Top 40 moments in 2023: 40-31

2023 has been a year to remember at the VAFA.

As we pull the curtain across to close out the year, VAFA Media has siphoned through the moments of the season and formulated a top 40.

Throughout this week, join Joe Pignataro in counting down to the #1 moment of the year. Opening with 40 to 31.

Today includes a memorable season opener for Wattle Park AFC, an incredible debut season from an Irish woman, the story of a man at Collegians who didn’t even want to play this year, and a Premiership that will be remembered at Kew forever.

#40 – THE VAFA NAMES PERPETUAL TROPHIES

In early August, the VAFA unveiled 33 new names for previously unnamed perpetual awards and trophies, including Premiership Cups, Best on Ground and Best and Fairest Medals.

Sue Anderson headlined the list of honoraries having her name aligned with the William Buck Premier Women’s Premiership Cup. Also recognised in William Buck Premier Women’s is Michael Sholly for the Best on Ground Medal and Shona MacInnes for the Best and Fairest Medal.

A legend of Fitzroy, Joan Eddy has also been recognised. Eddy’s name will accompany the Best on Ground Medal for the Premier Reserve Women’s Grand Final.

Kylie da Fonte, long-standing legend of MHSOB has been recognised for her tireless work with the Unicorns, and within the VAFA’s Big V program. Former Ivanhoe Amateurs president Rob Pearce has been given the honour of having his name on the Under 19 Division 1 Men’s Premiership Cup.

CEO Jason Reddick told VAFA Media, “It is wonderful to recognise our VAFA community people in this way.”

#39 – PRESIDENT PODCAST BREAKS ALL TIME RECORD

Throughout the middle of 2023, VAFA podcast co-host Josh Heriot followed most of the competition over to Europe in a sporting tour extravaganza. 

During that time For the Love of the Game cascaded through a plethora of co-hosts to join Joe Pignataro. In the most listened to podcast in the VAFA’s history, Presidents Matt Cosgrave (Old Xaverians) and Paddy Mount (St Kevin’s) gave listeners a unique insight into what it takes to be the head honcho that calls the shots. 

While ‘Cossie’ and ‘Mounty’ are both aligned with two of the VAFA’s biggest clubs, the topics became relevant for all Presidents, committee members and clubs regardless of competing sections. 

The ability of leading a club out of the COVID years and stabilising in 2023, as well as the importance of using the school or junior program to cultivate the next generation of talent were on the agenda. 

#38 – WATTLE PARK OPEN THEIR SEASON UNDER LIGHTS IN A THRILLER

During the off-season leading up to the opening round of 2023, the Animals went about changing their identity from Emmaus St Leo’s to Wattle Park. 

Still keeping the club colours, and the famous animal logo, the club opened up their campaign in a twilight spot at Bennettswood Sports Ground against highly fancied and eventual Division 3 Men’s premier, Elsternwick. 

With no more than a goal separating the two sides throughout the first three quarters, the Animals broke out to a 14 point lead early in the last term only for the Wicks to come back at them in the driving rain to be two points down at the 29-minute mark of the final quarter. 

Almost like the Magpies in this year’s AFL Grand Final, the Animals were able to get the clearance from the stoppage and it fell into the waiting arms of Matt Hill. The boy from Tassie went back and calmly slotted it through the middle. 

Wattle Park had to hold back the Wicks for another 2 minutes as the Wicks surged forward with repeat entries, when the siren sounded it sent VAFA commentator Geoff Koop into hysterics “an instant classic” to open the year. 

 

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#37 – BORTHWICK’S 5-GOAL HAUL HELPS OM’S TO A THUMPING VICTORY

Old Melburnians had more than just four points on the line when they met the Old Xaverians in Round 15. 

Coach Paul Satterley and his troops staring down the barrel of relegation to Premier B. Not much had gone right for the OM’s to that point. 

Due to the planets aligning the OM’s were able to welcome into their side players from Port Melbourne, namely Dylan Clarke. George Hurley-Wellington was free from work commitments, both the Nichols boys and for his first game of the season, Gus Borthwick. 

Almost 12 months to the day since Borthwick tore his ACL he returned to the field in a single man show looking like he hadn’t missed a beat. 

The 2022 Woodrow Medal winner amassed 19 disposals, 5 contested possessions, 5 tackles, he gave his forwards first look at the footy with 6 inside 50’s while kicking five goals of his own. 

A 3-vote performance that went a long way to the Old Melburnians securing their ticket for William Buck Premier in 2024. 

#36 – VAFA’S THEMED ROUNDS TAKE CENTRE STAGE

Each year the VAFA connects with its community partners to deliver competition wide rounds focused on maximising its reach and delivering messaging that goes far beyond football. 

TAC’s Toward Zero Round, BCNA Round, Community Umpiring Round and Tackle Your Feelings Round. 

In 2023 the VAFA entered its fourth season partnering with Tackle Your Feelings Australia. Throughout the season the Tackle Your Feelings program was delivered to over 450 participants across 18 workshops with the highlights including the attendance of Leon Cameron, former GWS Head Coach and current TYF Ambassador.

After raising over $28,000 for BCNA in 2022, the VAFA set itself the task of going above $30,000 in 2023 as part of its Play4BCNA Round this year. Pink jumpers, and socks were on full display across the VAFA competition.

St Kevin’s Old Boys forward Mitch Wallis was this years ambassador for the fourth annual TAC and AFL Victoria Road Safety Round, he put his own personal tragedy forward, encouraging the wider VAFA community to be cautious on our roads.

