Moments we’re just putting on ice for 2020

Nick Armistead

If there’s one thing everyone deserves after the events of 2020, it’s an overwhelmingly positive run at 2021. And while a lot of things have been put on ice for now, boy do we have some celebrations to look forward to when VAFA footy returns to our Saturday afternoons.

Caulfield and OM’s celebrate 101

2020 was set to be 365 days of festivities for two of the VAFA’s oldest clubs – Caulfield Grammarians and Old Melburnians. The queen doesn’t dish out letters for just any cake days, but OM’s and the Fields were tipped to receive one for their 100^th year celebrations. Despite the two William Buck Premier clubs being unable to properly commemorate their milestones this year, we’re tipping the 101^st frivolities will start early and finish late! And there is no doubt the Fields Centenary Lager will be flowing…

Payzey stranded on 399*

After kicking his 1000^th career goal for Old Peninsula in 2019, the next notch in Shaun Payze’s illustrious career was set to be obtained in Round 1 2020. Payze, who joined the Pirates in 1998, has a long list of accolades including club captain, Big V representative, Fullerton Medallist, and competition leading goal kicker multiple times. After all that, he sits on 399 games and was set to run out for his 400^th in the opening round of the season, making him just the second player in the VAFA to achieve the feat. With the 400-game celebrations on ice, we expect absolutely no spelling errors on his banner.

St John’s, Swinburne fight back

Football fans love a comeback story more than the average pundit, and both St John’s and Swinburne University were set to re-announce themselves in the senior sections once again. Having struggled for playing numbers over the past couple of years, they regrouped in Thirds/Club XVIII while working diligently to ensure they could compete and return to Division 4. One more year to wait but what an amazing story it will be.

CY’s trip to Premier B delayed

There was a feeling across the West Gate Bridge that 2019 was the start of something incredibly special for Williamston CYMS. One of local footy’s biggest and proudest clubs won four flags last year, including their senior men’s, and had a ticket booked for their first-ever trip to Premier B since joining the VAFA in 1983. With 2019 VAFA Coach of the Year, Mat Montebello, recommitting for 2021 and a raft of recruits putting in an extra long pre-season, the CY’s are set to make waves when finally given the chance to dive into Premier B.

Ayce’s three-peat

Only five players have ever won back-to-back Woodrow Medals –Jock Nelson (MHSOB), Norm Beattie (Coburg), Bernie Dinneen (Marcellin), Lindsay Hassett (Geelong) and current Uni Blues skipper Ayce Cordy. However, nobody has ever been able to secure the three-peat, leaving Cordy in a position to make history after he claimed both the 2018 and 2019 honours. It’s a big ask, but he’s a big man with an even bigger game.

Daniel Harford to coach Big V Women’s

While the Big V representative program has always been able to attract high-quality coaches, never has a current AFL/AFLW coach taken the reins. That was precisely what was to happen this year when Carlton AFLW mentor and former St Kevin’s OB premiership coach Daniel Harford agreed to lead our women against the Adelaide Footy League. Fingers crossed the stars align for 2021 and our women get the chance to play under Hawthorn’s greatest number 5.

*Photo: Herald Sun