VAFA General Discussion

[bedford]

FWIW new vafa president creating a big footy account and the Herald Sun doing a write up on Div1-Div4 recruits, what other nuggets does 2024 have in store? Bedford as the new mod?

Happy to accept fwiw

 

[Deleted member 20240623]

Extra umps and by the way i WASN'T bagging girls footy , it just grew so quick

Extra umps and by the way i WASN'T bagging girls footy , it just grew so quick

Should not be two filed umpires for womens games from VAFA, should be same as ressies in that clubs supply own field ump!
In 2022, only A grade were supplied vafa umps for ressies due to rapid growth of womens footy and covid lockdowns!

 

[Gia77]

Combined colours would be green-white-black-red-blue. Would be a horrible jumper even by the standards of the VAFA.

When did all this merger talk take place?

I'm surprised that the two sides weren't more interested in merging with South Melbourne District. PH + AP would (immediately) increase numbers and remove a competitor, but does not give any access to juniors - arguably what you need for secure supply of players and get out of the D2-D4 cycle that so many clubs are stuck in. It would also give access to a better ground (AP is out of action longest due to Grand Prix damage, while Power House is a black bog most of the time). SMD not interested, or a perceived mismatch in club size?

As mentioned, SMD are absolutely flying and would not get much out of a merger. I would be backing them to go close to going up to D1 this season.

Not sure where all this chatter around mergers between Powerhouse and AP has come from but it's surely too late now for a merger. Will be interesting to see how both clubs perform in the 2023 season.

I'm with the majority, I can't see D4 being around for much longer - especially with no clubbies coming through and trying to enter D4

 

[Mike Olotripo]

A lot of blokes here potting the comp, I am fairly new to VAFA footy with a long association with the Essendon league and due to relocating bayside now have an interest in both the Southern and pop down and watch Beauy from time to time and take an interest in Old Mentonians as my kids attend MG, surprises me a school with such vast resources and such a long history is struggling so much atm..

The VAFA comp as a whole seems in great shape, particularly at the top end. Suburban clubs can no longer compete with the VAFA clubs for top players especially straight out of AFL who now choose the jobs, networks, contracts etc that are on offer in the VAFA comps and now even strong clubs like Aberfeildie and Strathmore are starting to replicate the way top VAFA clubs recruit. The APS & AGS comps are becoming stronger and almost all Vic kids drafted come out of these now, even the NAB league teams are predominantly made up of kids from these school systems which ensures a pipeline of 1 point talented players for the Old Collegian teams to draw from. I would say the VAFA has never been stronger.

The issues experienced in the lower divisions, are replicated throughout suburban and country footy as everyone battles with player recruitment and retention and across all sports with getting volunteers and officials.

You should remember that to be a 1 point player now you must have attended the old boys affiliated school for at least five straight years from year 7.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

You should remember that to be a 1 point player now you must have attended the old boys affiliated school for at least five straight years from year 7.

I didnt know this, and is interesting. I assume most of the scholarship that are offered come in much later than year 7.

 

[Mr Platinum]

I didnt know this, and is interesting. I assume most of the scholarship that are offered come in much later than year 7.

You are right, most of the GOOD private schools actually care about the child who is enrolled, so will bring them in at year 7-9, whilst the obvious scholarship schools bring them in at year 11 and sometimes year 12 just to win the premiership. As a result there isn't a lot of flow through to their old boys clubs, as they either get drafted or go to the VFL or local as they don't have strong bonds with their school friends.

Schools in the latter basket include Haileybury, Carey, Caulfield, Geelong Grammar, Scotch and Melbourne Grammar.

 

[Mr Platinum]

Well aren't we all some are just more entitled than others and that is what the vafa is now

Why is the VAFA like that now? Please explain your frustration, the A Grade premiers had 21 of 22 who attended St Kevin's College, which is amazing, I don't recall any team achieving that in the last 30 years. Even back in the old glory days at Ormond, you blokes were recruiting blokes from other VAFA clubs, like the great Bomber Burden, who incidentally says he paid off his first Commodore with his match payments!

Also, with the influx of ex AFL and VFL into C Grade this year, it's showing many clubs are up and about and deciding that they want to rise up the ranks. Old Ivanhoe will be super strong, they are a sleeping giant that may finally have awoken from their slumber. Ditto Beauy, Rovers and the Monders, whilst Fitzroy and Willy are also going from strength to strength.

