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West Gippsland Football Netball Competition

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West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC)
SportAustralian rules football
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
No. of teams12
Most recent
champion(s)		 Nar Nar Goon (1)
Most titles Inverloch-Kongwak (2)
Phillip Island (2)
Official websiteWGFNC Official Website

The West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) is an Australian rules football and netball league in the West Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The competition comprises four grades of football (seniors, reserves, under-18 and under-16) and six grades of netball (A-grade, B-grade, C-grade, 17-&-Under, 15-&-Under and 13-&-Under).

The competition is not to be confused with the former West Gippsland Football League which merged with the Gippsland Latrobe Football League at the end of 2001 to form the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League.

History

[edit]

A Senior Leagues Review that commenced at the beginning of 2015, conducted by AFL Gippsland to address issues of competitive imbalance and club sustainability, brought major change to structure of the lower Gippsland area.[1]

The West Gippsland Football Netball Competition in its present incarnation began in 2017 as part of the AFL Gippsland Senior Football Leagues Review of 2015–16. Five teams from the Ellinbank & District Football League became founding members - Cora Lynn, Nar Nar Goon, Koo Wee Rup, Bunyip and Garfield - while five teams crossed over from the Alberton Football League - Phillip Island, Kilcunda Bass, Dalyston, Inverloch Kongwak and Korumburra-Bena.[2]

2017 season

[edit]

The first ever WGFNC match was played as a stand-alone night game between Cora Lynn and Inverloch-Kongwak. Both teams would enjoy a successful season finishing 2nd and 1st on the ladder respectively. They wouldn't end up meeting again until they played each other in the semi-finals.

The inaugural WGFNC grand final was again contested between Inverloch-Kongwak and Cora Lynn at Wonthaggi recreation reserve. Both teams had competed in grand finals the year before. Inverloch-Kongwak were coming off a 17-point defeat at the hands of Fish Creek in the Alberton Football League the year before, whilst Cora Lynn were on a streak of 3 successive premierships.

Inverloch-Kongwak dominated the match, defeating Cora Lynn by a massive 95-points. The victory was Inverloch-Kongwak's seventh senior premiership, their first since 1986.

2018 season

[edit]

Twelve months later, Phillip Island defeated Koo Wee Rup by a massive 99-points in what was one of the most one-sided grand finals in country football history. Koo Wee Rup who had finished in third position on the ladder failed to kick a single goal, instead score scoring just 3-points for the entire match. The win marked Phillip Island's fifth senior premiership, having won one four years prior in the Alberton Football League.

In the 2018 AFL Gippsland League Review, saw Tooradin Dalmore and Warragul Industrials approved to relocate into the West Gippsland League from the 2019 season, expanding the competition to twelve clubs.[3]

2019 season

[edit]

For the 2019 season the league had expanded with Tooradin-Dalmore and Warragul Industrials joining the WGFNC in 2019. Phillips Island and Cora Lynn would both start the season very well, remaining undefeated for the first eight rounds. This run looked to be under threat for one of the teams when they were scheduled to play each other in round 9 at the Cowes recreation reserve. Unexpectedly, both teams managed to retain their undefeated record with the match concluding in a thrilling drawn result. Onlookers agreed that this was the most fitting result, with many witnesses to the game describing it as one of the best games of country football they had ever seen.

Phillip Island would go on to maintain their undefeated record for the rest of the home & away season whilst Cora Lynn would finish second on the ladder having lost only two.

The two clubs would only meet again in the grand final. A cloudy day at the Garfield recreation reserve, would see Phillip Island get the early upper hand before Cora Lynn kick a few goals to again make it a close contest.[4]

In another close affair between the two clubs, Phillip Island would their second consecutive premiership, this time by only 4-points in the closest WGFNC grand final yet. It was a day for close games with the reserve grade seeing Tooradin-Dalmore defeating Koo Wee Rup with a goal after the siren.[5]

2020 season cancellation

[edit]

The COVID-19 pandemic meant that 2020 season was cancelled due to government restrictions for sport and recreation. Efforts were made to run a modified junior competition, however further restrictions meant that these plans had to be abandoned, with a focus to return to normal competition in 2021.[6]

Clubs

[edit]

