West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC)
SportAustralian rules football
Founded2017 (2017)
No. of teams12
Most recent
champion(s)
Inverloch-Kongwak (2)
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

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

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

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

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

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

Present Clubs

Club Colours Moniker Home venue Formed First Year Former
league
Premierships Premiership Years
Total Most recent
Bunyip
Bulldogs Bunyip Showgrounds18792017EDFL1120121905, 1909, 1912, 1915, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1945, 1990, 2000, 2012
Cora Lynn
Cobras Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve19132017EDFL520161986, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016
Dalyston
Magpies Dalyston Recreation Reserve18982017AFNL1420151923, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1973, 1989, 2015
Garfield
Stars Garfield Recreation Reserve19352017EDFL820041936, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1983, 1993, 1994, 2004
Inverloch Kongwak
Sea Eagles Inverloch Recreation Reserve 1957
(Merger)
2017AFNL8
2023
1966, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1986, 2017, 2023
Kilcunda Bass
Panthers Bass Recreation Reserve1957
(Merger)
2017AFNL520131957, 1960, 2011, 2012, 2013
Koo Wee Rup
Demons Koo Wee Rup Recreation Reserve c.19002017EDFL519811925, 1931, 1969, 1979, 1981
Korumburra Bena
Giants Korumburra Showgrounds2001
(Merger)
2017AFNL0
Nar Nar Goon
Goons Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve c.19002017EDFL720101933, 1934, 1937, 1965, 1970, 1980, 2010
Phillip Island
Bulldogs Cowes Recreation Reserve 19322017AFNL620191951, 1981, 1990, 2014, 2018, 2019
Tooradin Dalmore
Seagulls Tooradin Recreation Reserve1922
(Merger)
2019SEFNL1120221956, 1958, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1984, 1985, 1997, 2022
Warragul Industrials
Dusties Western Park Reserve, Warragul19482019EDFL519961948, 1960, 1976, 1986, 1996
Bold text indicates premierships won in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition

Premiers

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

Season Structure

Pre-season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
2023 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 103
2022 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 78
2019 Nathan Gardiner Cora Lynn 73
2018 Jason Wells Koo Wee Rup 79
2017 Nathan Langley Cora Lynn 68

2017 Ladder

West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Inverloch Kongwak 143117671066165.76%58
Cora Lynn 144017961249143.80%56
Dalyston 134116671187140.44%54
Nar Nar Goon 108013221196110.54%40
Phillip Island 108013031220106.80%40
Koo Wee Rup108012941265102.29%40
Kilcunda Bass9901243124599.84%36
Garfield51301155144979.71%20
Bunyip3150987172457.25%12
Korumburra-Bena1170801173446.19%4

2017 Finals series

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

West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Phillip Island 14401759905194.36%56
Nar Nar Goon 14401696915185.36%56
Koo Wee Rup 14401764964182.99%56
Inverloch Kongwak 14401577924170.67%56
Cora Lynn 117015251197127.40%44
Garfield108013521200112.67%40
Korumburra-Bena5130941127573.80%20
Bunyip41401027165562.05%16
Kilcunda Bass2160728187738.79%8
Dalyston2160724218133.20%8

2018 Finals series

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

West Gippsland Wins Byes Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Phillip Island 170011966697282.07%70
Cora Lynn 150211779977182.09%62
Tooradin Dalmore 1205116271145142.10%50
Inverloch Kongwak 120601618977165.61%48
Koo Wee Rup 1017015171313115.54%44
Bunyip1107011701016115.16%44
Nar Nar Goon1008012871146112.30%40
Garfield70101945105789.40%30
Korumburra-Bena40140839149656.08%16
Kilcunda Bass30150765183141.78%12
Dalyston21150747166944.76%8
Warragul Industrials20160699163542.75%8

2019 Finals series

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

West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Tooradin-Dalmore17102078779266.75%68
Phillip Island 16201970889221.60%64
Inverloch-Kongwak14401713967177.15%56
Nar Nar Goon13501680964174.27%52
Cora Lynn126015801114141.83%48
Warragul Industrials108014281163122.79%40
Bunyip81001190127893.11%32
Koo Wee Rup71101297156882.72%28
Kilcunda Bass7110970152263.73%28
Dalyston2160818190642.92%8
Garfield1170757189040.05%4
Korumburra-Bena1170705214632.85%4

2022 Finals series

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

West Gippsland Wins Losses Draws For Against % Pts
Inverloch-Kongwak16111795606296.92%66
Phillip Island13321979906218.43%56
Tooradin Dalmore 14401675918182.46%56
Nar Nar Goon13411900844225.12%54
Cora Lynn126015521148135.19%48
Warragul Industrials117014581060137.55%44
Dalyston81001261156380.68%32
Kilcunda Bass71101216153879.06%28
Koo Wee Rup51301174140583.56%20
Garfield4140970167957.77%16
Korumburra-Bena3150684210932.43%12
Bunyip0180546243422.43%0

2023 Finals series

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)

References

  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
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