 

[bedford]

Sounds like all clubs will suffer from an exodus overseas this year

 

[Mr Platinum]

Sounds like all clubs will suffer from an exodus overseas this year

Now that's an accurate statement, I have heard half of the Old Brighton team are travelling again, along with a lot of Carey players. How are the Monders looking bedford ? One of my favourite VAFA teams since I was a kid.

 

[Mike Olotripo]

You are right, most of the GOOD private schools actually care about the child who is enrolled, so will bring them in at year 7-9, whilst the obvious scholarship schools bring them in at year 11 and sometimes year 12 just to win the premiership. As a result there isn't a lot of flow through to their old boys clubs, as they either get drafted or go to the VFL or local as they don't have strong bonds with their school friends.

Schools in the latter basket include Haileybury, Carey, Caulfield, Geelong Grammar, Scotch and Melbourne Grammar.

That’s a great ratio (21 of 22), Collegians had 18 and 16 respectively in the 2011 and 2012 flag sides come out of Wesley.

Why is the VAFA like that now? Please explain your frustration, the A Grade premiers had 21 of 22 who attended St Kevin's College, which is amazing, I don't recall any team achieving that in the last 30 years. Even back in the old glory days at Ormond, you blokes were recruiting blokes from other VAFA clubs, like the great Bomber Burden, who incidentally says he paid off his first Commodore with his match payments!

Also, with the influx of ex AFL and VFL into C Grade this year, it's showing many clubs are up and about and deciding that they want to rise up the ranks. Old Ivanhoe will be super strong, they are a sleeping giant that may finally have awoken from their slumber. Ditto Beauy, Rovers and the Monders, whilst Fitzroy and Willy are also going from strength to strength.

Speaking of Old Ivanhoe, good on George Haros the president for helping coax a couple of guns in Riddle and Murphy back to OI. Both would be stars in A grade let alone C grade. It’ll be scary what they do down there. George is a pretty shrewd lawyer and it’s no surprise Old Ivanhoe are ambitious to climb the grades under his watch.

 

[Champ or Chump]

That’s a great ratio (21 of 22), Collegians had 18 and 16 respectively in the 2011 and 2012 flag sides come out of Wesley.


Speaking of Old Ivanhoe, good on George Haros the president for helping coax a couple of guns in Riddle and Murphy back to OI. Both would be stars in A grade let alone C grade. It’ll be scary what they do down there. George is a pretty shrewd lawyer and it’s no surprise Old Ivanhoe are ambitious to climb the grades under his watch.

I think you will find that Chris Brannigan is the President for past couple of years (took over from George) and has been doing some good work with the club 'down the road'.

Chump

 

[Champ or Chump]

Sounds like all clubs will suffer from an exodus overseas this year

Agree Bedders - we have the same thing happening all the way down here in D1. I think we will see some interesting results happening in the 4 weeks played between the two byes!!

Chump

 

[bedford]

Agree Bedders - we have the same thing happening all the way down here in D1. I think we will see some interesting results happening in the 4 weeks played between the two byes!!

Chump

We also have a bloke having his wedding in England and quite a few going to that , can never understand that , old school me wouldn't happen in my day.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Sounds like all clubs will suffer from an exodus overseas this year

Not a surprise, young men after being locked up from Covid for 2 years now want to get out and explore the world.

 

[Mr Platinum]

We also have a bloke having his wedding in England and quite a few going to that , can never understand that , old school me wouldn't happen in my day.

That’s because when you were 25 it took 14 weeks by boat to England!

 

[pazza]

Been thinking about Westbourne and their future for a bit.

Part of Westbourne's problem is the area itself. Up until about 20 years ago...itself and Mackillop were the big private schools. Now MacKillop doesn't have an old boys (although I suspect much of the old Werribee Amateurs went there), but Thomas Carr which is much closer to Westbourne is involved in ACC during the week. Heathdale similarly.

Perhaps the 4 schools should get together in an alliance to help survival in the VAFA going forward.

 

[Over The Post]

Westbourne didn't like its kids playing in the Westbourne juniors, certainly when my kids were going through we only had 3-4 students in the entire group. The juniors were formed from Sayers Rd Auskick mainly because parents didn't like the zoo that was Hoppers Crossing Auskick with a few hundred kids, and equally didn't want their kids exposed to Hoppers "win at all costs" mentality even at the most junior level. From what I remember Willy Juniors had more Westbourne students because a lot of them lived there.

The core groups at Westbourne Juniors mainly went to Thomas Carr and Hoppers Crossing Secondary.

I believe that's still the case at the Suns Juniors, though I could be wrong there as I'm not involved in the club any more. And the Suns juniors will not be looking to pull on a Westbourne jumper after U16s-U18s.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Been thinking about Westbourne and their future for a bit.

