declared the winners, pending if Coleraine FNC wish to appeal.
The Second Semi Final in the Millewa FNL produced an upset when Bambill FNC secured a tight 3 point win over the previously undefeated Cardoss FNC, 10.9 69 to 9.12 66. This brought about an end to a 15 game winning streak and now means Cadross has to face Werrimull FNC in this weekend's upcoming Preliminary Final to progress and avoid a straight sets exit. The weekend also saw two 13 game winning runs come to an end after both Fish Creek FNC in the Mid Gippsland FNL and Diggers Rest FNC in the Riddell and District FNL lost for the first time in 3 months.
The end of the North Gippsland FNL regular season this weekend also left Gormandale FNC with the unfortunate title of owning the longest active losing streak in Victoria country football after they recorded consecutive loss number 63. This loss meant they took the title from the Maryborough FNC who had recorded 62 losses in a row before going into recess this season from the Bendigo FNL and at this stage will only be an active junior club in 2026 after failing to secure a league home.
Three more forwards were able to achieve the magical 100 goal mark this weekend as their regular seasons came to an end. A bag of 10 goals from Bright FNC’s Cooper Thomason helped him get to season total of 108, while fellow Ovens and King FNL forward, Milawa FNC’s Brady Bartlett kicked 6 to end the season on 102. In the Mininera and District FNL, 3 goals from Lismore Derrinallum FNC’s Lachie Constable against SMW Rovers FNC meant he also joined Bartlett with a total of 102 for the 2025 season. It was a case of near yet so far for Connor Newham from Kiewa Sandy Creek FNC in the Tallangatta & District FNL who snagged 10 goals in the match against the Wodonga Saints.
FNC but fell agonisingly short ending the home and away season on 98 goals. He will however get a chance to bring up triple figures in the upcoming finals series. It was a similar scenario for James Lloyd from Murchison Toolamba FNC in the Kyabram & District FNL who kicked 7 against Violet Town FNC to finish on 97 at the end of the regular season.
Overall our top three goal kickers for the home and away seasons has been finalised with Jason Wells from Longwarry FNC leading the way with 136, Michael Newton from Whorouly FNC in second with 129 and third palace going to Birchip Watchem FNC’s Ben Edwards on 124. Unless Cora Lynn FNC’s Nathan Gardiner or Moe FNC’s Ben Crocker can kick hauls of 6 or 15 respectively in their last games this upcoming weekend we will finish the season with nine centurions for the 2025 season.
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