Current Clubs

[edit]
Club Colours Moniker Home venue Former
league 		Formed Years in WGFNL Senior Premierships
Total Years
Cora Lynn
Cobras Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve, Cora Lynn EDFL 1913 2017 5 1986, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016
Dalyston
Magpies Dalyston Recreation Reserve, Dalyston AFNL 1898 2017 14 1923, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1973, 1989, 2015
Garfield
Stars Garfield Recreation Reserve, Garfield EDFL 1935 2017 10 1936, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1983, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2011, 2013
Inverloch Kongwak
Sea Eagles Inverloch Recreation Reserve, Inverloch AFNL 1957
(Merger)		 2017 8 1966, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1986, 2017, 2023
Kilcunda Bass
Panthers Bass Recreation Reserve, Bass AFNL 1957
(Merger)		 2017 5 1957, 1960, 2011, 2012, 2013
Koo Wee Rup
Demons Koo Wee Rup Recreation Reserve, Koo Wee Rup EDFL c.1900 2017 5 1925, 1931, 1969, 1979, 1981
Korumburra Bena
Giants Korumburra Showgrounds, Korumburra AFNL 2001
(Merger)		 2017 0 —
Nar Nar Goon
Goons Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve, Nar Nar Goon EDFL c.1900 2017 8 1933, 1934, 1937, 1965, 1970, 1980, 2010, 2024
Phillip Island
Bulldogs Cowes Recreation Reserve, Cowes AFNL 1932 2017 6 1951, 1981, 1990, 2014, 2018, 2019
Tooradin Dalmore
Seagulls Tooradin Recreation Reserve, Tooradin SEFNL 1922
(Merger)		 2019 11 1956, 1958, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1984, 1985, 1997, 2022
Warragul Industrials
Dusties Western Park Reserve, Warragul EDFL 1948 2019 5 1948, 1960, 1976, 1986, 1996
Bold text indicates premierships won in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition

Former Clubs

[edit]
Club Colours Moniker Home venue Former
league 		Formed Years in WGFNL WGFNC Senior Premierships Fate
Total Years
Bunyip
Bulldogs Bunyip Showgrounds, Bunyip EDFL 1879 2017-2024 0 — Returned to Ellinbank & District FNL in 2025

Premiers

[edit]
Year Seniors Reserves Thirds Fourths
West Gippsland Football Netball Competition
2017 Inverloch-Kongwak 15.18.162 Cora Lynn 4.7.31 Koo Wee Rup 6.3.39 Phillip Island 3.7.25 Garfield 3.5.23 Cora Lynn 3.1.19 Bunyip 2.9.21 Phillip Island 3.0.18
2018 Phillip Island 14.18.102 Koo Wee Rup 0.3.3 Koo Wee Rup 8.3.51 Inverloch-Kongwak 2.1.13 Phillip Island 3.8.26 Cora Lynn 1.6.12 Koo Wee Rup 4.3.27 Inverloch-Kongwak 2.5.17
2019 Phillip Island 9.11.65 Cora Lynn 9.7.61 Tooradin-Dalmore 4.7.31 Koo Wee Rup 4.3.27 Phillip Island 4.3.27 Inverloch-Kongwak 2.6.18 Phillip Island 4.4.28 Nar Nar Goon 2.3.15
2022 Tooradin-Dalmore 13.10.88 Phillip Island 6.6.42 Tooradin-Dalmore 14.4.88 Koo Wee Rup 6.4.40 Inverloch-Kongwak 4.7.31 Garfield 3.2.20 Phillip Island 7.8.50 Inverloch-Kongwak 3.0.18
2023 Inverloch-Kongwak 10.15.75 Phillip Island 6.4.40 Inverloch-Kongwak 9.8.62 Tooradin-Dalmore 1.9.15 Inverloch-Kongwak 5.6.36 Phillip Island 1.7.13 Phillip Island 8.6.54 Warragul Industrials 4.3.27
2024 Nar Nar Goon 14.3.87 Phillip Island 10.3.63 Nar Nar Goon 7.6.42 Tooradin-Dalmore 6.6.42 Phillip Island 3.6.24 Warragul Industrials 2.5.17 Warragul Industrials 4.8.32 Phillip Island 3.1.19

Season Structure

[edit]

Pre-season

[edit]

The West Gippsland Football Netball Competition like most country leagues does not have a formal Pre-season competition. As part of their Pre-season preparation clubs will often schedule between one and two practice matches with clubs from other leagues prior to the season beginning. These matches could take on different structures and were primarily conducted on a non-official basis with limited match officials and scores not being recorded.

Premiership season

[edit]

The West Gippsland home-and-away season lasts for 18 rounds, starting in mid April and ending in mid August. As of the 2017 season, each team plays 18 matches. Teams receive four premiership points for a win and two premiership points for a draw. Ladder finishing positions are based on the number of premiership points won, and "percentage" (calculated as the ratio of points scored to points conceded throughout the season) is used as a tie-breaker when teams finish with equal premiership points.