#35 – NORTH BRUNSWICK PUT A SEASON OF HORROR BEHIND THEM

In 2022, North Brunswick were playing in Division 3 Men’s. Incredibly the way the season played out, all teams between fifth and ninth on the table finished with six wins and 10 losses across the home and away season. The Bulls found themselves in ninth position with an inferior percentage, therefore relegated to Division 4 in 2023. 

The Bulls had every right to feel aggrieved had it not been for a lack of scoring throughout the year they may well have entered the pre-season in a different division altogether. 

Throughout the year they left nothing to chance, obliterating every side in their wake. Eight times they went above 100 points in a game with their season average being 109.4 points. Their defensive unit was a brick wall, holding opposition sides to an average of 35.05 points per game. 

Only the second placed Box Hill North were able to compete with the Bulls on one occasion, drawing level with them on the final siren, 62 points apiece. 

Even though they didn’t have it their own way on Grand Final day against the Albert Park Falcons, they were able to navigate their way to a 15-point victory and give the club its second senior men’s flag in 5 seasons pushing them back up into Division 3 in 2024. 

#34 – CAITLIN BOYLAN WINS THE DIVISION 3 WOMEN’S BEST AND FAIREST

Perhaps the fascinating part of the Caitlin Boylan story is the fact that this time 12 months ago she’d never kicked a sherrin before.

Hailing from Ireland, Boylan came to Australia and in particular Melbourne at the end of February, when it came to the the start of the season she wasn’t sure she’d commit to the full year thinking she’ll leave after two weeks and struggle to understand the intricacies of the game. 

Stumbling across Ajax as the club right across from her hostel in St Kilda, despite “never playing with an egg before” she was able to see out the season, play 16 games and be part of the clubs best players on 14 occasions. 

Add to the best player in the competition, Boylan was part of the Ajax Women’s first club premiership, and named the best player on the ground. 

It’s just the luck of the Irish.

#33 – MERGER A SUCCESS FOR THE OLD YARRA COBRAS

The decision in September of last year to merge the Yarra Old Grammarians with the Manningham Cobras paid immediate dividends in 2023. 

In the men’s program, these sides collectively posted five wins and 31 losses in 2022. This year, the side was able to finish third with 12 wins, five losses and a draw. 

It’s the first time the members from Yarra Old competed in finals since 2018, and for the Cobras arm, 2019. A fairytale run during the finals saw the Cobras hold off a fast-finishing South Melbourne Districts side by four points to advance to the Preliminary Final and then run away from Brunswick to book themselves a spot in the Grand Final and promotion into Division 1 Men’s ahead of the 2024 season. 

For the best part of three quarters it looked as though the Cup was heading to Koonung Park to complete the dream before it turned into somewhat of a nightmare as favourites Parkside finished over the top of the Cobras in dramatic fashion. 

The Women’s program, equally strong through the home and away season finished second to Monash in Premier B reaching the Grand Final first beating the Two-Blues by three points in the second semi-final. 

Unfortunately like their male counterparts fell agonisingly short on Grand Final day to Monash in the return bout by two points and left to think about what if. 

Had you asked President Nick Paton and the Cobras committee 12 months ago the expectations for 2023, and offered up the years the club has had, one feels they would have jumped at it immediately. With still room to grow leading into 2024. 

#32 – KEW RESERVES WIN THE PREMIERSHIP AFTER THE SIREN

Kew and Coburg in William Buck Premier Women’s Reserves played out the most dramatic Grand Final witnessed across the whole finals series. 

The precursor to Kew vs. St Kevin’s became centre stage in the dying moments of the contest with the Lions leading by five points.

Coburg seemingly in total control until a free kick was awarded to Kew’s Georgia Wyett with only a handful of seconds left wasted no time playing on and sending the ball inside 50. 

Tennille Nash marked the ball milliseconds before the sounding of the siren no more than 20m out on the angle. After the siren, Nash composed herself and lived out every childhood dream of kicking the winning goal and handing the Bears the Premiership. 

Twice throughout the home and away season the Bears had suffered losses, both times to Coburg. A fair time to rewrite the wrongs of the home and away season and etch your name into VAFA folklore. 

#31 – NOT PLAYING, TO DOMINATING: THE SAM SOFRONIDIS STORY

There’s plenty to write and say about the half back flanker from Collegians. Perhaps the most fascinating part of the Sam Sofronidis story in 2023 is that he didn’t want to play this year. 

The 24-year old had made the decision over summer that 2023 was going to be a gap year, hit the tarmac and travel the world. After the heartache the Lions suffered in last year’s finals series, Sofronidis wanted a break from the cut’n thrust of footy. 

Three rounds into the season, Rocket Nancarrow, Jared Rivers and the rest of the team felt something special brewing at the Harry Trott Oval. And, Sofronidis started to get the itch again. 

Off little to no pre-season he returned in Round 4 to the field against Old Haileybury, a game in which the Lions stamped their premiership credentials winning by 110 points. From there, Sof hasn’t looked back. Selected in the Big V team in the middle of the year, a member of the 2023 William Buck Premier Team of the Year, a Premiership player in the Lions trouncing of St Kevin’s and more recently invited to be a train-on player with Collingwood in the hope of being signed as an SSP selection before the 2024 AFL season. 

Averaging 21 disposals, 4 intercept marks, 8 intercept possessions and being ranked as Elite by Premier Data in the long-sleeves, it’s been an incredible rise through the ranks. 

From not wanting to play football, to becoming a VAFA premiership player, to potentially joining the AFL’s reigning premiers. There’s 12 months we’d all want to live.