For the Love of the Game’s Week 18, 2026 in Review
Jason Bennett, Matthew Donald & Brayden May unpack another crazy weekend of VAFA action as teams strive to make finals and avoid relegation, with desperate races all over the competition
Originally published by the Maroondah Leader
A 10-GOAL haul by Aquinas Old Collegians spearhead Liam Whelan helped the Bloods to their biggest winning margin since joining the VAFA in 1987.
Aquinas defeated St Francis Xavier by 175 points, 27.20 (182) to 0.7 (7), at the St Francis Xavier College oval in Beaconsfield.
Whelan’s 10 goals equalled the club’s goalkicking record, held by his father and Bloods legend Anthony Whelan.
Club president Terry McEvoy said the team tried hard to help the 19-year-old prodigy get one more goal to eclipse his dad’s mark.
“But they couldn’t get him over the line,” he said.
Whelan has amassed 26 goals in four games so far this season and is currently leading the Division 4 goalkicking table.
The VAFA congratulates Liam on the monumental feat and hopes to see him eclipse the record some time throughout the year.
Jason Bennett, Matthew Donald & Brayden May unpack another crazy weekend of VAFA action as teams strive to make finals and avoid relegation, with desperate races all over the competition
The fixture has been released for the Week 1 of the 2026 VAFA Finals Series, featuring Men’s Thirds Semi Finals, as well as Premier B, Divisional and Holmesglen U19 Premier
The VAFA congratulates Alicia Basham from Mazenod OC, who has been nominated as the Round 16 VAFA Women’s Rising Star. Alicia has enjoyed a consistent season in a team headed
