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Latest News

TOP MAN IN WHITE IS VAFA ALUM

By VAFA · September 23, 2011
TOP MAN IN WHITE IS VAFA ALUM

CONGRATS CHRIS


CHRIS Donlon has completed what would be AFL field-umpiring’s grand slam. Officiating in Saturday’s grand final at the MCG this Saturday, the Aspendale man added to his TAC Under-18 and VFL grand finals. These three performances embrace football’s three traditional tiers of juniors, reserves (VFL) and seniors (AFL).

Donlon’s journey is copy book: from outstanding junior umpire with the MSJFL, to the VAFA, then to the VFL, and finally, the AFL. Chris believes the two seasons umpiring at the VAFA has stood him in good stead to embrace the challenge of umpiring at the highest level.

Chris Donlon
Shirt Number: 1
AFL Debut: Round 5, Hawthorn v Brisbane, MCG, 2005
AFL Matches: 135
AFL Finals: 5
AFL Grand Finals: 1 – 2011
AFL National U16 Championships, 1999
U18 Championships, 2000
Umpiring Pathway to the AFL: 

  • Moorabbin Saints Junior Football League, 3 years between 1989-1994
  • Victorian Amateur Football Association, 1995-1996
  • Victorian Football League 1997-2004, (VFL Grand Final, 2004)

Career Highlights:

  • First AFL game 
  • VFL Grand Final 2004 

###

23.9.11
A number of former Ammo umpires are featuring in this week’s VFL  and TAC Cup Grand Finals.
The VFL Grand Final umpiring panel includes Matthew Jenkinson on the boundary and Anthony Kyrkou and Steve Piperno in the goals.
Two graduates from the VAFA will officiate at the TAC Grand Final. Nick Brown, recruited by the VFL last year,will be a field umpire, while Michael O’Donnell will be waving the flags. Congrats to both.
Once again, umpires properly trained in the VAFA under Brian Goodman and his team come to the fore.

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Premier Men's

William Buck Premier Men’s – Round 1 Preview

The summer sprint sessions are done. The 2k time trials are in the books. The intra-club matches are out of the way, and so are the ‘prackkys’ against other clubs.

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Latest News

THE PULSE – April 17, 2026

VAFA Gears Up for an Exciting 2026 Season With just one day to go before Round 1, anticipation is building across the VAFA community. Clubs are putting the finishing touches

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Latest News

William Buck Premier Women’s Season Preview

The William Buck Premier Women’s competition returns in 2026 following another thrilling season, with clubs reloading and refocusing after a tightly contested 2025 campaign. This season projects to be bigger

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William Buck Premier Men’s – Round 1 Preview

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THE PULSE – April 17, 2026

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