The Big V wrestled with then shook off a determined AFL Sydney team before driving away in the final stanza to win by 47 points at Blacktown International Sports Park.

Paul Wintle, leading the side as his brother Luke had done last yer, won the toss, but the wind offered no early advantage. The twilight contest began under perfect conditions and at great speed, with both teams seeking to gain an ascendancy. The Vics wasted some opportunities with some errant short passing before Jack Watts kicked the first goal. The Harboursiders kept up the pressure but could not garner sufficient return and the Big V, with some fine forward work from mosquitoes Lachlan Ferguson, Jack Bull and Tom O’Sullivan led by 11 points at the first change.

Jackson Eade opened the second stanza with a goal but The local team came out stronger. A late surge after some strong work by Cam Purss and Shane Neaves in the ruck and Trent Zimbachs and skipper Paul Wintle in defence saw the Big V go to the sheds nursing a nineteen point lead.

Pete Summers opened the third with a goal inside a minute, but AFL Sydney was not to be denied. The stadium lights shone brightly, and so too did Nathan Rimington, who found the ball consistently and created some fret run through the middle in the now treacherously slippery conditions.

At the final turn, the Vics led by 21 points and with a strong finish, put the game beyond the Two Blues’ reach. With the midfield rampant, the Big V played hard, running and grinding, applying pressure until the final siren.
Coach Simon Lethlean praised the endurance and commitment of his team, which had to work hard for the win.
Lachlan Ferguson, making his Senior Big V debut, won the Spirit of the Big V award. Daniel Strachan aggravated a lower leg injury and did not return after half-time.

The VAFA is now 3-0 against AFL Sydney. 
A replay is available here. (Currently slow)
VAFA                         5.5      9.6      11.11       15.18.108 
AFL Sydney                3.4      6.5        8.8           8.13.61

Goals: J Watts 3, L Ferguson 3, J Eade  2, T O’Sullivan, J Bull, L Hill, J Madden, M Handley, P Summers, N Roberts
Best: P Summers, J Bull, N Rimington, C Purss, P Wintle, L Ferguson
………….
Check out the form of our boys in the Big V as they travel to Sydney to meet AFL Sydney in a twilight clash. 
Four years ago, the game was a heartstopper. How will this year’s unit under Simon Lethlean fare? Find out. 
WATCH: the game, beginning at 4:00pm at http://new.livestream.com/aflsydney  
ON YOUR PHONE: m.vafa.livscores.redtxt.com.au 
FROM THE COMPUTER YOU ARE ON: http://livescores.redtxt.com.au/vafa/all And the team . . . to be captained by Paul "Rat" Wintle. A nice bit of history, as Luke "Juice" Wintle and Paul Wintle become the first brothers to captain the Big V – and in consecutive seasons too. 

2	Thomas O’Sullivan	Caulfield Grammarians
3	Ben Smithwick	Old Carey
4	Jack Bull	Collegians
5	Matthew Ball	Old Xaverians
6	James Rimington	Old Carey
7	Lachie Hill	Old Scotch
8	Daniel Strachan	Collegians
9	Trent Zimbachs	Collegians
10	Lachlan Ferguson	Collegians
11	Brad Rogerson	Old Xaverians
12	Josh Madden	St Bernard’s
13	Justin Perkins (VC)	Caulfield Grammarians
15	Andrew Scott	Collegians
17	Peter Summers	Uni Blues
18	Cameron Purss	Old Xaverians
20	Jack Watts	Uni Blues
21	Matt Handley	Old Xaverians
23	Justin Baxter	De La Salle
24	Will Tardif	Collegians
25	Shane Neaves	Old Scotch
26	Jackson Eade	Old Camberwell
27	Paul Wintle – (C)	St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers
32	Nick Roberts	De La Salle