FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

Vafa William Buck Season Launch

The VAFA officially launched the 2023 season on Wednesday night at The Park Melbourne. The feeling in the room was high with more than 250 guests in attendance.

Congratulations to Chris Swinburne (St Johns), Dean Lovig (Hampton Rovers), Fabio Maya (Prahran AFC), John Hands (Old Carey), Tim Shearer (Old Scotch), Trevor Ludeman (Brunswick FC) on their certificate of merit awards.

Congratulations also to long-term VAFA media personalities Michael Crooks (InnerFM) and Glen Scarborough (InnerFM & North West FM) on their VAFA Life Membership awards.

New Hawthorn President Andy Gowers stole the show with terrific stories from yesteryear, while Michael Fitzgerald reminisced on the InnerFM broadcast and the team that worked tirelessly to bring the match of the day coverage to life on 96.5FM.

Old Xaverians Celebrate 100 Years

This year, the competition’s most successful club Old Xaverians celebrate 100 years of existence. To mark the occasion, the club is hosting its Centenary Gala on Saturday, May 20 at Centrepiece.

The list of Old Xaverians legends goes on forever, we’re told a majority will be in attendance, with many Premiership success stories to be recounted on the night. Will Xav’s add another senior trophy to the cabinet in their Centenary season like Collegians did in 1992? Only time will tell.

FATHER-TIME CATCHES UP WITH PENINSULA’S GREATEST PIRATE

The VAFA wishes to congratulate Shaun Payze on a stellar 20-year career with Old Peninsula. Over the off-season, Payze announced his retirement after 428 senior games, and 1033 goals. According to the record books he is the equal games record-holder for the league with Peter Brabender from Old Paradians. Although, our statisticians claim Payze has also got 1 reserves game, and 1 representative game to his name, making his total 430.

Everything Old Is New Again For Prahran Fc

This is the new look supporters will see when Prahran takes the field in Division 1 on the weekend. Players will take the field in a strip similar to the traditional jumper worn in the club’s VFA days. The alternate or clash strip is a nod to the club’s partnership with Southbank Amateur Football Club.

In 2011, Prahran Amateur Football Club formed a partnership with Assumption College wearing the school strip on away games. Premierships followed in 2011 (Div 3) and 2017 (Div 2) but the partnership was dissolved at the end of last year. Prahran will play its home games at Lucas Reserve East Malvern this season while Toorak Park re-development proceeds.