Finals series

[edit]

Since its inception until 2017 the West Gippsland finals have consisted of a 'Top-5' finals system.

The top five teams at the end of the West Gippsland home & away season compete in a four-week finals series throughout August, culminating in a grand final to determine the premiers. The finals series is played under the 'Top-5' Page playoff system, and the grand final is played on the afternoon of the last Saturday in August or the first Saturday of September.

The winning team receives a silver premiership cup, a premiership flag – a new one of each is manufactured each year. The flag has been presented since the league began and is traditionally unfurled at the team's first home game of the following season. Additionally, each player in the grand final-winning team receives a premiership medallion.

In 2020 it was decided that the finals system would expand to a 'Top-6'.

2019 Finals series

[edit]
Week OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four
Second Semi-Final at BassGrand Final at Garfield
1 Phillip Island7.16 (58) Phillip Island9.11 (65)
First Semi-Final at Koo Wee Rup Tooradin-Dalmore5.4 (34)Preliminary Final at Koo Wee Rup Cora Lynn9.7 (61)
2 Cora Lynn8.6 (54) Tooradin-Dalmore7.9 (51)
3 Tooradin-Dalmore13.18 (96)First Semi-Final at Korumburra Cora Lynn15.11 (101)
Cora Lynn17.19 (121)
Second Elimination Final at Cora Lynn Koo Wee Rup9.7 (61)
4 Inverloch-Kongwak5.17 (47)
5 Koo Wee Rup11.10 (76)

Awards

[edit]

The following major individual awards and accolades are presented each season:

  • Best & fairest award — to the fairest and best player in the league, voted by the umpires
  • Leading goal kicker award — for the player who scores the most goals during the home & away season
  • AFL Victoria Country Medal — the best player on the ground in the Grand Final
  • Team of the year — a squad of 24 players deemed the best in their positions
  • Most disciplined club award — for the club who receives the most discipline points, voted by the umpires

Team of the Year

[edit]
2019 WGFNC Team of the Year[7]
B: Mark Griffin (Phillip Island) Mitchell Wallace (Cora Lynn) Lewis Rankin (Inverloch-Kongwak)
HB: Nathan Muratore (Koo Wee Rup) Jason Tomada (Phillip Island) Luke Walker (Koo Wee Rup)
C: Jaymie Youle (Phillip Island) Trent Armour (Nar Nar Goon) Tanner Stanton (Garfield)
HF: Nathan Langley (Cora Lynn) Sam Gibbins (Inverloch-Kongwak) Julian Suarez (Tooradin-Dalmore)
F: Andrew Dean (Tooradin-Dalmore) Nathan Gardiner (Cora Lynn) Jason Wells (Koo Wee Rup)
Foll: Cameron Pedersen (Phillip Island) Vice-Captain Brendan Kimber (Phillip Island) Captain Tyson Bale (Warragul Industrials)
Int: Zak Vernon (Phillip Island) Joel Gibson (Koo Wee Rup) Nathan Voss (Koo Wee Rup)
Kris Sabbatucci (Tooradin-Dalmore) Chris Johnson (Cora Lynn) Jeb McLeod (Bunyip)
Coach: Beau Vernon (Phillip Island)

Award Winners

[edit]
Best & Fairest[8]
Year Winner Club Votes
2023 Dale Gawley Kilcunda Bass 28
2022 Brent Macaffer Tooradin-Dalmore 25
2019 Cameron Pedersen Phillip Island 38
2018 Brendan Kimber Phillip Island 24
2017 Andrew Soumilas Inverloch-Kongwak 31
Leading Goal Kicker[9]
Year Winner Club Goals
2024 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 101
2023 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 103
2022 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 78
2021 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 50
2019 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 73
2018 Jason Wells Koo Wee Rup 79
2017 Nathan Langley Cora Lynn 68

2017 Ladder

[edit]
West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Inverloch Kongwak 14 3 1 1767 1066 165.76% 58
Cora Lynn 14 4 0 1796 1249 143.80% 56
Dalyston 13 4 1 1667 1187 140.44% 54
Nar Nar Goon 10 8 0 1322 1196 110.54% 40
Phillip Island 10 8 0 1303 1220 106.80% 40
Koo Wee Rup 10 8 0 1294 1265 102.29% 40
Kilcunda Bass 9 9 0 1243 1245 99.84% 36
Garfield 5 13 0 1155 1449 79.71% 20
Bunyip 3 15 0 987 1724 57.25% 12
Korumburra-Bena 1 17 0 801 1734 46.19% 4

