# 2018 VAFA season

The 2018 VAFA season was the 118th season of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), the largest senior community Australian rules football competition in Victoria. A total of 70 teams participated across seven divisions under a promotion and relegation system.

## Association membership

Prior to the start of the season, Point Cook and Old Eltham Collegians left the VAFA to join the Western Football Netball League and Northern Football Netball League respectively.

### Name changes

Brunswick NOBSPC, which had most recently been renamed from NOBs/St Pat's in 2015, changed its name to Brunswick Football Club in October 2017.

## Notable events

* VAFA defeated Vic Country under-19s 9.13 (67) to 5.14 (44) in a representative match on 8 July.

## Premier

St Kevin's Old Boys won their second Premier Division premiership in a row, defeating Collegians by 5 points in the Grand Final.
Four members of the St Kevin's premiership side − Lachie Sullivan, Ned Reeves, Tom Jok and Ethan Phillips − have since gone on to play in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Old Scotch and St Bedes/Mentone Tigers were relegated.

### Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | St Kevin's (P) | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1636 | 1186 | 137.9 | 60 | Finals series |
| 2 | Collegians | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1660 | 1245 | 133.3 | 56 | Finals series |
| 3 | Old Brighton | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1392 | 1542 | 90.3 | 48 | Finals series |
| 4 | Old Trinity | 18 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1367 | 1375 | 99.4 | 42 | Finals series |
| 5 | University Blues | 18 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 1389 | 1395 | 99.6 | 30 |
| 6 | De La Salle | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1404 | 1384 | 101.5 | 28 |
| 7 | Old Xaverians | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1389 | 1373 | 101.8 | 28 |
| 8 | Old Melburnians | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1147 | 1506 | 76.2 | 28 |
| 9 | Old Scotch | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1366 | 1420 | 96.2 | 24 | Relegation |
| 10 | St Bedes/Mentone Tigers | 18 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 1294 | 1618 | 80.0 | 16 | Relegation |
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

### Finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | |
| Saturday, 1 September | St Kevin's 10.7 (67) | def. by | Collegians 11.8 (74) | Elsternwick Park |
| Sunday, 2 September | Old Brighton 7.15 (57) | def. by | Old Trinity Grammarians 13.19 (97) | Elsternwick Park |
| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Sunday, 9 September | St Kevin's 19.12 (126) | def. | Old Trinity Grammarians 9.9 (63) | Elsternwick Park |
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | |
| Sunday, 16 September | Collegians 11.14 (80) | def. by | St Kevin's 12.13 (85) | Elsternwick Park |

## Premier B

St Bernard's defeated Old Carey by 83 points in the Grand Final.
AJAX coach Mark Williams, a former Australian Football League (AFL) player and coach, left at the end of the season after the club was relegated.

### Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | St Bernard's (P) | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2282 | 937 | 243.5 | 64 | Finals series |
| 2 | Old Carey | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1868 | 1078 | 173.3 | 64 | Finals series |
| 3 | University Blacks | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1999 | 1145 | 174.6 | 60 | Finals series |
| 4 | Caulfield Grammarians | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1703 | 1269 | 134.2 | 44 | Finals series |
| 5 | Beaumaris | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1494 | 1278 | 116.9 | 44 |
| 6 | Parkdale Vultures | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1190 | 1668 | 71.3 | 24 |
| 7 | Old Haileybury | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1268 | 1630 | 77.8 | 20 |
| 8 | Monash Blues | 18 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 990 | 2032 | 48.7 | 16 |
| 9 | AJAX | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 1148 | 1889 | 60.8 | 12 | Relegation |
| 10 | Mazenod | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 874 | 1890 | 46.2 | 12 | Relegation |
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

### Finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | |
| Saturday, 1 September | St Bernard's 11.10 (76) | def. | Old Carey 6.9 (45) | Box Hill City Oval |
| Sunday, 2 September | University Blacks 16.11 (107) | def. | Caulfield Grammarians 12.16 (88) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Saturday, 8 September | Old Carey 12.13 (85) | def. | University Blacks 11.15 (81) | Elsternwick Park |
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | |
| Saturday, 15 September | St Bernard's 18.15 (123) | def. | Old Carey 5.10 (40) | Elsternwick Park |
| Both teams promoted to Premier Division ||||||

## Premier C

Fitzroy won their first senior premiership since the 1944 VFL Grand Final, and their first in the VAFA since merging with the Fitzroy Reds, with a 70-point victory over Williamstown CYMS.

### Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Williamstown CYMS | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2032 | 1070 | 189.9 | 64 | Finals series |
| 2 | Fitzroy (P) | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1904 | 1064 | 179.0 | 60 | Finals series |
| 3 | Old Geelong | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1654 | 1292 | 128.0 | 48 | Finals series |
| 4 | Old Camberwell | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1589 | 1382 | 115.0 | 44 | Finals series |
| 5 | Marcellin | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1505 | 1423 | 105.8 | 36 |
| 6 | Old Ivanhoe | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1595 | 1657 | 96.3 | 18 |
| 7 | Old Mentonians | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1365 | 1561 | 87.4 | 18 |
| 8 | PEGS | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1245 | 1463 | 85.1 | 18 |
| 9 | Old Peninsula | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1096 | 1842 | 59.5 | 20 | Relegation |
| 10 | St Mary's Salesian | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 1194 | 2425 | 49.2 | 4 | Relegation |
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

### Finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | |
| Saturday, 1 September | Williamstown CYMS 9.10 (64) | def. by | Fitzroy 10.7 (67) | Bill Lawry Oval |
| Sunday, 2 September | Old Geelong 8.16 (64) | def. | Old Camberwell Grammarians 8.9 (57) | Bill Lawry Oval |
| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Saturday, 8 September | Williamstown CYMS 9.11 (65) | def. by | Old Geelong 8.18 (66) | Box Hill City Oval |
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | |
| Saturday, 15 September | Fitzroy 16.11 (107) | def. | Old Geelong 5.7 (37) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| Both teams were promoted to Premier B ||||||

## Division 1
### Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hampton Rovers | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1857 | 996 | 186.5 | 58 | Finals series |
| 2 | Ormond (P) | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1833 | 1234 | 148.5 | 58 | Finals series |
| 3 | Oakleigh | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1743 | 1303 | 133.8 | 48 | Finals series |
| 4 | Therry Penola | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1652 | 1311 | 126.0 | 48 | Finals series |
| 5 | Prahran Assumption | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1529 | 1066 | 143.4 | 44 |
| 6 | Preston Bullants | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1556 | 1450 | 107.3 | 36 |
| 7 | West Brunswick | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1282 | 1499 | 85.5 | 28 |
| 8 | Kew | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1241 | 1458 | 85.1 | 24 |
| 9 | Brunswick | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 1122 | 2124 | 52.8 | 12 | Relegation |
| 10 | Ivanhoe | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 893 | 2267 | 39.4 | 4 | Relegation |
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

### Finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | |
| Saturday, 25 August | Hampton Rovers 9.14 (68) | def. by | Ormond 13.19 (97) | Elsternwick Park |
| Sunday, 26 August | Oakleigh 15.10 (100) | def. | Therry Penola 13.21 (99) | Bill Lawry Oval |
| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Saturday, 1 September | Hampton Rovers 14.11 (95) | def. | Oakleigh 9.8 (62) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | |
| Saturday, 8 September | Ormond 11.9 (75) | def. | Hampton Rovers 9.15 (69) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| Both teams were promoted to Premier C ||||||

## Division 2

Following the conclusion of the season, in which they finished last, Eltham Collegians left the VAFA and transferred to the Northern Football League.

### Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | UHS-VU (P) | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2096 | 1055 | 198.7 | 68 | Finals series |
| 2 | Old Paradians | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1767 | 1223 | 144.4 | 60 | Finals series |
| 3 | Whitefriars | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 2013 | 1077 | 186.9 | 56 | Finals series |
| 4 | Yarra Old Grammarians | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 2051 | 1402 | 146.3 | 56 | Finals series |
| 5 | MHSOB | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1533 | 1448 | 105.9 | 36 |
| 6 | Bulleen Templestowe | 18 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1441 | 1561 | 92.2 | 22 |
| 7 | St John's | 18 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1225 | 1725 | 71.0 | 22 |
| 8 | Power House | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1256 | 1869 | 67.2 | 20 |
| 9 | Emmaus St Leo's | 18 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 1207 | 1874 | 64.4 | 16 | Relegation |
| 10 | Eltham Collegians | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 834 | 2188 | 38.1 | 4 | Relegation |
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

### Finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | |
| Sunday, 26 August | Whitefriars 14.13 (97) | def. | Yarra Old Grammarians 11.11 (77) | Box Hill City Oval |
| Sunday, 26 August | UHS-VU 12.9 (81) | def. | Old Paradians 9.11 (65) | Coburg City Oval |
| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Sunday, 2 September | Old Paradians 12.8 (80) | def. | Whitefriars 8.12 (60) | Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn |
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | |
| Sunday, 9 September | UHS-VU 14.17 (101) | def. | Old Paradians 6.10 (46) | Coburg City Oval |
| Both teams were promoted to Division 1 ||||||

## Division 3
### Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Glen Eira (P) | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2104 | 1119 | 188.0 | 68 | Finals series |
| 2 | Hawthorn | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 2164 | 1414 | 153.0 | 52 | Finals series |
| 3 | Westbourne Grammarians | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1855 | 1346 | 137.8 | 48 | Finals series |
| 4 | Aquinas | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1784 | 1468 | 121.5 | 40 | Finals series |
| 5 | Manningham Cobras | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1632 | 1430 | 114.1 | 40 |
| 6 | Swinburne University | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1687 | 1499 | 112.5 | 40 |
| 7 | Canterbury | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1569 | 1329 | 118.1 | 36 |
| 8 | Richmond Central | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1372 | 1510 | 90.9 | 28 |
| 9 | Albert Park | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 1000 | 2185 | 45.8 | 4 | Relegation |
| 10 | La Trobe University | 18 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 773 | 2640 | 29.3 | 4 | Relegation |
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

### Finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | |
| Saturday, 25 August | Glen Eira 10.9 (69) | def. | Hawthorn 9.14 (68) | Whitefriars College, Donvale |
| Sunday, 26 August | Westbourne Grammarians 9.25 (79) | def. | Aquinas OC 6.7 (43) | Garvey Oval, Bundoora |
| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Saturday, 1 September | Hawthorn 10.16 (76) | def. | Westbourne Grammarians 7.8 (50) | Garvey Oval, Bundoora |
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | |
| Sunday, 9 September | Glen Eira 10.12 (72) | def. | Hawthorn 8.9 (57) | Trevor Barker Oval |
| Both teams were promoted to Division 2 ||||||

## Division 4

Following the conclusion of the season, Mt Lilydale Old Collegians merged with Croydon North to form Croydon North MLOC Football Club, and then transferred to the Eastern Football League.

### Ladder

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | North Brunswick (P) | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2165 | 1039 | 208.4 | 64 | Finals series |
| 2 | Parkside | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 1933 | 1000 | 193.3 | 56 | Finals series |
| 3 | St Francis Xavier | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 2014 | 998 | 201.8 | 48 | Finals series |
| 4 | South Melbourne Districts | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1566 | 1529 | 102.4 | 40 | Finals series |
| 5 | South Mornington | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1617 | 1619 | 99.9 | 36 |
| 6 | Elsternwick | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1660 | 1670 | 99.4 | 36 |
| 7 | Eley Park | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 1409 | 1810 | 77.9 | 32 |
| 8 | Mt Lilydale | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1253 | 1692 | 74.1 | 20 |
| 9 | Box Hill North | 18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 1229 | 1964 | 62.6 | 20 |
| 10 | Masala | 18 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 843 | 2368 | 35.6 | 8 |
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

