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.

2018 VAFA season
Teams70
Matches played658
← 2017
2019 →

Association membership

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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

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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.[1][2]

Notable events

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Premier

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2018 VAFA Premier season
Teams10
PremiersSt Kevin's
Minor premiersSt Kevin's
Wooden spoonersSt Bedes/Mentone Tigers
Best and fairestAyce Cordy (University Blues)
Leading goalkickerBilly Kanakis (St Kevin's) 60 goals[4]
Matches played94
← 2017
2019 →

St Kevin's Old Boys won their second Premier Division premiership in a row, defeating Collegians by 5 points in the Grand Final.[5]

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).[6][7]

Old Scotch and St Bedes/Mentone Tigers were relegated.

Ladder

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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
3 Old Brighton 18 12 6 0 1392 1542 90.3 48
4 Old Trinity 18 10 7 1 1367 1375 99.4 42
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

Source: [8]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

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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
Sunday, 9 September St Kevin's 19.12 (126) def. Old Trinity Grammarians 9.9 (63) Elsternwick Park
Grand Final
Sunday, 16 September Collegians 11.14 (80) def. by St Kevin's 12.13 (85) Elsternwick Park

Premier B

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2018 VAFA Premier B season
Teams10
PremiersSt Bernard's
Minor premiersSt Bernard's
Wooden spoonersMazenod
Best and fairestChad Jones (St Bernard's)
Leading goalkickerChad Jones (St Bernard's) 105 goals[9]
Matches played94
← 2017
2019 →

St Bernard's defeated Old Carey by 83 points in the Grand Final.[10]

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.[11][12]

Ladder

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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
3 University Blacks 18 15 3 0 1999 1145 174.6 60
4 Caulfield Grammarians 18 11 7 0 1703 1269 134.2 44
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

Source: [13]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

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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
Saturday, 8 September Old Carey 12.13 (85) def. University Blacks 11.15 (81) Elsternwick Park
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

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2018 VAFA Premier C season
Teams10
PremiersFitzroy
Minor premiersWilliamstown CYMS
Wooden spoonersSt. Mary's Salesian
Best and fairestYuma Hemphill (Williamstown CYMS)
Leading goalkickerAdrian Romanyk (PEGS) 61 goals[14]
Matches played94
← 2017
2019 →

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.[15][16]

Ladder

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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
3 Old Geelong 18 12 6 0 1654 1292 128.0 48
4 Old Camberwell 18 11 7 0 1589 1382 115.0 44
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

Source: [17]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

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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
Saturday, 8 September Williamstown CYMS 9.11 (65) def. by Old Geelong 8.18 (66) Box Hill City Oval
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

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2018 VAFA Division 1 season
Teams10
PremiersOrmond
Minor premiersHampton Rovers
Wooden spoonersIvanhoe
Best and fairestSean Calcedo
(Preston Bullants)
Leading goalkickerAaron Cloke
(Oakleigh − 107 goals)
Matches played94
← 2017
2019 →

Ladder

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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
3 Oakleigh 18 12 6 0 1743 1303 133.8 48
4 Therry Penola 18 12 6 0 1652 1311 126.0 48
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

Source: [18]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

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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
Saturday, 1 September Hampton Rovers 14.11 (95) def. Oakleigh 9.8 (62) Trevor Barker Oval
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

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2018 VAFA Division 2 season
Teams10
PremiersUHS-VU
Minor premiersUHS-VU
Wooden spoonersEltham Collegians
Best and fairestBrandon Jackson (UHS-VU)
Leading goalkickerBrandon Jackson (UHS-VU) 78 goals[19]
Matches played94
← 2017
2019 →

Following the conclusion of the season, in which they finished last, Eltham Collegians left the VAFA and transferred to the Northern Football League.[20]

Ladder

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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
3 Whitefriars 18 14 4 0 2013 1077 186.9 56
4 Yarra Old Grammarians 18 14 4 0 2051 1402 146.3 56
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

