2019 Division 1 Preview

Welcome to arguably the most even Division of 2019, where another 18 weeks of home & away triumph, defeat & clichés await.

KEW

The return of Premiership Coach Ian Aitken announced in September last year showed that the Bears mean business for the upcoming season. After a 6-12 campaign in 2018, an immediate upward spike in results may not happen in 2019, but the platform to return to Premier C may be laid this year.

OAKLEIGH

Oakleigh come into 2019 on the back of Preliminary Final defeat and should be confident that with now settling into a new facility that they should be one of the contenders for the Division 1 season. The Krushers are certainly more than one-trick pony under the tutelage of Chris Moore, however, with a bloke like Aaron Cloke in your stable, giddy-up at W.A Scammell Reserve.

OLD PARADIANS

Grand Finalists in 2018 in Division 2, the lads from Garvey Oval take on one of the hardest challenges in VAFA Football, the promotion without the premiership. Bringing in Phil Plunkett to lead the charges, along with a strongly run off-field department, Old Paradians will look to use the same formula that took them to 15 wins to reach their potential in this highly competitive division.

PENINSULA OB

One of the hardest trips in the VAFA when the ship is sailing, the Pirates in their 40th season boast a new attitude and will look to rebound after consecutive drops in 2017 & 2018. Looking at some of the returning faces (Fisher, Grigg et al.) and new names, the trip down Nepean Highway could give some opposition some wobbly legs on deck.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION

The Two Blues stormed home winning four of their last five in 2018 to finish a game outside finals. With a class on ball brigade, they have progressed from Division 2 Premiers in 2017 to now ready to progress to higher levels in Division 1. Ashley Mills is taking the reigns for a seventh consecutive season showcasing solidity at Toorak Park.

PRESTON BULLANTS

The Bullants lay claim to a VAFA Coach Of The Year in George Wakim, reigning Best & Fairest Winner Sean Calcedo, 2017 Pepper Medalist Dean Calcedo, and a culture of success from winning premierships since their entry into the VAFA. Should improve on a 9-9 2018 season.

ST MARY’S SALESIAN

The changes off-field show the Saints are looking to bounce back from a tough year in Premier C with new coach Brett Gatehouse taking the helm. A young list, with a lot of X-Factor, Ferndale Park is a fortress when St Mary’s have it on their terms.

THERRY PENOLA

Playing one of the most epic Semi Finals in recent memory last season, the Lions left 2018 with many questions unanswered given their fire power. A new coach in Damian Peverill, which comes with continued professionalism left by Dean Rioli, the Lions should be in the mix for 2019 if they keep their core list together.

UHS-VU

UHS-VU enter Division 1 for the first time in 40 years, winning back to back premierships in 2017 & 2018, while also boasting a record of only having lost a solitary match in 2 years at the Brens Oval. New into the competition creates unknowns, but one thing is for sure, the Vultures will not take a backward step coming forwards.

WEST BRUNSWICK

While renowned coach Angus Hamilton is no longer in the drivers seat, highly credentialled Bill Irving takes control as playing-coach to lift the Westies into higher throngs from their 7th placed 2018 finish. The building blocks for their first premiership since 2015 may be underway at Ransford Oval.