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2023 VAFA season

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2023 VAFA season
Date15 April − 15 September 2021
Teams63
← 2022
2024 →

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. The season began on 15 April and concluded on 15 September, with 63 teams participating across seven divisions under a promotion and relegation system.[1]

Following the conclusion of the season, Ivanhoe and Old Paradians left the VAFA to join the Northern Football Netball League, and Division 4 was abolished as a result.[2][3]

Association membership

[edit]

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.[4] On 19 September 2022, the formation of Old Yarra Cobras Football Club was announced.[5][6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9][10]

Name changes

[edit]

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.[11]

Additionally, Emmaus St Leo's renamed to Wattle Park Amateur Football Club due to "extenuating circumstances".[12]

Notable events

[edit]
  • Accounting firm William Buck signed a three-year extension with the VAFA on 24 April 2023, which included continuing the naming rights for the "William Buck Premier Division".[13]
  • 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.[14][15]
  • 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.[16] The player was taken to hospital while Tatpu was arrested by police, however he was later released from custody.[17][18]

Premier

[edit]
2023 VAFA Premier season
Teams10
PremiersCollegians
Minor premiersCollegians
Wooden spoonersCaulfield Grammarians
← 2022
2024 →

Collegians won their 18th Premier Division premiership, defeating St Kevin's by 85 points.

Ladder

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Collegians (P) 18 15 3 0 1707 945 180.6 60 Finals series
2 University Blues 18 13 5 0 1343 1149 116.9 52
3 Old Scotch 18 12 6 0 1638 1053 155.6 48
4 St Kevin's 18 12 6 0 1471 1084 135.7 48
5 Old Brighton 18 9 9 0 1306 1221 107.0 36
6 Old Xaverians 18 8 10 0 1347 1311 102.8 32
7 University Blacks 18 8 10 0 1200 1352 88.8 32
8 Old Melburnians 18 6 12 0 1222 1592 76.8 24
9 Old Haileyburians 18 6 12 0 1103 1468 75.1 24 Relegation
10 Caulfield Grammarians 18 1 17 0 848 2010 42.2 4

Source: [19]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

[edit]
Grand Final
Sunday, 24 September (2:30pm) Collegians def. St Kevin's Elsternwick Park [20]
6.7 (43)
9.8 (62)
16.13 (109)
19.16 (130) 		Q1
Q2
Q3
Final 		1.0 (6)
5.4 (34)
5.6 (36)
6.9 (45)
5: Ferguson, Mirra
2: Greene, Michie
1: Ong, Watson,Walker, Bazzani, Pocknee 		Goals 2: Kerr
1: Tucker, Mansfield, Hodges, Kennedy
Ferguson, Mirra, Beilby, Cassidy, Hibbins, Michie Best Hodges, Critchley, Tucker, Richards

Premier B

[edit]
2023 VAFA Premier B season
Teams10
PremiersSt Bernard's
Minor premiersSt Bernard's
Wooden spoonersMonash Blues
← 2022
2024 →

St Bernard's won their 5th Premier B premiership, defeating Fitzroy by 31 points, although Fitzroy was also promoted to Premier Division for the first time since the club entered the VAFA.[21]

Ladder

[edit]

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.[22] 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 4 August.[23]

As a result of gaining the four points that Beaumaris had lost, St Bernard's finished with a perfect season.[24]

Pos Team Pld W WF L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 St Bernard's (P) 18 17 1 0 0 1925 905 212.7 72 Finals series
2 Fitzroy 18 12 0 6 0 1530 1184 129.2 48
3 De La Salle 18 12 0 6 0 1358 1135 119.7 48
4 Beaumaris 18 11 0 7 0 1553 1143 135.9 44
5 Old Geelong 18 11 0 7 0 1473 1266 116.4 44
6 St Bedes/Mentone Tigers 18 11 0 7 0 1485 1423 104.4 44
7 Williamstown CYMS 18 7 0 11 0 1436 1594 90.1 28
8 Old Trinity 18 6 0 12 0 1031 1354 76.1 24
9 AJAX 18 1 0 17 0 1085 1852 58.6 4 Relegation
10 Monash Blues 18 1 0 17 0 954 2114 45.0 4

Source: [24]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

[edit]
Grand Final
Saturday, 23 September (2:30pm) St Bernard's 15.13 (103) def. Fitzroy 10.12 (72) Elsternwick Park
  • Both teams promoted to Premier Division

