VAFA Media Release

The VAFA would like to add clarity to an article that appeared in Sunday’s Herald Sun newspaper titled ‘VAFA Review’.

An interview was conducted with VAFA Chief Executive Officer, Brett Connell, in response to media discussions earlier in the week regarding former Western Bulldogs player, Tom Boyd, joining St Kevin’s OB and a broader discussion that followed focused on the VAFA Amateur Status and the procedures and processes in place in regard to player qualifications as an amateur.

The article that appeared quoted and referenced excerpts from the interview and was not a complete transcript of the full interview.

During the interview a number of VAFA players and clubs were discussed as were examples of other community competitions and their management of the AFL Victoria Player Points System.

The intent of the interview was to further explain the VAFA’s strong position on Amateur Status, as well as the measures in place to safeguard our competition in relation to player payments – namely the VAFA’s Independent Integrity Division (IID), VAFA Permit Committee and the requirement of clubs and players to complete statutory declarations in relation to their participation in the VAFA.

These points were not included in the article.

The matter was further compounded by the reference to the University Blues FC and University Blacks FC and particular players, for which any innuendo raised is without substance.

The intention was never to focus on an individual VAFA club(s) nor community competitions, they were simply examples used in discussions and answers to particular questions throughout the interview.

The VAFA also welcome discussion and debate in relation to the rules that govern the eligibility to participate as an amateur and the conditions associated with the allocation of player points in respect to AFL Victoria’s Player Points system, of which there will always be differing views.

The VAFA stand firm in our resolve to continue to provide the fairest and most equitable competition structure for all member clubs and to uphold the amateur ethos.