VAFA Editorial: Rep Footy sees Big V come alive.

By Phil De Young – Vice-President of the VAFA

For those who escaped the Melbourne winter for warmer climes over the two week break, you can be assured that the wind, rain and sub-ten degree temperatures were all alive and well in Hobart and Bendigo for our representative games. And whilst success on the field proved evasive at both venues, the players who wore the Big V did so with pride and distinction in all games.

Our U23 squad played four carnival matches in Hobart: three abbreviated games at North Hobart Oval and a full game at Blundstone Arena. In the three shortened games we played Tasmania on Thursday, followed by Western Australia and South Australia on Friday. In slippery conditions we accounted for Tasmania, but were outplayed by both Western Australia and South Australia, which relegated us to the Saturday play-off for third against our hosts. Whilst the conditions and shorter format did not suit our running game (in particular we’d have loved a crack at Western Australia in a full-length contest on a bigger, drier ground) we had to concede that on the day the two best sides made it through to the final. In our play-off for third place at Blundstone we relished the conditions and the longer format, running out winners by 101 points. And in the main game, South Australia remained undefeated in the carnival with a comfortable victory over Western Australia.

The U23 side was well coached by Andrew Hayes and his team and well led by Simon Caven (St Bernard’s) and Gabe Hamilton (Old Trinity). We congratulate five of the squad for making the All-Australian team: Simon Caven, Gabe Hamilton, Kelvin Williams (St Kevin’s), Tom Quinn (University Blues) and Josh Cowan (Mazenod). Josh Cowan deservedly won the Spirit of the Big V award. And congratulations must go to Tom Windlow, who was named the All-Australian umpire at the carnival.

If we thought it was cold in Hobart, we were in for a rude awakening when we took three sides up to Bendigo last Saturday to play AFL Vic Country teams. The rain started falling in the U19 game at 10.15 and didn’t really relent until the conclusion of the open game at 6.30, which finished under a dark and miserable sky.

Unfortunately, in all three games the VAFA was outplayed by well-structured and talented Vic Country outfits.

In the U19 game, David Gately and his coaching team and the on-field leaders (Michael Caven (St Bernard’s), Daniel Maloney (Parkdale) and James Landman (Ormond) did well to keep the spirits and endeavour of the players up and the 49 point deficit at game’s end was not a true reflection of the difference between the two sides. Certainly, the VAFA attack on the ball was excellent for all four quarters. The Spirit of the Big V went to Michael Caven.

In the Premier B to Division 4 match against the second Vic Country team, the final score-line (a 29 point win to Vic Country) once again did not reflect the intensity of the game, especially around the seemingly never-ending stoppages. It was a credit to Simon Williams and his coaching team that they managed to select a team that contained players from 15 clubs, with Anthony Lynch (St Kevin’s) and Rory Angiolella (Fitzroy) as its leaders. Anthony Lynch was a worthy Spirit of the Big V recipient.

And in the main game, Vic Country was again too strong, winning by 62 points after kicking away in the third quarter. The Vic Country full-forward kicked seven goals in an outstanding display of wet-weather football and ex-AFL player, Dean Polo, was named as the opposition’s best player. Led by Matt Handley (Old Xavs), Jack Bull (Old Scotch) and Tom Caven (St Bernard’s) the VAFA players toiled relentlessly under the direction of Cam Roberts and his team and the Spirit of the Big V was there for all to see. Gabe Hamilton capped off a wonderful two weeks by winning the Spirit of the Big V award.

Mention must also be made of the three VAFA representative field umpires at Bendigo, Matt Clinton, Peter Bailes and Merv Monty; along with the boundary umpires, Liam Kelliher, Hamish McCartney, Damian Laing, Jack Punshon, Sam Beer, and Matthew Watkinson; and the goal umpires, Michael Driver, Clayton Evans and Patrick Dwyer.

Special thanks to the many support staff who gave of their time to the representative program, including team managers, trainers, water-carriers and time-keepers. And thanks also to the numerous parents, partners and friends who braved the elements in Hobart and Bendigo to support our players.

Match Reports for the Big V games can be found here:

Big V v AFLVC Match Reports

Simon Caven’s Captain’s Report for the Under 23 Carnival can be found here:

Simon Caven’s Captain’s Carnival Report