VAFA stalwart and Big V Champion, Russell Barnes, has been appointed coach of the Premier B – Division 4 representative side set to take on the Western Australian Amateur Football League on July 7.
Russell is a well-known coaching identity among the VAFA community after stints with St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, Aquinas, Old Brighton, Ormond and Hampton Rovers.
His playing career is as good as it gets at amateur level, playing 255 games for Ormond during an era when they were considered one of the best sides in VAFA history. As such, Russell was a four-time premiership player, three of which he captained – 1985 (capt), 1987 (capt), 1988 (capt) and 1990 (unfortunately, Russell missed Ormond’s 1989 GF with injury). He was also named in the Ormond 50-year team.
Russell was inducted as a Champion of the Big V last year after 11 appearances between 1981 and 1989, vice-captaining the side in 1987.
It will be the first Premier B – Division 4 side since 2015 when the VAFA went down to AFL Vic Country by 29 points at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
The B-Div 4 program offers players from all sections the chance to wear the Big V and we look forward to an excellent campaign over the coming months. The game will take place on the Saturday while the U19’s Big V side will face off with AFL Vic Country the following day on Sunday July 8 at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
Photo: Herald Sun
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