The race begins for supremacy in William Buck Premier Men’s

If unpredictability equals excitement, then William Buck Premier Men’s Season 2024 is set to be a blockbuster, with most pundits expecting the top grade to be extremely even and fiercely competitive.

COLLEGIANS begin with the target on their back as the reigning champions for the first time since 2013, having put the pain of recent Grand Final disappointments behind them in no uncertain terms.

Their dominant 15-and-3 home & away campaign saw them finish 2 games clear on top. They snuck home over Uni Blues in a thrilling Semi Final, then dominated on Grand Final Day to rocket away to a brilliant 85-point win.

Jared RIVERS has since handed the coaching reins to fellow former Melbourne AFL player Jordie McKENZIE, while on-field leader Dave MIRRA has hung up the boots. Reigning best & fairest Sam SOFRONIDIS will likely spend most of his time in Collingwood’s VFL program as he hunts an AFL opportunity.

But with some young talent ready to push up and break into the senior line-up, the Lions certainly have the pieces to challenge for their first back-to-back titles since 2011-12.

Last season’s runners-up ST KEVIN’S have been a model of consistency in the modern era, playing in the last five Premier Men’s Grand Finals, for 3 wins and 2 losses.

The 2023 decider turned out to be an afternoon to forget and SKOBs will be keen to reclaim their place at the top of the mountain in 2024.

Coach Anthony LYNCH will take a relatively settled line-up into the new season, with minimal change at senior level but plenty of young talent to introduce, given their U19 team also made the Grand Final in 2023. Expect St Kevin’s to be there and thereabouts again – aren’t they always?!

UNIVERSITY BLUES finished the 2023 home & away season in 2^nd position, before a narrow loss to Collegians followed by a disappointing performance against St Kevin’s saw them bundled out in straight sets.

Coach Guy MARTYN and his recruiting team had a fruitful summer, securing a handful of big-name signings, including ex-Essendon swingman James STEWART & former Port Adelaide big man Sam HAYES, who both have the potential to wreak havoc in Premier Men’s this season.

Former VFL player Matthew SMITH arrives after finishing 2^nd in Heidelberg’s best-and-fairest, while Jamie LLOYD & Archie SINNOTT both have elite junior experience.

Reigning League best & fairest Marty GLEESON returns as the Blues eye off their first top-tier flag since 2019.

OLD SCOTCH finished the 2023 home & away season in 3^rd position, then fell 3 goals short of St Kevin’s in the Semi Final.

The Cardinals have some useful additions in 2024, including seasoned ready-made performers Lachie JOHNSON & Isaac CONWAY, along with talented Leongatha youngster Harry SCOTT, who has spent the past two seasons with Gippsland Power and has signed with Richmond’s VFL team.

Former OLD BRIGHTON captain & premiership player Marcel BRUIN has stepped up from Senior Assistant to Head Coach in 2024, while the club’s longest-serving coach Greg HUTCHISON has returned as Director of Coaching as they strive to return to the finals after one year watching on from the sidelines.

The Tonners went 9-and-9 to finish 2023 in 5th position and will be looking for some youngsters to step up and provide additional depth, which was sorely tested as they used 39 players last season.

OLD XAVERIANS finished 6^th in 2023 – their lowest finish since 2018 – and club champion Daniel DONATI returns as Senior Coach in 2024, having been a premiership player in 1996 and served as Senior Assistant Coach from 2018-21.

He has assembled a stellar coaching panel that includes Jeff GOBBELS, Pat HAWKINS, former AFL star Dan HANNEBERY and Louis TIERNAN to fast-track their young talent.

Xavs have secured the prime signature of 2023 Sandover Medalist Sam FISHER, who starred in his debut WAFL season after an impressive journey from Canberra via the GWS Academy, time on Sydney’s AFL list, then the Blues at VFL level (including the 2019 VFL Team of the Year).

UNIVERSITY BLACKS stumbled out of the gate in 2023, losing their first 4 games before finding some rhythm mid-season to win 6 of their last 9 (including a 4-game winning streak containing a victory over eventual Grand Finalist St Kevin’s OB).

Their rollercoaster ride saw them finish 7^th with an 8-and-10 record, but that back-end of the year showed that their best football is good enough to press even the best teams. Their challenge now is to find consistency to go with those flashes of brilliance.

OLD MELBURNIANS will be keen to get away to a stronger start in 2024, after a 5-game losing streak to open 2023 had them chasing their tails all season. They recovered from that initial onslaught to string 4 straight wins together and stabilise their campaign, before falling away again in the back half of the season.

Fortunately, they managed to narrowly avoid relegation on percentage after a dominant final-round win over Caulfield Grammarians and have recruited strongly as they look to rise up out of the danger zone.

Former AFL-listed players Jarrod LIENERT & Jack PERIS are joined by Carlton VFL skipper Lachie SWANEY and big-bodied Collingwood VFL midfielder Ned LONG, who turned heads with his eye-catching performance for the VFL in the State game versus the SANFL last weekend.

Throw in ready-made players James HARROLD & Sam WUNDUKE and the Redlegs look a stronger combination in 2024 – particularly when those VFL players are available for VAFA duty.

ST BERNARDS are back in Premier Men’s after a one-year absence which delivered a perfect 20-and-0 Premier B season and premiership flag.

Now they get to test themselves at the highest level once again and coach Steve ALESSIO will be delighted to have signed experienced AFL midfielder Jackson HATELY, who will also line up with Essendon’s VFL team.

It’s always a challenge for promoted teams to step back up to the top level, but the Snowdogs proved themselves to be a worthy Premier Men’s starter with their sustained excellence throughout 2023.

FITZROY have risen to the top grade for the first time in club history and have a new coach at the helm for this exciting new chapter, with Travis RONALDSON returning to Melbourne after five years with the NRL’s Canberra Raiders in their Strength & Conditioning department.

Ronaldson boasts an impressive footballing CV, which includes a podium finish in the VFL’s Liston Trophy and Team of the Year honours while playing for Coburg, before coaching Old Ivanhoe to a Premier C flag in 2013.

So we can expect the Roys to be in peak physical condition and they’ve retained the bulk of their playing group as they look to build on their 2^nd placed finish in Premier B last season. They enter 2024 with a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude as they look to make their mark at the pinnacle of VAFA footy.

ROUND 1

Old Melburnians v Collegians
St Bernards v Fitzroy
St Kevin’s v Old Xaverians
University Blacks v Old Scotch
Old Brighton v University Blues

See the full 2024 William Buck Premier Men’s fixture here >