EDFL, MPNFL, NFNL and VAFA all impacted by wild weather

Local footy clashes across Melbourne were forced to be abandoned as wild weather lashed the state. Here’s what impact it had.

Melbourne’s weather is one opponent local footy coaches probably didn’t account for in the final rounds of the season.

Games were either called off or delayed across several competitions as lightning and rain lashed the state on Saturday afternoon.

In the Essendon District Football League, the Premier Division clash between Greenvale and Aberfeldie was abandoned before it had even started due to the weather.

The competition’s results page lists the game as “washed out”.

Strathmore and Maribyrnong Park’s game was abandoned in the third term with the former leading by 60 points.

The GFL clash between Lara and St Joseph’s was called off late in the third quarter due to lightning around Bisinella Oval.

📷 Anthony Cattanach pic.twitter.com/GqiYBSGr0P

— K rock Football (@KrockFootball) August 13, 2022

Pascoe Vale was leading by two goals against Avondale Heights when its game was called off at half-time.

Three games in Division 1 were called off including Airport West’s game against Hillside.

The Eagles were leading by 57 points when play was called off at the 30-minute mark of the second quarter.

“We came off at quarter-time for 30 minutes as well,” Airport West coach Trent Rogers said.

“The conditions for the reserves were spot on. I felt a bit of a cool breeze coming so I knew it would get wet at some stage.

“It’s not something you plan for.”

Three of the four Division 2 matches were also severely impacted.

In the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league, lightning at Tyabb forced the Yabbies’ Division 2 game against Langwarrin to be abandoned before it started.

The game was initially delayed for 30 minutes as an electrical storm rattled through the area, but umpires called it off it at 2.30pm when another bolt of lightning cracked over the ground.

The game was deemed a draw, the two points lifting Tyabb off the bottom of the ladder and allowing the Yabbies to avoid the wooden spoon.

Hail at the footy. Lightning stopped play for a bit. pic.twitter.com/uAp3oF3MNz

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At Mt Eliza, lightning suspended play late in the first quarter in the game between Mt Eliza and Frankston YCW.

Players sat in the rooms for 30 minutes before the game resumed.

“There was hail, rain and lightning,” Frankston YCW coach Paul Goonan said.

“The ground was shaking with the thunder.

“It was touch and go there for a bit if we were going to play.”

At nearby Baxter, the Division 1 game between Frankston Bombers and Edi-Asp was delayed due to lightning, but it went ahead.

The VAFA game at Mt Eliza between Old Peninsula and Old Camberwell Grammarians was abandoned because ice covered the oval at Peninsula Grammar.

Strangely, many other MPNFL games a suburb or two away were unaffected by the nasty weather. Games at Seaford and Chelsea didn’t get a drop of rain.

Five games were called off in Northern Football League.

Two Division 1 matches were called off at half-time, including the potentially finals-shaping North Heidelberg v Montmorency clash.

The match was halted at half-time as rain poured down and the four points awarded to the Bulldogs who were leading by five points at the time.

Footage from the game shows Shelley Reserve under water after the sudden deluge.

Heidelberg‘s match against Macleod was also stopped at half-time with the Tigers leading comfortably by 55 points.

Elsewhere, Diamond Creek‘s Division 2 match against Fitzroy Stars at Coventry Oval was called off early in the third quarter as hail pelted down across the northern suburbs.

The Creekers were leading by 78 points at the time.

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Lower Plenty was awarded a critical four points to secure the double chance after its clash against Panton Hill at Montmorency Park was stopped at half-time.

The Bears‘ 37-point win secures third spot and a qualifying final against Banyule next weekend, while Diamond Creek will play the elimination final against Thomastown.

Thomastown‘s season-defining win over St Mary’s at Whatmough Park was stopped briefly in the third quarter but allowed to resume.

In Division 3, Kilmore‘s match against Reservoir at Clancy Reserve was called off in the third quarter with the Blues leading by 108 points.