William Buck VAFA Footy Flashback: VAFA vs VCFL

The first-ever game between the Amateurs & Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) took place at Queen Elizabeth Oval in 1984 & will be streamed Wednesday night as part of the William Buck VAFA Footy Flashback series.

Big V coach, Laurie Aghan, was disappointed in his side’s performance against the VFA earlier in the year so he brought in nine new players to face the VCFL; including, Alan Naylor (Ormond) and brilliant small men Frank Gleeson (Old Paradians), Dominic Simonetti (Marcellin) and Tony Balcombe (Ivanhoe). They joined Big V stars the ilk of Michael Yeo (Uni Blues & Old Carey), Nick Burne (Old Xavs), Steve Curtain (Old Xavs), Mick Deveson (De La Salle), and Rohan Brown (Old Melburnians).

Aghan’s Amateurs edged past the John Northey-coached Country team in what would be the first of many hard-fought matches between the two sides.

Tune in via the VAFA website or the VAFA Facebook page from 8pm Wednesday night to watch the groundbreaking match!

1984 VAFA Big V side (as pictured)

Back row: John Miles (Selector), Andrew Smythe (BT), Dominic Simonetti (Marc), Tony Balcombe (Ivan), Frank Gleeson (OP), Danny Corcoran (OX), Ricky De Marte (BT), Bernie Cooper (Marc), John Stevens (Trainer), Lou Arnold (Properties)

Centre row: John Dillon (Pres), Chris McAsey (Orm), Chris Stone (CG), Mick Deveson (DLS – C), Laurie Aghan (Coach), Fergus Kiel (OS), Michael McDonald (Ivan), Sam Assetta (Thomastown), Bruce Bourne (Manager), John Payne (Trainer)

Front row: Ken Evans-Smith (Trainer), Nick Burne (OX), Rohan Brown (OM), Steven Curtain (OX), Scott Nelson (OS), Peter Gittos (Ivan), Michael Yeo (UB & OC), Alan Naylor (Orm), Shane McGuire (Selector), Peter French (GM)