Part of Westbourne's problem is the area itself. Up until about 20 years ago...itself and Mackillop were the big private schools. Now MacKillop doesn't have an old boys (although I suspect much of the old Werribee Amateurs went there), but Thomas Carr which is much closer to Westbourne is involved in ACC during the week. Heathdale similarly.

Perhaps the 4 schools should get together in an alliance to help survival in the VAFA going forward.

Probably more to do with demographics of the people now living in the area and attend the school who are predominantly South Asian, for what ever reason these migrant communities have not embraced AFL like previous migrant groups have.

 

[Deleted member 20240623]

We also have a bloke having his wedding in England and quite a few going to that , can never understand that , old school me wouldn't happen in my day.

Jeez mate, back in the day, you never got married or went overseas (or to the snow) in footy season!!!

 

[Jascave]

We also have a bloke having his wedding in England and quite a few going to that , can never understand that , old school me wouldn't happen in my day.

Remember St Kevins had about 14 players over for a wedding in England in 2015, and very nearly got beaten by Hampton Rovers at Boss James Reserve. St Kevins were unbeaten at the time of the Rovers game.

 

[Mr Platinum]

Remember St Kevins had about 14 players over for a wedding in England in 2015, and very nearly got beaten by Hampton Rovers at Boss James Reserve. St Kevins were unbeaten at the time of the Rovers game.

Interesting stat here Jase is that only three players from that SKOB team remain at the club, along with Cal Matheson who didn't play that day. Amazing turnover from a team that went undefeated that year.

Even more interesting is that there are only 6 players at the club who played in the 2018 premiership team, that goes to show what Covid did to a lot of clubs, it wiped out a lot of footy careers.

How many of the Rovers team from that day are still running around?

 

[Champ or Chump]

Interesting stat here Jase is that only three players from that SKOB team remain at the club, along with Cal Matheson who didn't play that day. Amazing turnover from a team that went undefeated that year.

Even more interesting is that there are only 6 players at the club who played in the 2018 premiership team, that goes to show what Covid did to a lot of clubs, it wiped out a lot of footy careers.

How many of the Rovers team from that day are still running around?

At Ivanhoe we had only one player (Danny Jones) who played in our 2015 GF loss to OP's, who played with us last year in our Win.
Around half are playing in professional competitions and two others in higher level ammos (Kew* and Fitzroy).

*We will play Kew this year with our promotion from last season.

Chump

 

[Mr Platinum]

At Ivanhoe we had only one player (Danny Jones) who played in our 2015 GF loss to OP's, who played with us last year in our Win.
Around half are playing in professional competitions and two others in higher level ammos (Kew* and Fitzroy).

*We will play Kew this year with our promotion from last season.

Chump

That’s a crazy stat, it must be very hard competing against the money clubs, whilst I look forward to you beating Kew!

 

[Deleted member 20240623]

That’s a crazy stat, it must be very hard competing against the money clubs, whilst I look forward to you beating Kew!

Are you saying that Old Parade are a money club? . Next peeps will be saying that the Hoes are playing players like they did back in the C grade days when we played you at Como? Chump you would no a few of those blokes like Stef and that bloke you got from the VFA?

 

[Champ or Chump]

That’s a crazy stat, it must be very hard competing against the money clubs, whilst I look forward to you beating Kew!

Yes, competing against NFNL for talent is probably our biggest challenge, but having all but 4 of our Colts (2 x under 17's teams) attend private schools also makes a big impact. Throw in we were in 5th Div Ammo's last year and you need to work very hard to attract people to your club.

Chump

 

[Champ or Chump]

Are you saying that Old Parade are a money club? . Next peeps will be saying that the Hoes are playing players like they did back in the C grade days when we played you at Como? Chump you would no a few of those blokes like Stef and that bloke you got from the VFA?

A can of warm Coke and an Cold Pie about the going rate back then Brainy!

At Como though, they were backing in the range Rover to get the sack fulls of cash ...... Tails, Housey, Vicko, Furph, Tim Manton and Mark Neeld just to name a few .....not to mention JWS!!

Good times Brainy, but unfortunately you had the better of us on a few more occasions, especially at Como!

Chump

P.S. The big guys was Darren 'Dumbo' Williams - a few of our guys played a few games with him at Preston and got him to our club when he didnt want to take his footy that seriously. Did his knee when playing with us in C grade (had kicked 69 goals in 11 games). Later went on to be playing-Coach at Willy CYMS