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2023 VAFA season
122nd season of the Victorian Amateur Football Association From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2023 VAFA season was the 122nd season of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), the largest senior community Australian rules football competition in Victoria.[1] The season began on 15 April and concluded on 15 September, with 63 teams participating across seven divisions under a promotion and relegation system.[2]
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Background
Accounting firm William Buck signed a three-year sponsorship deal extension with the VAFA on 24 April 2023, which included continuing the naming rights for the "William Buck Premier Division", continuing a partnership that began in the 2010s.[3][4]
The VAFA signed a three-year agreement with KommunityTV, News Corp Australia's live-streaming platform, which saw the platform exclusively broadcast 48 matches throughout 2024.[5] KommunityTV had broadcast 2022 finals matches as part of a trial arrangement.[6][7]
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Association membership
Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, Manningham Cobras merged with Yarra Old Grammarians in order to keep both clubs viable on and off-field.[8] On 19 September 2022, the formation of Old Yarra Cobras Football Club was announced.[9][10]
In November 2022, the VAFA revealed Westbourne Grammarians Football Club would not field senior teams in 2023 (having meant to be relegated from Division 3) to Division 4), and would instead field a team in the Thirds competition.[11] However, Westbourne announced on 31 March – around two weeks before the start of the season – that they would not field the thirds team, instead using 2023 to "regroup" as a club.[12]
On 23 February 2023, Premier C club Old Mentonians announced that they would go into recess and not field any teams in 2023 because of a player shortage.[13][14]
Name changes
Prahran/Assumption members voted on 30 November 2022 to revert to the club's traditional name of Prahran Football Club, which was reflected in the 2023 season.[15]
Additionally, Emmaus St Leo's renamed to Wattle Park Amateurs Football Club due to "extenuating circumstances".[16]
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Notable events
- During the round 8 match between La Trobe University and Elsternwick in Division 3 on 3 June, a 21-year-old La Trobe University accidentally slapped Elsternwick player Ashley Quinn (a Victoria Police officer) while marking the ball.[17] Quinn grabbed the player and punched him multiple times to the face, breaking his nose and causing the match to be temporarily halted.[18] Quinn fronted the Moorabbin Magistrates' Court in August 2024 on one charge of intentionally causing injury, and was sentenced to a six-month diversion.[18]
- On 15 July, VAFA defeated Perth Football League 20.10 (130) to 17.9 (111) in extra time in a representative game, the first representative victory for the VAFA since 2018.[19][20]
- On 2 September, during the Division 3 semi-final between Elsternwick and Hawthorn, a Hawthorn player was allegedly punched in the back of a head by a spectator, later identified as former Hawthorn AFL player Shem Tatpu.[21] The player was taken to hospital while Tatpu was arrested by police, however he was later released from custody.[22][23]
- On 3 August, the VAFA announced that 33 previously-unnamed perpetual awards and trophies would be renamed to honour people "who have given distinguished service" to the VAFA or its clubs.[24][25]
- St John's was removed from the Division 3 reserves grand final after it was found that they had fielded an ineligible player in the preliminary final against Box Hill North, with Box Hill North taking its place in the grand final against North Brunswick.[26][27]
- Former West Brunswick reserves captain-coach Ron "Banjo" Patterson, who played a senior premiership in 1960 and won the reserves best and fairest medal in 1969, died on 17 March 2023.[28]
- Former Old Haileybury player Alan Ross, who was part of the club's inaugural senior premiership in 1963, died in May 2023.[29][30]
Premier
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Collegians won their 18th Premier Division premiership, defeating St Kevin's by 85 points.[35]
Ladder
Source: [36]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Team of the Year
| B: | Matt Warren (Collegians) | Marty Gleeson (University Blues) | Luke McCleary (Collegians) |
| HB: | Sam Sofronidis (Collegians) | Campbell Moorfield (University Blacks) | Brodie Steele (Old Haileybury) |
| C: | Jim Bazzani (Collegians) | Kenny Ong (Collegians) | Tom Cutler (University Blues) |
| HF: | Mitch Wallis (St Kevin's) | David Mirra (c) (Collegians) | Henry Brown (Old Scotch) |
| F: | Charlie MacIsaac (Old Xaverians) | James Tarrant (Old Scotch) | Will Pocknee (Collegians) |
| Foll: | Josh Steadman (University Blacks) | Ben Harding (Old Melburnians) | Luke Winter (St Kevin's) |
| Int: | Tom Fisher (Old Brighton) | Aidan Franetic (Old Scotch) | Marcus Stavrou (Old Xaverians) |
| Brodie Easton (Old Scotch) | |||
| Coach: | Jared Rivers (Collegians) | ||
Club best and fairest
Club leadership
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Premier B
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St Bernard's won their 5th Premier B premiership, defeating Fitzroy by 31 points in the grand final to complete a perfect season.[63] Fitzroy was promoted to the highest grade the first time since the club entered the VAFA.[64][65]
Ladder
Beaumaris were found to have fielded an ineligible player in their round 11 loss to St Bedes/Mentone Tigers and round 12 victory over St Bernard's.[66] On 18 July, the VAFA announced Beaumaris would lose the four premiership points that was gained in their victory, along with their "points for" score from both games. Beaumaris appealed the decision, but it was upheld on 3 August.[67][68]
As a result of gaining the four points that Beaumaris had lost, St Bernard's finished with a perfect season.[69]
Source: [69]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Club best and fairest
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Premier C
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As a result of Old Mentonians withdrawing prior to the start of the season, Premier C only had nine teams, with each having two byes and playing 16 games.[83] Additionally, only one team would be relegated to Division 1, instead of the usual two.[84]
Ladder
Source: [85]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Club best and fairest
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Division 1
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On 7 June 2023, Preston Bullants parted wats with senior coach George Cotsonis, who was in his second season in the role. He was replaced by Tom Hill, a former Greater Western Sydney and Western Bulldogs-listed player.[102]
Following the conclusion of the season, in which they finished last, Ivanhoe left the VAFA and transferred to the Northern Football Netball League for 2024.[103]
Preston was ultimately not relegated for the 2024 season as part of the VAFA's aim to keep all divisions at 10 teams each.[104]
Ladder
Source: [105]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Club best and fairest
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Division 2
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Parkside won their first-ever Division 2 premiership, and their first senior premiership since 1988, defeating Old Yarra Cobras (who were in their first VAFA season) by three points.[116][117]
Following the conclusion of the season, in which they finished seventh, Old Paradians left the VAFA and transferred to the Northern Football Netball League for the 2024 season.[103]
Ladder
Source: [118]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Club best and fairest
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Division 3
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Ladder
Source: [131]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Club best and fairest
Division 4
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Division 4 was abolished at the end of the season and merged into Division 3.[141]
Ladder
Source: [142]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers
Finals
Club best and fairest
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References
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