VAFA seeks Tribunal & Compliance Officer
The VAFA has an exciting and rewarding position available as Tribunal & Compliance Officer and is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic person to fill this critical role. This role calls
On the eve of the 130th VAFA season, every team at this stage is fit, firing and ready to go.
Practice matches are in full-swing and the coaches are throwing magnets around the whiteboard to see if they can find the finishing touches to their “best pre-season ever”.
All clubs have welcomed in recruits over the off-season, chomping at the bit to impress their newest teammates.
For some, they’ll be fortunate to come with AFL, SANFL, WAFL or VFL experience.
If you haven’t been following it too closely this pre-season, here are VAFA.com.au’s headline recruits to watch out for each and every Saturday around the competition.
The Blues have had a significant off-season of recruiting. On-field they’ll sure up the defence with former Bomber Marty Gleeson (97 games) and from Sturt in the SANFL, 2x Premiership defender Matt Crocker (150+ games).
The Blues conceded on average 84 points per game (11 games played) in 2021, which was up from 66 points in the Premiership year of 2019. New coach Guy Martyn will be looking to bring that number back down this season.
Asked about securing someone of Gleeson’s ilk, Martyn told VAFA.com.au, “We sometimes forget that his last official game was an AFL final”
“Apart from his obvious experience, he brings run and dash off the half back line whilst still being able to lock down in defence”
“He is the perfect balance (for us) between offense and defence”
Matt Crocker is expected to use all his football experience and nouse when he steps out on the field in round 1 of the 2022 William Buck Premier season against Old Scotch.
There’s an excitement around more than his “really high work rate and good skills”, also keep an eye and ear out for his golden tonsils according to Martyn, “his voice and direction has been evident from his first training session… It will bring great leadership to our team”.
The William Buck Premier ladder leaders at the time of the 2021 season being cancelled are well-known for bolstering their stocks over the pre-season.
Former Demon Aaron Vandenberg joins the red and black army after 47 games with the reigning AFL premiers Melbourne. Matt Cosgrave, President of Old Xaverians, can’t speak highly enough of the club’s newest recruit when asked by VAFA.com.au, “Aaron is a ripping person, he is a switched-on footballer, he’s had quite a bit of interest from AFL clubs, but has decided the importance of focusing on his career and life after footy. He’s fully in, training and raring to go”.
Jason Holmes has been the #1 ruckman at Old Xaverians, however over the off-season, he has gone home to America. But the club has secured a ready-made replacement for him, Shaun Hampson.
Hampson, 33, is friends with Old Xaverians assistant coach Marcus Baldwin and has committed to playing with the Premier club.
It’s a decision that the former Blue and Tiger has only made in recent weeks. According to Cosgrave, “He’s been down coaching with the AFLW, got a bit of an itch, he might not play every game, he’s in ripping knick, he makes some of them sloppy”.
Caulfield created headlines in 2021, going on a seven game winning streak, including scalps against Old Xaverians, University Blues and Old Brighton.
With the retirements of regular senior starters Will Osborn and Tim Nixon, the Fields will hopefully get to see former GWS Giant Matt Buntine for a few games, when Casey or Carlton have a bye.
After 67 games with GWS, and showing leadership qualities, he’ll add valuable experience in defence at times we get to see him in navy blue and white.
Old Haileybury are said to be over the moon in securing the signature of former Saint Jack Lonie in January this year.
After six years and 87 games with St Kilda, Jack’s phone was buzzing non-stop from the day the announcement was made that he would no longer be continuing with the Saints.
He will join Brede Seccull in the dominant Old Haileybury side that were sitting 9-2 at the point the 2021 season was abandoned.
Old Haileybury coach Daniel Ward told The Leader Newspaper the club was chuffed to land a player of Lonie’s calibre.
“He seems like a ripper fella and he’s 25 years of age. It’s fair to say he’s got some decent footy in front of him” Ward said.
“It’s fantastic for our footy club, just in terms of where we’ve been and what we’re trying to do.”
When you read the name Selwood, you automatically think of grunt work, of toughness, of relentless.
Scott, the older brother of Geelong captain Joel, heads to Ivanhoe Park in 2022 after accepting an invitation to Ivanhoe Park from his Collingwood workmate and Hoers playing coach Ash Close.
In the recruiting coup of the preseason in VAFA Division 2, Scott Selwood will join this year’s competition B&F Wayne Schultz in the midfield.
Selwood said he was looking forward to playing alongside Close and Schultz and will start preseason training at Ivanhoe next week.
“I am nearly 32 and I am moving like an ox, but hopefully that will change,” he said.
“I haven’t finished scratching that itch (to play again).”
Andrew Horne (VFL experience) joins PEGS
Josh Toy (Former Gold Coast Suns) heads to PEGS
Josh Tynan (Former Demon) joins St Kevins
Brendan Goss returns to Old Xaverians
Jeremy Goddard goes from Old Melburnians to University Blues
Will Carrington goes from Old Scotch to University Blues
Sam Crocker goes from Old Xaverians to Old Carey
Archi Manton (Son of Glenn) joins Williamstown CYMS
Daniel Coffield (Brother of Nick) joins Old Melburnians
The 2022 VAFA season kicks-off next Saturday, April 2. View transfers across every VAFA club here.
The VAFA has an exciting and rewarding position available as Tribunal & Compliance Officer and is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic person to fill this critical role. This role calls
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