2017 Finals series

[edit]
Week OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four
Second Semi-Final at Nar Nar GoonGrand Final at Wonthaggi
1 Inverloch-Kongwak12.23 (95) Inverloch-Kongwak18.18 (126)
Qualifying Final at Koo Wee Rup Cora Lynn13.11 (89)Preliminary Final at Garfield Cora Lynn4.7 (31)
2 Cora Lynn19.10 (124) Cora Lynn18.8 (116)
3 Dalyston10.9 (69)First Semi-Final at Inverloch Phillip Island4.3 (27)
Dalyston9.9 (63)
Elimination Final at Inverloch Phillip Island13.9 (87)
4 Nar Nar Goon2.9 (21)
5 Phillip Island14.10 (94)

2018 Ladder

[edit]
West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Phillip Island 14 4 0 1759 905 194.36% 56
Nar Nar Goon 14 4 0 1696 915 185.36% 56
Koo Wee Rup 14 4 0 1764 964 182.99% 56
Inverloch Kongwak 14 4 0 1577 924 170.67% 56
Cora Lynn 11 7 0 1525 1197 127.40% 44
Garfield 10 8 0 1352 1200 112.67% 40
Korumburra-Bena 5 13 0 941 1275 73.80% 20
Bunyip 4 14 0 1027 1655 62.05% 16
Kilcunda Bass 2 16 0 728 1877 38.79% 8
Dalyston 2 16 0 724 2181 33.20% 8

2018 Finals series

[edit]
Week OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four
Second Semi-Final at Cora LynnGrand Final at Garfield
1 Phillip Island14.14 (98) Phillip Island14.18 (102)
Qualifying Final at Koo Wee Rup Koo Wee Rup5.8 (38)Preliminary Final at Garfield Koo Wee Rup0.3 (3)
2 Nar Nar Goon10.6 (46) Koo Wee Rup10.9 (69)
3 Koo Wee Rup17.11 (113)First Semi-Final at Koo Wee Rup Nar Nar Goon7.17 (59)
Nar Nar Goon16.13 (109)
Elimination Final at Inverloch Cora Lynn6.14 (50)
4 Inverloch-Kongwak4.14 (38)
5 Cora Lynn6.9 (45)

2019 Ladder

[edit]
West Gippsland Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Phillip Island 17 0 0 1 1966 697 282.07% 70
Cora Lynn 15 0 2 1 1779 977 182.09% 62
Tooradin Dalmore 12 0 5 1 1627 1145 142.10% 50
Inverloch Kongwak 12 0 6 0 1618 977 165.61% 48
Koo Wee Rup 10 1 7 0 1517 1313 115.54% 44
Bunyip 11 0 7 0 1170 1016 115.16% 44
Nar Nar Goon 10 0 8 0 1287 1146 112.30% 40
Garfield 7 0 10 1 945 1057 89.40% 30
Korumburra-Bena 4 0 14 0 839 1496 56.08% 16
Kilcunda Bass 3 0 15 0 765 1831 41.78% 12
Dalyston 2 1 15 0 747 1669 44.76% 8
Warragul Industrials 2 0 16 0 699 1635 42.75% 8

2019 Finals series

[edit]
Week OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four
Second Semi-Final at BassGrand Final at Garfield
1 Phillip Island7.16 (58) Phillip Island9.11 (65)
First Semi-Final at Koo Wee Rup Tooradin-Dalmore5.4 (34)Preliminary Final at Koo Wee Rup Cora Lynn9.7 (61)
2 Cora Lynn8.6 (54) Tooradin-Dalmore7.9 (51)
3 Tooradin-Dalmore13.18 (96)First Semi-Final at Korumburra Cora Lynn15.11 (101)
Cora Lynn17.19 (121)
Second Elimination Final at Cora Lynn Koo Wee Rup9.7 (61)
4 Inverloch-Kongwak5.17 (47)
5 Koo Wee Rup11.10 (76)

2022 Ladder

[edit]
West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Tooradin-Dalmore 17 1 0 2078 779 266.75% 68
Phillip Island 16 2 0 1970 889 221.60% 64
Inverloch-Kongwak 14 4 0 1713 967 177.15% 56
Nar Nar Goon 13 5 0 1680 964 174.27% 52
Cora Lynn 12 6 0 1580 1114 141.83% 48
Warragul Industrials 10 8 0 1428 1163 122.79% 40
Bunyip 8 10 0 1190 1278 93.11% 32
Koo Wee Rup 7 11 0 1297 1568 82.72% 28
Kilcunda Bass 7 11 0 970 1522 63.73% 28
Dalyston 2 16 0 818 1906 42.92% 8
Garfield 1 17 0 757 1890 40.05% 4
Korumburra-Bena 1 17 0 705 2146 32.85% 4