Premier C

[edit]
2023 VAFA Premier C season
Teams9
PremiersOld Camberwell
Minor premiersOld Ivanhoe
Wooden spoonersOrmond
← 2022
2024 →

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.[25] Additionally, only one team would be relegated to Division 1, instead of the usual two.[26]

Ladder

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Old Camberwell 16 14 2 0 1257 921 136.5 56 Finals series
2 Old Ivanhoe (P) 16 11 4 1 1417 974 145.5 46
3 PEGS 16 11 4 1 1174 971 120.9 46
4 Parkdale Vultures 16 9 6 1 1256 1086 115.7 38
5 Hampton Rovers 16 7 9 0 1144 1233 92.8 28
6 Mazenod 16 7 9 0 1014 1097 92.4 28
7 Old Carey 16 5 9 2 1054 1161 90.8 24
8 Marcellin 16 3 13 0 925 1407 65.7 12
9 Ormond 16 2 13 1 1035 1426 72.6 10 Relegation

Source: [27]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

[edit]
Grand Final
Saturday, 23 September (2:30pm) Old Ivanhoe 14.20 (104) def. Old Camberwell 9.8 (62) Trevor Barker Beach Oval
  • Both teams promoted to Premier B

Division 1

[edit]
2023 VAFA Division 1 season
Teams10
PremiersGlen Eira
Minor premiersGlen Eira
Wooden spoonersIvanhoe
← 2022
2024 →

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.[28]

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.[3] Preston was ultimately not relegated for the 2024 season as part of the VAFA's aim to keep all divisions at 10 teams each.[29]

Ladder

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Glen Eira (P) 18 16 2 0 1593 969 164.4 64 Finals series
2 Oakleigh 18 14 4 0 1650 1114 148.1 56
3 Prahran 18 13 5 0 1642 1047 156.8 52
4 UHS-VU 18 11 7 0 1311 1230 106.6 40
5 Therry Penola 18 10 8 0 1289 1177 109.5 40
6 Old Peninsula 18 9 9 0 1363 1431 95.3 36
7 Kew 18 8 10 0 1209 1218 99.3 32
8 West Brunswick 18 4 14 0 958 1527 62.7 16
9 Preston Bullants 18 3 15 0 1203 1739 69.2 12 Relegation
10 Ivanhoe 18 2 16 0 886 1652 53.6 8

Source: [30]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

[edit]
Grand Final
Saturday, 16 September (2:30pm) Oakleigh 6.13 (49) def. by Glen Eira 15.13 (103) Trevor Barker Beach Oval
  • Both teams promoted to Premier C

Division 2

[edit]
2023 VAFA Division 2 season
Teams10
PremiersParkside
Minor premiersParkside
Wooden spoonersAquinas
← 2022
2024 →

Parkside won their first Division 2 premiership, defeating Old Yarra Cobras (who were in their first VAFA season) by three points.[31]

Following the conclusion of the season, in which they finished 7th, Old Paradians left the VAFA and transferred to the Northern Football Netball League for 2024.[3]

Ladder

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Parkside (P) 18 15 3 0 1589 958 165.9 60 Finals series
2 Brunswick 18 13 5 0 1476 1203 122.7 52
3 Old Yarra Cobras 18 12 5 1 1572 1276 123.2 50
4 South Melbourne Districts 18 12 6 0 1416 1151 123.0 48
5 Whitefriars 18 12 6 0 1677 1416 118.4 48
6 MHSOB 18 7 10 1 1341 1456 92.1 30
7 Old Paradians 18 6 11 1 1227 1428 85.9 26
8 Bulleen Templestowe 18 5 13 0 1041 1622 64.2 20
9 St Mary's Salesian 18 4 13 1 1277 1625 78.6 18 Relegation
10 Aquinas 18 2 16 0 1213 1694 71.6 8

Source: [32]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

[edit]
Grand Final
Sunday, 17 September (2:30pm) Parkside 10.8 (68) def. Old Yarra Cobras 10.5 (65) Coburg City Oval
  • Both teams promoted to Division 1

Division 3

[edit]
2023 VAFA Division 3 season
Teams8
PremiersElsternwick
Minor premiersElsternwick
Wooden spoonersSwinburne University
← 2022
2024 →

Ladder

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Elsternwick (P) 18 16 2 0 1936 1120 172.8 64 Finals series
2 Hawthorn 18 14 4 0 2234 1280 174.5 56
3 Canterbury 18 14 4 0 1845 1142 161.6 56
4 Wattle Park 18 11 7 0 1587 1324 119.9 44
5 Richmond Central 18 7 11 0 1286 1581 82.4 28
6 Power House 18 6 12 0 1382 1627 84.9 24
7 La Trobe University 18 3 15 0 900 1769 50.9 12 Relegation
8 Swinburne University 18 1 17 0 948 2295 41.3 4

