Sport
7 January, 2026
PART 2: The sports stories of 2025
A look at selected highlights from the Loddon Herald between July and December
JULY
Bridgewater hands Marong its biggest defeat in three years with 29-point win, with the Panthers also losing to Serp a week later. Mitiamo and Wedderburn continue their unbeaten A Grade netball seasons. Loddon Valley league emerges as possible lifeline for homeless Maryborough FNC. More than 100 players compete in Boort’s annual golf tournament as Wedderburn’s tournament players battle through 40mm deluge. Maiden Gully’s football finals chances at an end after loss to Marong. Wedderburn holds Donald scoreless in 121-point win in the wet. Mitiamo plays a special heritage round.
AUGUST
Andrew Kane wins 12th Kara Kara title and later picks up Victorian sandscrapes title played at Charlton. Gavin James plays 300th game with Pyramid Hill. Mellington reprimanded again for rough play. Reigning Harding medallist Justin Laird cops two weeks for striking and misses finals. Sharp reaches 100 goals against Mitiamo. Serp out of the finals after loss to Inglewood; Mellington stranded on 99 goals. Macorna requests transfer to Loddon Valley. Wedderburn’s Kelsey Palpratt and Mitiamo’s Amelia Ludeman take out netball B&Fs. Sharp wins Harding Medal. straight sets.
SEPTEMBER
Marong into decider after win over Inglewood. Sharp named as coach and Woodies’ Bregon Cotchett is captain of LVFNL Team of the Year. Wedderburn netballers into grand final after one-goal win against Boort. Marong wins fourth senior footy flag in a row with 32-point win over Bridgey. Panthers also win reserves, with Maiden Gully premiers in U-18s. Mitiamo wins A Grade netball. Boort loses prelim final in chaotic finish. Redbacks knocked out of women’s hockey finals. Wedderburn wins A Grade and B Grade netball titles in unbeaten seasons. Injured Leach to switch from cricket to bowls.
OCTOBER
Boort’s Carly Isaac wins Wycheproof’s Queen of the Mountain for third year. Marong withdraws from Marong and District Tennis Association. Turmoil at Inglewood with coach Fergus Payne at odds with committee and declining 2026 offer. He signs on to lead new club Macorna and takes Seb Erharter and Josh Whittle with him. Jackson Hood to coach at Inglewood, with 1987 Carlton premiership player Ian Aitken as his senior assistant. Mellington to play on with Serp. Newbridge to field U18s football team in 2026. Loddon Valley’s Rothacker family added to Harness Racing Hall of Fame.
NOVEMBER
Loddon Valley aims to start U14 football in 2026. Wedderburn cops a nightmare draw in the North Central league, facing premiers Calder United three times, twice away from home. LVFNL blindsided by AFL Victoria decision to hand back management to local clubs. Inglewood changes its committee structure to spread the load for volunteers. Boort Yando ends the month unbeaten in senior and junior cricket. Inglewood gets a standalone King’s Birthday clash with Bears Lagoon Serpentine as the centrepiece of its 150th anniversary.
DECEMBER
Jon Starr and Wade Roberts share ownership of rising star galloper You’re Two Vain. Mark ‘Macca’ Lamprell takes 4-12 against Bridgewater in his first match in 13 years. Leach makes a one-off return to cricket and belts 104, helping Kingower defeat Boort Yando. LVFNL’s ANZAC Round to be played on Sunday in 2026 as fixture is revealed. New club Macorna to debut at Maiden Gully. The Magpies end the pre-Christmas period on top of the overall and T20 cricket ladders. Wedderburn Band beats Kingower for its first junior win for the season. Bridgewater Bowling Club celebrates its 90th anniversary.