Source: [21]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

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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
Sunday, 2 September Old Paradians 12.8 (80) def. Whitefriars 8.12 (60) Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn
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

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2018 VAFA Division 3 season
Teams10
PremiersGlen Eira
Minor premiersGlen Eira
Wooden spoonersLa Trobe University
Best and fairestJustin Raiti (Hawthorn)
Leading goalkickerKane Maghamez
(Manningham − 56 goals)[22]
Matches played94
← 2017
2019 →

Ladder

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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
3 Westbourne Grammarians 18 12 6 0 1855 1346 137.8 48
4 Aquinas 18 10 8 0 1784 1468 121.5 40
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

Source: [23]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

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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
Saturday, 1 September Hawthorn 10.16 (76) def. Westbourne Grammarians 7.8 (50) Garvey Oval, Bundoora
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

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2018 VAFA Division 4 season
Teams10
PremiersNorth Brunswick
Minor premiersNorth Brunswick
Wooden spoonersMasala
Best and fairestMarco Creek (Parkside)
Leading goalkickerTravis French (South Mornington) 83 goals[24]
Matches played94
← 2017
2019 →

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.[25]

Ladder

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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
3 St Francis Xavier 18 12 6 0 2014 998 201.8 48
4 South Melbourne Districts 18 10 8 0 1566 1529 102.4 40
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: [26]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

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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
Saturday, 1 September Parkside 15.5 (95) def. St. Francis Xavier OC 4.6 (30) Whitefriars College, Donvale
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

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

Reserves

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Division Premiers Runners-up Venue Date
Club Score Club Score
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

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Division Premiers Runners-up Venue Date
Club Score Club Score
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

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Division Premiers Runners-up Venue Date
Club Score Club Score
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

References

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  1. ^ Mitchell, Tim (11 December 2017). "Summer of change for VAFA club Brunswick including appointment of first female club president and name change". Herald Sun.
  2. ^ "NOBs, Renegades and Dragons A Short History of Brunswick Football Club Incorporated". Brunswick Football Club. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Vic Country under-19 side beaten by VAFA in 2018 Challenge Cup match". The Weekly Times. 10 July 2018. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Awards".
  5. ^ "2018 William Buck Premier". GameDay.
  6. ^ Gabelich, Josh. "Why this premiership side is unlike any other". AFL.com.au.
  7. ^ "Easy does it". St Kevin's Old Boys Football Club. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024.
  8. ^ "2018 William Buck Premier". GameDay. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Awards".
  10. ^ Mitchell, Tim. "VAFA 2018: No scars remain from relegation season for St Bernard's". Herald Sun.
  11. ^ "Mark Williams - Head of Development". Melbourne Football Club. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  12. ^ Fetter, Aaron (9 August 2018). "Siren sounds on Williams". Australian Jewish News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Australian Football - VAFA Premiership Season (Premier B) - Season 2018".
  14. ^ "Awards".
  15. ^ "Fitzroy win VAFA Premier C division". Brisbane Lions. 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
  16. ^ Mitchell, Tim (17 September 2018). "VAFA Premier C: Fitzroy claims historic flag against Old Geelong". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Australian Football - VAFA Premiership Season (Premier C) - Season 2018".
  18. ^ "2018 VAFA Men's Premiership Season Division 1". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Awards".
  20. ^ "Eltham Collegians to play Division 3 in the NFNL for Season 2019". Northern Football Netball League. 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Australian Football - VAFA Premiership Season (Division 2) - Season 2018".
  22. ^ "Awards".
  23. ^ "Australian Football - VAFA Premiership Season (Division 3) - Season 2018".
  24. ^ "Awards".
  25. ^ "Croydon North-MLOC confirmed as EFL's 45TH senior club". Eastern Football League. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Australian Football - VAFA Premiership Season (Division 4) - Season 2018".