2022 Finals series

[edit]
Week OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four
Second Semi-Final at InverlochGrand Final at Garfield
1 Tooradin-Dalmore13.4 (82) Tooradin-Dalmore13.10 (88)
2 Phillip Island6.9 (45)Preliminary Final at Dalyston Phillip Island6.6 (42)
First Elimination Final at Bass
Phillip Island7.12 (54)
3 Inverloch-Kongwak6.11 (47)
First Semi-Final at Cora Lynn Warragul Industrials7.10 (52)
6 Warragul Industrials9.7 (61)
Warragul Industrials7.4 (46)
Second Elimination Final at Garfield
Cora Lynn4.7 (31)
4 Nar Nar Goon7.13 (55)
5 Cora Lynn11.6 (72)

2023 Ladder

[edit]
West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Inverloch-Kongwak 16 1 1 1795 606 296.92% 66
Phillip Island 13 3 2 1979 906 218.43% 56
Tooradin Dalmore 14 4 0 1675 918 182.46% 56
Nar Nar Goon 13 4 1 1900 844 225.12% 54
Cora Lynn 12 6 0 1552 1148 135.19% 48
Warragul Industrials 11 7 0 1458 1060 137.55% 44
Dalyston 8 10 0 1261 1563 80.68% 32
Kilcunda Bass 7 11 0 1216 1538 79.06% 28
Koo Wee Rup 5 13 0 1174 1405 83.56% 20
Garfield 4 14 0 970 1679 57.77% 16
Korumburra-Bena 3 15 0 684 2109 32.43% 12
Bunyip 0 18 0 546 2434 22.43% 0

2023 Finals series

[edit]
Week OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four
Second Semi-Final at Nar Nar GoonGrand Final at Koo Wee Rup
1 Inverloch-Kongwak12.9 (81) Inverloch-Kongwak10.15 (75)
2 Phillip Island12.8 (80)Preliminary Final at Dalyston Phillip Island6.4 (40)
First Elimination Final at Inverloch
Phillip Island6.8 (44)
3 Tooradin-Dalmore12.10 (82)
First Semi-Final at Bass Nar Nar Goon6.7 (43)
6 Warragul Industrials15.6 (96)
Nar Nar Goon10.12 (72)
Second Elimination Final at Warragul
Warragul Industrials5.7 (37)
4 Nar Nar Goon12.9 (81)
5 Cora Lynn6.7 (43)

2024 Ladder

[edit]
West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Cora Lynn 15 2 1 1918 822 233.33% 62
Phillip Island 15 2 1 1936 964 200.83% 62
Nar Nar Goon 15 3 0 1888 713 264.80% 60
Inverloch-Kongwak 14 4 0 1758 807 217.84% 56
Tooradin-Dalmore 13 5 0 1806 835 216.29% 52
Kilcunda Bass 10 8 0 1281 1255 102.07% 40
Warragul Industrials 7 11 0 1296 1437 90.19% 28
Koo Wee Rup 7 11 0 1154 1352 85.36% 28
Dalyston 4 14 0 1041 1646 63.24% 16
Garfield 4 14 0 633 1634 38.74% 16
Korumburra-Bena 3 15 0 800 1773 45.12% 12
Bunyip 0 18 0 288 2561 11.25% 0

2024 Finals series

[edit]
Week OneWeek TwoWeek ThreeWeek Four
Second Semi-Final at Nar Nar GoonGrand Final at Garfield
1 Cora Lynn5.11 (41) Phillip Island10.3 (63)
2 Phillip Island7.11 (53)Preliminary Final at Dalyston Nar Nar Goon14.3 (87)
First Elimination Final at Inverloch
Cora Lynn10.7 (67)
3 Nar Nar Goon10.12 (72)
First Semi-Final at Cora Lynn Nar Nar Goon13.11 (89)
6 Kilcunda Bass6.9 (45)
Nar Nar Goon12.18 (90)
Second Elimination Final at Bass
Inverloch-Kongwak8.10 (58)
4 Inverloch-Kongwak10.11 (71)
5 Tooradin-Dalmore10.6 (66)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Weekly Times: West Gippsland competition to be formed under review
  2. ^ "West Gippsland competition launched". The Star. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Dusties launch into pre season". 20 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  4. ^ West Gippsland FNC grand final preview
  5. ^ Pakenham Gazette: A history making day
  6. ^ Sentinel Times: No junior action for west gippsland
  7. ^ WGFNC team of the year
  8. ^ WGFNC best & fairest award winners
  9. ^ WGFNC leading goal kickers
[edit]


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