Full Time Staff

Michael Sholly: Chief Executive Officer

Michael commenced as the CEO in 2005 after a career in education spanning twenty years mostly at St Kevin’s College.  He has had vast playing and coaching experience in both cricket and football.  After a knee injury curtailed his football career, Michael concentrated on cricket where he successfully played and led both Melbourne and University Cricket Clubs to multiple premierships.

After 22 years in Premier Cricket, including four years as the Victorian Under 19 coach, Michael returned to the VAFA as senior coach of the Old Xaverians, winning the A Section Grand Final in 2003. 

Michael and his wife Fiona have three daughters – Matilda 17, Eliza 15 and Victoria 11.

Sue Anderson: General Manager, Finance & Administration

Sue has worked in all areas of the Association and currently manages Finance, Tribunal, Investigations and Events. 

Sue was Club Secretary at Hampton Rovers before joining the VAFA in 1984. Her sons, David and Stephen, both have  played with Rovers.   

Jeremy Bourke: General Manager, Football Operations

Jeremy  was appointed to his VAFA role in January 2006 after playing 84 games with Old Haileybury over 6 seasons and representing the VAFA twice.

Jeremy holds accreditations as a Level 2 coach, a Level 1 umpire and is currently completing a Masters degree in Sport Management at Deakin University.

Jeremy is married to Kim and has a son - Corey, aged 3, and a daughter Keira aged 1.

Brian Goodman: General Manager, Umpire Operations

Brian “Benny” Goodman umpired 347 Senior VAFA and seventeen representative matches. 

He was appointed as Umpires Adviser in 2004 and took over Umpire Operations later that year. 

Brian has attained Level 3 accreditation as an Umpires Coach, only one of five in Australia.

Brian played 106 games of VAFA football with Brunswick Amateurs winning 2 best & fairest awards. Brian has a Diploma & Masters in Training & Development and has a Cert IV workplace Trainer & Assessor certificate.

Michael Fitzgerald    : General Manager, Marketing & Communications

Michael joined the VAFA as Communications Manager in April 2009 after twenty years providing strategic policy and communications advice in politics and government, both in Australia and in the USA.

A three-time premiership cricket captain in Adelaide Turf cricket, he has been involved with amateur football as an administrator and player from 1972, firstly in SA, where he is a Life Member of the Old Ignatians Football Club, and since 2000 with VAFA football.

Jessica Ware: Administration Assistant

Jess attended Siena College, completing VCE in 2005 and furthered her studies at La Trobe University, completing a Bachelor of Business majoring in Management and Marketing.

Previously she was employed at the MCG in events and also at the National Sports Museum.

Joe Morsello: Operations Assistant

Joe completed his traineeship in March 2008 and then became a full time staff member.