Leading from the Front in 2023

In the lead up to Round 1, VAFA Media has run its eyes over the William Buck Premier Men’s leadership groups that will set the example for their teammates in 2023.

The reigning premiers are going into 2023 with the motto ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. The club is led brilliantly off the field by former captain, now coach, Anthony Lynch.

The club is following its leadership group process and will make their leadership group announcement in the coming days. Stay tuned.

Harry Hill will be the captain for the seventh season in a row. Hill leads the club with distinction and will equal club legend Jon Perret as the longest serving skipper at the end of the 2023 season. 

Tom Fisher and Michael Karayannis are returning as vice-captains.

The leadership group has been extended with an exciting injection of youth. Hamish Dick and Tom Yorgey were announced as vice-captains, making it a group of four in 2023. 

Sam Hibbins will captain the club again in 2023, now in his fourth year as captain. This upcoming season will see Hibbins be the sole skipper of the club after Dave Mirra made the decision to step down as co-captain.

Mirra remains part of the clubs leadership group along with midfielders Viv Michie, Corey Cassidy. And defenders Luke McCleary, Matt Warren and Jim Bazzani. 

The red and black mafia will be led again by Marcus Stavrou. The 2021 Woodrow Medallist followed up his good form in 2022, catching the umpire’s eyes again and finishing in third place behind dual winners Harry Hill and Gus Borthwick. 

After playing one game with the club in 2022, Billy Gowers will be full time with the club in 2023, he has been given the honour of the clubs vice-captaincy role. 

A regular feature in the Xav’s line-up Denis Symeopoulos and Alex Trigar have been named as the clubs deputy-vice captains to round out the leadership group. 

It’s a changing of the guard at Old Melburnians ahead of the 2023 VAFA season. 

Jackson Paine, the clubs power forward has been elected the new captain, taking over from Josh Freezer who has led the club with distinction across the last three years.

Paine will be supported by Will Nichols as the vice-captain. Lachie and Ben Haysman, Ed Smart, Dan Coffield and Ed Michelmore round out the leadership group. 

The Cardinals are following a process and will announce the final make up of their leadership group in the coming days. Last year the club was led by Andrew Jelbart. To date, Jelbart enters 2023 on 137 senior games, should he play every game this year he will play his 150th in Round 13, at home against Old Brighton. 

Caulfield Grammarians have finalised their leadership group on the eve of the 2023 season.

Club stalwart Joey McClelland has taken the reins after Will Edwards has moved interstate for work in 2023. McClelland will be supported by vice-captain, Harry Schaffer. Jack Ellwood was a star through 2022 and has earned the role of deputy vice-captain along with Jack Webster.

Rounding out the clubs leadership group are Oscar Roberts, Jasper Rouget, Will Vessely & Oscar Ursini.

It’s a new look group of leaders that will take to the field on Saturday against Old Scotch at Glen Huntly Oval.

University Blues have heralded Ayce Cordy as the best captain in William Buck Premier. Quantified by Woodrow Medal performing years in both 2018 and 2019. 

Injury interrupted his 2022 campaign, Cordy will be eager to make every post a winner in 2023. He will be leading the Blues week in, week out with an eye to getting himself back to his Woodrow Medal winning form. 

The club is following a process and will announce the final make up of their leadership group in the coming days.

For the seventh season in a row the group will be led by James Paul as Captain.

Supporting him as Vice Captains are Brede Seccull and Brodie Steele. Rounded out the expanded group is Durrus Seccull and Jack Munro and for the first time as leaders Max Sinclair, Sam Loewe, Will Paul and Josh Gasparini.

This is the group that is going to be leading from the front as the Haileyburians re-enter William Buck Premier for the first time since 2011. 

Campbell Moorfield will co-captain Uni Blacks alongside Josh Steadman for 2023. Moorfield has been part of the leadership group since 2019, playing the role of deputy to Steadman, and outgoing co-captain, Jordan Quaile. 

Not only is he the reigning Cordner Medalist, but also plays the role of Club Treasurer and has been a pillar of consistency for the Blacks over the last few years, on and off the field.

On top of that, the club is also excited to announce the addition of Lachlan Knight to the leadership group, who joins Henry Bennett and Nick Hey to round out the quintet.