| Competition: | vafa |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Date: | 15 April − 15 September 2021 |
| Teams: | 63 |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 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]
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]
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]
| Competition: | vafap |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Teams: | 10 |
| Premiers: | Collegians |
| Minor Premiers: | Collegians |
| Wooden Spooners: | Caulfield Grammarians |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 2024 |
Collegians won their 18th Premier Division premiership, defeating St Kevin's by 85 points.
| Team | 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 |
| Competition: | vafapb |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Teams: | 10 |
| Premiers: | St Bernard's |
| Minor Premiers: | St Bernard's |
| Wooden Spooners: | Monash Blues |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 2024 |
St Bernard's won their 5th Premier B premiership, defeating by 31 points, although Fitzroy was also promoted to Premier Division for the first time since the club entered the VAFA.[19]
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.[20] 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.[21]
As a result of gaining the four points that Beaumaris had lost, St Bernard's finished with a perfect season.
| Team | Qualification | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Bernard's (P) | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1925 | 905 | 212.7 | 72 | Finals series |
| 2 | 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 |
| Competition: | vafapc |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Teams: | 9 |
| Premiers: | Old Camberwell |
| Minor Premiers: | Old Ivanhoe |
| Wooden Spooners: | Ormond |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 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.[22] Additionally, only one team would be relegated to Division 1, instead of the usual two.[23]
| Team | 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 |
| Competition: | vafad1 |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Teams: | 10 |
| Premiers: | Glen Eira |
| Minor Premiers: | Glen Eira |
| Wooden Spooners: | Ivanhoe |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 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 and -listed player.[24]
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.[25] Preston was ultimately not relegated for the 2024 season as part of the VAFA's aim to keep all divisions at 10 teams each.[26]
| Team | 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 |
| Competition: | vafad2 |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Teams: | 10 |
| Premiers: | Parkside |
| Minor Premiers: | Parkside |
| Wooden Spooners: | Aquinas |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 2024 |
Parkside won their first Division 2 premiership, defeating Old Yarra Cobras (who were in their first VAFA season) by three points.[27]
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.[28]
| Team | 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 |
| Competition: | vafad3 |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Teams: | 8 |
| Premiers: | Elsternwick |
| Minor Premiers: | Elsternwick |
| Wooden Spooners: | Swinburne University |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 2024 |
| Team | 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 |
| Competition: | vafad4 |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Teams: | 6 |
| Premiers: | North Brunswick |
| Minor Premiers: | North Brunswick |
| Wooden Spooners: | Eley Park |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 2024 |
Division 4 was abolished at the end of the season and merged into Division 3.[29]
| Team | 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 |