Source: [33]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

[edit]
Grand Final
Saturday, 16 September (2:30pm) Hawthorn 12.6 (78) def. by Elsternwick 21.19 (145) Box Hill City Oval
  • Both teams promoted to Division 2

Division 4

[edit]
2023 VAFA Division 4 season
Teams6
PremiersNorth Brunswick
Minor premiersNorth Brunswick
Wooden spoonersEley Park
← 2022
2024 →

Division 4 was abolished at the end of the season and merged into Division 3.[2]

Ladder

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 North Brunswick (P) 18 17 0 1 1970 631 312.2 70 Finals series
2 Box Hill North 18 10 7 1 1719 1340 128.3 42
3 Albert Park 18 10 8 0 1436 1377 104.3 40
4 St John's 18 8 10 0 1216 1413 85.0 32
5 Masala Dandenong 18 7 11 0 1537 1496 102.7 28
6 Eley Park 18 1 17 0 863 2466 35.0 4

Source: [34]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

[edit]
Grand Final
Sunday, September 17 (2:30pm) North Brunswick 10.9 (69) def. Albert Park 8.6 (54) Garvey Oval
  • Both teams promoted to Division 3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2023 VAFA FIXTURE CALENDAR" (PDF). Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "VAFA set to undergo competition restructure in 2024". Herald Sun.
  3. ^ a b c "NFNL Statement: Ivanhoe and Old Paradians to join NFNL". Northern Football Netball League. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  4. ^ "How the formation of the Old Yarra Cobras happened." Victorian Amateur Football Association. 4 November 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Club history". Old Yarra Cobras. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  6. ^ "OLD YARRA COBRAS FOOTBALL CLUB" (PDF). AFL Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2024.
  7. ^ "How the Men's Division Sections will look in 2023". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 9 December 2022. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Westbourne pull the pin". Star Weekly. 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Footy doing it tough in the bush and the 'burbs". The Age. 8 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Lack of players forces VAFA club into recess". CODE Sports. 23 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Prahran Assumption FC". Prahran Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024.
  12. ^ "OUR STORY". Wattle Park Amateurs Football Club. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. It was decided towards the end of the 2022 season that the Animals would be changing our name due to extenuating circumstances, and landed on Wattle Park Amateurs Football Club.
  13. ^ "William Buck extends long-running partnership with the VAFA". consultancy.com.au. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024.
  14. ^ "VAFA v PFL: State Footy is Back". Perth Football League. 12 July 2023. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
  15. ^ "The Big V triumphs in an all-time classic". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 16 July 2023. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Former AFL player arrested over alleged attack at local footy game in Malvern East". 7NEWS. 3 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Former Hawthorn, Storm rookie arrested over alleged assault at amateur football match". news.com.au.
  18. ^ "Former AFL and NRL-listed player arrested, released without charge over alleged 'unprovoked' assault". 9News. 4 September 2023.
  19. ^ "2023 William Buck Premier Men's". GameDay. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Lions roar to the 2023 Premiership". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Together we are all Fitzroy in 2024". Fitzroy Football Club. 8 February 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  22. ^ "VAFA Media Release". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 18 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Beaumaris loses premiership points". Herald Sun. 4 August 2023.
  24. ^ a b "2023 Premier B Men's". GameDay.
  25. ^ "VAFA Premier C Men's preview: The list changes, players to watch, coaches comments and more ahead of season 2023". Herald Sun. 6 April 2023.
  26. ^ "VAFA Statement: Old Mentonians FC". Victorian Amateur Football Association. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024.
  27. ^ "2023 Premier C Men's". GameDay.
  28. ^ "Preston Bullants AFC is excited to announce that Tom Hill will be taking the reins as our interim Senior Men's Coach for the remainder of the 2023 season". Facebook. Preston Bullants AFC. 7 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  29. ^ Pignataro, Joe (12 October 2023). "2024 Men's Premier & Divisional competition structure". Victorian Amateur Football Association. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  30. ^ "2023 Division 1 Men's". GameDay. VAFA Results Archive. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Sunday, September 17, 2023". GameDay.
  32. ^ "2023 Division 2 Men's". GameDay.
  33. ^ "2023 Division 3 Men's". GameDay.
  34. ^ "2023 Division 4 Men's". GameDay.
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