The lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in Victoria meant that all leagues across country Victoria were able to get back into action this weekend and resume their 2021 seasons. Most leagues kicked off from where they were prior to the lockdown, whilst others tweaked fixtures with the hope of being able to catch up all missed games before finals.
The lifting of travel restrictions allowed Melbourne based players to return to local leagues and the last-minute adoption of common sense in terms of increased crowd numbers to 1000, meant that it was almost back to a sense of normality as the sound of whistles, sirens and car horns rang out around the state again.
The time off didn’t seem to hamper too many sides as they picked up were they left off prior to the enforced break, particularly Maldon FNC in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL who racked up the third highest score for 2021 when they piled on 44.25 289 to defeat the Maryborough Rovers by 270 points. Similarly in the Mininera and District FNL, it was Lismore Derrinallum FNC also making this season's Top 10 highest score list with a score of 40.28 268 defeating Caramut FNC by 258 points.
At the other end of the scale this week's matches saw five games decided by the closest of margins. With plenty of excitement in the Loddon Valley FNL where two thrillers saw Bears Lagoon Serpentine FNC and Bridgewater FNC as 1-point winners over Maiden Gully YCW and Pyramid Hill FNC’s respectively. Other close games took place in Division 1 of the MPNFL, East Gippsland and the South West District FNL.
For some sides though, the time off did have an impact as this weekend saw some extraordinary inaccuracy, none more than Rokewood FNC who kicked 10.30 90 in their win over Buninyong in the Central Highlands FNL. In the Horsham and District FNL it was Natimuk United struggling with their kicking boots as they managed 12. 28 100 in their win over Laharum and Berrigan FNC in the Picola and District FNL were also challenged in front of goals managing 11.23 89 to defeat Picola United FNC.
Despite this, some of the major goal kickers didn’t lose too much focus as 11 players kicked double figure bags of goals in matches this weekend, although none of them were more dominant than Maldon FNC’s Rhys Ford who kicked a staggering 22 goals in their big win. This now heads the tally for the most goals kicked by an individual in a game so far in season 2021.
Following close behind for the weekend was Gene Robinson from Millicent FNC in the Western Border FNL, who kicked 13 in their win against East Gambier FNC. This big haul also shot him to top of the overall leaderboard for the top goal kicker in Vic country football with 64, overtaking the previous leader Jed Lamb from White Hills FNC who sits on 58. Five others made it over the 50 goal mark for the season, with Violet Town's Josh Mellington on 57, Anthony Zelencich from Carisbrook FNC on 53 and Jackson Calder from Mornington who was joined by Rhys Ford from Maldon on 50. The race to be the first to crack the 100 mark is well and truly on.
Keep up to date each week with all scores, ladders, stats and more at countryfootyscores.com | Season stats here | Goal kicking lists here