2023 Fixture Calendar revealed

The VAFA is excited to release the 2023 Fixture Calendar, confirming important dates and structure for the 2023 season.

Crucial to the development of the fixture for season 2023 has been club feedback across the season, responses to the 2022 VAFA End of Season Football Operations Survey as well as consultation and collaboration with the VAFA Football Advisory Groups.

Key fixture details are listed below:

• Round 1 will commence on Saturday 15^th April, 2023 being the first weekend after Easter.
• There are no longer consecutive byes in early July for the Men’s Premier Competition with one of those byes moved to the weekend of 19/20 August. The reasoning behind this decision is to introduce a more favourable spread of byes across the season (therefore continuing the momentum of matches); to provide teams an opportunity to rest and recharge before the final block of matches and finals; and to increase the number of neutral venues available for Women’s Divisional and Men’s Thirds Semi-Finals on the weekend of 19/20 August should they be required.
• The consecutive byes in early July is now a feature of the Under 19 Men’s Competition and Under 23 Men’s Competition fixtures. The VAFA believes players in those competitions are more likely to maximise the byes as they fall within the university holidays period. Grand Finals for these Competitions will now be played as part of Grand Final ‘triple headers’ with the Men’s Premier Competition.
• William Buck Premier Women’s increases to 10 teams, 18 rounds and 18 matches to maximise participation opportunities as per the 2022-2024 Women’s Football Competition Game Plan. Further details on Premier B Women’s and Premier C Women’s will be finalised in early 2023 but for the purposes of this release they are aligned with William Buck Premier Women’s for now.
• The Men’s Thirds Competitions and Women’s Divisional Competitions increase to 16 rounds and 16 matches. Sections will remain at eight (8) teams to ensure there are no byes and that the sections are competitive and sustainable.

It’s important to note that finals matches can be scheduled to be played on a Saturday or a Sunday.

Details relating to themed rounds for the 2023 season will be confirmed following the announcement of the VAFA Strategic Plan in December.

Fixtures for the 2023 season will be released from late November onwards, following consultation from clubs.

Download 2023 VAFA Fixture Calendar