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Find your Sport Nation frequencyEx-Saint coaches first win, former Hawk and ex-Giant named in best players
Country Footy Scores • April 17th, 2025 3:47 pm
This weekend saw another seven Victorian country football and netball leagues begin their 2025 seasons and as with last week, there was another set of Grand Final rematches seeing reversal of the 2024 results.
In the Hampden FNL it was a closely-contested affair with North Warrnambool FNC winning the rematch by five points over South Warrnambool FNC, 8.11 59 to 7.12 54. Up in the Heathcote & District FNL, Leitchville Gunbower FNC reversed their 71-point 2024 Grand Final loss to White Hills FNC with a 38-point win, while the return bout in the Millewa FNL saw Bambill FNC’s premiership defence start on shaky ground after a 55-point loss to Cardross FNC 15.6 96 to 6.5 41. This result also brought Bambill’s 10-game winning streak to an end as well.
The South West District FNL saw one match end both of the leagues current longest active winning and losing streaks at the same time. The 13-game run of wins by Tyrendarra FNC came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Branxholme Wallacedale FNC who broke their own 10-game losing streak at the same time in their 14.3 87 to 3.2 20 win.
However when it comes to breaking losing streaks this weekend, two clubs sang the club song for the first time in over two years and in turn ended the states 2nd and 3rd longest active losing runs. In the Mininera & District FNL Caramut FNC were victorious for the first time since Round 6, 2022 with a 32-point win over Moyston Willaura FNC.
However when it comes to breaking losing streaks this weekend, two clubs sang the club song for the first time in over two years and in turn ended the states 2nd and 3rd longest active losing runs. In the Mininera & District FNL Caramut FNC were victorious for the first time since Round 6, 2022 with a 32-point win over Moyston Willaura FNC.
Coincidentally that last win was also against Moyston Willaura and by a similar margin of 31 points. The move from the Ballarat FNL to return to the Riddell and District FNL this season after 29 years has finally paid off for the Melton South FNC. The Panthers had their first victory, not only in the league for season 2025, but also after 40-straight games with a 44-point win over Melton Centrals FNC, 14.18 102 to 8.10 58.
In the Loddon Valley FNL, Mitiamo FNC ended a run of 20-straight defeats with a win over Calivil United FNC, while former Cat and Swan Gary Rohan kicked 3 goals to help Port Fairy FNC emerge 32-point winners over Warrnambool FNC and in turn end a nine-game run of losses.
Former GWS Giant Cooper Hamilton was named in the best players in his first appearance for Rochester FNC in their 7-point win over Mooroopna FNC in the Goulburn Valley FNL, while former Hawthorn top 10 pick Denver Grainger-Barras, was also in the best for North Ballarat FNC as they went down by 7 points to East Point FNC in the Ballarat FNL.
Round 1 of the Geelong FNL saw a first-up coaching win for ex-Saint Seb Ross whose Colac FNC managed the highest score across country Victoria for the season so far, kicking a huge 41.27 273 in their 264-point win over North Shore FNC.
Former Geelong, Hawthorn and Essendon player Jonathan Simpkin was named one of Colac's best players with six goals, while former Cat and Blue Darcy Lang booted five.
They were one of three clubs this weekend to kick over 250 points in a game, with Bruthen FNC registering 41.17 263 v Lindenow South FNC in the opening round of the Omeo & District FNL and in the North Gippsland FNL, Yallourn Yallourn North FNC kicked 40.15 255 to overpower Gormandale FNC.
Two third of all leagues in action this weekend had at least 1 game with a 100+ winning margin while the Geelong FNL, Kyabram & District FNL, North Central FNL and Omeo & District FNL all had an average winning margin of over 100 points for their round of games.
Not surprisingly with the big margins across leagues this weekend, the forwards were firing with 15 kicking a bag of 10 or more goals. Heading up the efforts this week was a haul of 15 by Ben Edwards from Birchip-Watchem FNC in the North Central FNL, 13 by Frazer Judd from Greta FNC (Ovens & King FNL) and 11 goals from both Jirra Moffatt of Bruthen FNC (Omeo & District FNL) and Corey Smith from North Wangaratta FNC (Ovens & King FNL). Overall Edwards leads all comers across Victoria with 28 goals from his first 2 games while Judd sits in equal second place with 19 goals, tied with Dylan Weir from Merrivale FNC in the Warrnambool & District FNL.
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