### Finals

| | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | |
| Saturday, 25 August | North Brunswick 14.13 (97) | def. | Parkside 6.13 (49) | Garvey Oval, Bundoora |
| Sunday, 26 August | St. Francis Xavier OC 12.8 (80) | def. | South Melbourne Districts 7.8 (50) | Waverley Oval, Malvern East |
| | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | |
| Saturday, 1 September | Parkside 15.5 (95) | def. | St. Francis Xavier OC 4.6 (30) | Whitefriars College, Donvale |
| | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | |
| Saturday, 8 September | North Brunswick 15.11 (101) | def. | Parkside 9.11 (65) | Garvey Oval, Bundoora |
| Both teams were promoted to Division 3 ||||||

## Minor grades

Reserves, thirds and under-19s competitions were all held alongside the seniors.

### Reserves

| Division | Premiers | Premiers | Runners-up | Runners-up | Venue | Date |
| Division | Club | Score | Club | Score | Venue | Date |
| Premier | Old Xaverians | 6.8 (44) | Old Melburnians | 12.7 (79) | Elsternwick Park | 16 September 2018 |
| Premier B | Beaumaris | 12.9 (81) | University Blacks | 4.10 (34) | Elsternwick Park | 15 September 2018 |
| Premier C | Fitzroy | 6.6 (42) | Old Geelong | 3.9 (33) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 15 September 2018 |
| Division 1 | Ormond | 15.10 (100) | Hampton Rovers | 10.13 (73) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 8 September 2018 |
| Division 2 | Whitefriars | 9.13 (67) | MHSOB | 6.9 (45) | Coburg City Oval | 9 September 2018 |
| Division 3 | Hawthorn | 7.13 (55) | Glen Eira | 4.9 (33) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 9 September 2018 |
| Division 4 | North Brunswick | 9.8 (62) | Parkside | 9.6 (60) | Garvey Oval | 8 September 2018 |

### Thirds

| Division | Premiers | Premiers | Runners-up | Runners-up | Venue | Date |
| Division | Club | Score | Club | Score | Venue | Date |
| Premier | St Kevin's Gold | 10.22 (82) | Old Melburnians | 5.2 (32) | Elsternwick Park | 16 September 2018 |
| Section 2 | De La Salle | 8.12 (60) | Beaumaris | 6.5 (41) | Elsternwick Park | 26 August 2018 |
| Section 3 | St Bernard's | 10.8 (68) | Old Carey | 8.10 (58) | Coburg City Oval | 26 August 2018 |
| Section 4 | Hawthorn | 10.11 (71) | MHSOB Maroon | 3.10 (28) | Box Hill City Oval | 26 August 2018 |
| Section 5 | Monash Blues | 11.2 (68) | Kew | 6.7 (43) | Bill Lawry Oval | 26 August 2018 |

### Under-19s

| Division | Premiers | Premiers | Runners-up | Runners-up | Venue | Date |
| Division | Club | Score | Club | Score | Venue | Date |
| Premier | Old Xaverians | 9.8 (62) | Old Scotch | 7.11 (53) | Box Hill City Oval | 9 September 2018 |
| Premier Reserves | Old Xaverians 2 | 11.9 (75) | St Kevin's | 6.11 (47) | Box Hill City Oval | 9 September 2018 |
| Section 2 | Old Carey | 12.12 (84) | Williamstown CYMS | 9.12 (66) | Box Hill City Oval | 8 September 2018 |
| Section 3 | Old Brighton | 12.6 (78) | Mazenod | 7.12 (54) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 8 September 2018 |
| Section 4 | Glen Eira | 12.9 (81) | PEGS | 10.8 (68) | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 9 September 2018 |
| Section 5 | Aquinas | 14.12 (96) | De La Salle | 8.10 (58) | Garvey Oval | 8 September 2018 |