Can the Big V go 4 from 4?

Nick Armistead – @NickArmistead

Imagine a 10-year reunion with 88 players, 20+ coaches and support staff celebrating four Big V victories from four different teams in the one year? Not once has it ever been done but for the first time in 126 years, it just might.

Following the success of the senior men’s and women’s Big V sides in Adelaide recently, the VAFA has the chance to create history when the Premier B – Division 4 and U19’s face off against their respective opponents next month.

Outside of round-robin events such as carnivals and international tours, the Big V has never completed four victories in the one year from each of its separate teams – Seniors, B-D4, U23’s, U19’s & U18’s – and has the rare chance to do so in a little over two weeks.

The Premier B – Division 4 side, who clash with the Western Australian Amateur Football League (WAAFL) on July 7, has experienced several sectional combinations since it was first introduced as the C-F team in 1981 and hasn’t tasted victory since their five-point win over the Southern Football League in 2006. The team was introduced to offer players from lower sections the opportunity to don the Big V; particularly those star players who would be quite capable of playing at a higher level but instead opt to stay with their home club.

With players the ilk of Charlie Dillon (Parkdale Vultures), Tim Nixon (Caulfield Grammarians) and Michael Culliver (Westbourne Grammarians) committed to the cause, and with Big V Champion Russell Barnes at the helm, how good would it be to see the B-Div 4 side break its seven-game losing streak from the past 12 years? Now, the talented WAAFL unit we’ll be facing aren’t travelling into a Melbourne winter because it’s too hot on the west coast – they want to win. But with buy-in similar to what we’ve experienced in the senior side over the past two campaigns, a Big V victory is possible. Very possible.

The U19’s squad of 70 was arguably the strongest we’ve seen in years when it was released two weeks ago as they try to break their own four-game losing streak under new coach, Dave Kinsella.

14 players have been named Rising Star nominees over the past two years; including, Nino Lazzaro (Fitzroy), Anthony Larkey (OT), Anthony Zimmerman (OB), Ben Huggard (St Bernard’s) and Cam Hodges (SKOB).

Old Melburnians defender Robbie Morrison has been a standout down back for the Redlegs in the first 10 rounds, while Williamstown CY’s Jack Noonan is the very epitome of class. Campbell Walker booted four goals for Collegians over the weekend and Brunswick’s Daniel Mott is a 17yo prodigy ready to explode on the big stage whenever his chance arrives.

As you can see, I could mount an argument for any number of players in the U19’s squad but, as we know, AFL Victoria Country is one of the toughest opponents on offer. The two sides have met 17 times since 1988 with the Country running out winners on 10 occasions. Last year’s four-point loss was the Big V’s best result since our five-point win at St Kilda Cricket Ground in 2013. Are we edging closer to breaking the winless run? Quite possibly.

With two matches remaining in 2018, representative football is far from over for the Big V. History is on the cards and we look forward to watching our B-Div 4 and U19’s boys fly the flag for the Big V next month.

AAFC Championship Match: VAFA (B – Div 4) vs WAAFL

Date: Saturday 7 July

Venue: Trevor Barker Oval

Time: 2pm

VAFA U19’s vs AFL Victoria Country U19’s

Date: Sunday 8 July

Venue: Mars Stadium, Ballarat

Time: 2pm