Welcome to 2023

Jason Reddick

From all of the team at VAFA HQ, we hope you all enjoyed a terrific Christmas and New Years break.

We are now 81 days away from the first bounce of the 2023 VAFA season, and we can’t wait for it!

What’s not to love about this time of year, renewed hope for each club. Everyone goes back to square one, and the contest starts again.

Some clubs have already returned to pre-season training, others are in the midst of returning this week complete with fresh club apparel to get through the gruelling 12 weeks coming up.

Announcements of the big name recruits continue to fill the Instagram pages. St Kevins will defend their Premiership title with the addition of Western Bulldogs leader Mitch Wallis, whilst Hampton Rovers landed the first big fish of the year with Hawthorn Premiership player Clinton Young joining the boys of Boss James Reserve.

Player Registration

While we know across all our clubs, right now everyone is putting in their “best pre-season ever” and despite the hot weather everyone is “running on top of the ground”. It’s now the time for Player Registrations to be completed, one less thing for you to worry about as we get closer to games beginning.

Getting it done early takes a level of stress off the club and enables you to spend more time down at your local sports store picking out which boots you’ll be wearing. Get that Opro mouthguard sorted and you’ll be glad you avoided the inevitable discussion from that person who lives at every club by saying “if you don’t sign up, you won’t be playing”.

Umpire Registration

Umpire Registrations are also open for 2023. We proudly provide our umpires with the best environment, coaching and remuneration of any community level in Victoria. All levels, all ages, all genders and all positions are open, and you will be welcomed with open arms. 

There are great opportunities that come with running the boundary, waving the flags or throwing the ball up in the centre of the ground. For those seriously looking at advancing to the elite level, the pathway provided by the VAFA umpiring fraternity is second to none across Victoria. 

Coaching Roles

There’s been a plethora of new coaches signing on to take up Senior, Reserve and Thirds coaching roles, including Donald McDonald joining Old Trinity right on the cusp of Christmas.

Others have taken great joy in seeing the return of club legends put pen to paper, signing on the dotted line to come back within the four walls. Whether it be in a playing sense through the Mecwacare Masters, or the Thirds, or simply in a mentoring role, leading the next generation of stars in the under 19’s, or women’s competitions.

If you’re someone who’s thinking about taking up a coaching role, clubs are always on the lookout to bring more people into the nest, willing to flip the magnets, put out the cones, and blow the chief’s whistle. Check out the list of vacancies still available.

Media Work Opportunities

VAFA Media is on the verge of reaching even greater heights this year. And, with an eye to expand further. There are numerous spots available to grow your skills through reporting on a section and/or joining the broadcast through the VAFA’s Live Stream platforms. You can express interest in joining the VAFA Media team here.

Fixture Releases

Our Football Operations team released five senior sections before the Christmas break. With the remaining sections fixtures and matches to be released in the coming weeks.

• William Buck Premier Men’s
• William Buck Premier Women’s
• Premier B Men’s
• Premier C Men’s
• Division 2 Men’s

Elsternwick Park Update

One of Melbourne’s wettest days in 2022 significantly impacted the Premier Men’s Grand Final weekend, with the William Buck Premier Grand Final moved to Trevor Barker Oval due to the unsatisfactory state of Elsternwick Park.

Following several meetings between the executives of VAFA and Bayside City Council (BCC), we are very pleased that Council have invested in engaging external turf experts to conduct extensive testing and repair works to address the standard of Elsternwick Park. A ten stage  works program commenced on November 28, 2022 and we are currently in Stage 5 of the process, the implementation of replacing turf areas on the ground. BCC is on track to complete the final stage by April 8, 2023, in time for the opening round of the VAFA season. Keep it locked to VAFA.com.au for more information on this later in the week.

The Season Ahead

On the field there’s plenty to look forward to. After a handful of practice games to whet the appetite throughout March. Clubs will be unveiling Premiership flags across the opening rounds of the year.

For the Coburg Lions in the VAFA Women’s Competition, they make their VAFA debut on Sunday, April 16 when they face the oldest women’s club, Melbourne University Women’s. We wish the Burgers well in their inaugural season.

And how exciting for William Buck Premier Women’s to be in a position to have the full complement of a 10-team competition, with 18 rounds. Will anyone catch the might of St Kevin’s?

Manningham Cobras and Yarra Old Grammarians will play as the amalgamated Old Yarra Cobras in Division 2 Men’s. A decision that wasn’t taken lightly in 2022 but is expected to breathe new life as they become one club in 2023.

With a keen eye we will watch how Old Xaverians and Prahran FC navigate the year without having the fortress of Toorak Park to fall back on as a home ground advantage. The ground is being redeveloped and out of play all year.

The battle of Melbourne University will be well worth locking into as Uni Blues and Uni Blacks do battle in the same section for the first time since 2017. Whilst after playing off in an extraordinary Division 2 Men’s Grand Final, the next chapter of West Brunswick and Ivanhoe AFC will be enthralling in Division 1 Men’s.

Off the field there’ll be countless opportunities to be part of history in 2023. The VAFA season launch, home game luncheons, the Big V luncheon midyear, all before the best month of the year, September – where the VAFA finals take centre stage.

We’re now less than 12 weeks away from the Sherrin being kicked around once more. Whoever you’re aligned with, we can’t wait to see you across the season giving it your all and making 2023 even more memorable than 2022.