2024 Division 2 Men’s Team of the Year
Division 2 Men’s was, without question, one of the most interesting sections in all of the VAFA throughout 2024. Brunswick set the early pace, winning 14 of their first 15,
VAFA Life Member and Historian, John Bell, has seen a lot of VAFA footy but there’s one performance that stands out above all others – in the U19’s.
Bulleen Templestowe and De La Salle were facing off in Round 16 of the 1982 season and, with both vying for finals, the winner would likely secure third spot and the right to wear the club’s home jumper in the first semi-final.
Given the similarity between the two blue and gold guernseys, the honour of wearing the club colours was lost of nobody and provided just as much inspiration as locking in a finals berth (almost).
What ensued was one of the best U19’s games ever seen and the start of an incredible Bullants run.
Trailing by 15 points at quarter time, Bulleen surged back with four goals to one in the second quarter and led 6.9 (45) to 5.7 (37) at the main break. This was all but a taste of what was to come as both sides lit up the scoreboard in the second half with another 12 goals to 10 giving Bulleen a 23-point victory 18.18 (126) to 15.13 (103).
Tim ‘Nipper’ Merrett was the star of the show, with the son of Collingwood FC champion, Thorald, booting eight goals from 15 scoring shots for the Bullants.
This result proved to be the turning point for the Bullants who not only won the elimination final against De La – while wearing their home strip and thanks to another five goals from Merrett – but also edged past Ormond by six points in the preliminary before running over Old Scotch in the decider.
1st Semi-Final (Elimination) Results
Bulleen-Temp | 3.10 | 11.12 | 14.20 | 16.24-120 |
De La Salle | 2.1 | 5.2 | 8.5 | 16.7-103 |
BULLEEN-TEMPLESTOWE: Merrett 5, Palmer 3, Barry 2, Jackson 2, Kelleher 2, Chivera, Loth
BEST: Chivers, Delanty, J. Mason, Merrett, O’Mara, Palmer
DE LA SALLE: Waldron 5, Murphy 3, McLoughlin 2, Newton, Ladson, Watts, Knupel, Horrigan, Lagastes
BEST: Waldron, Griffith, Hirons, Newton, Horrigan, Aitken
Preliminary Final Results
Bulleen-Temp | 1.5 | 6.9 | 10.10 | 13.12-90 |
Ormond | 0.7 | 3.10 | 6.12 | 11.18-84 |
BULLEEN-TEMPLESTOWE: Chivers 3, Merrett 3, Kelleher 2, Palmer 2, Schultz 2, Costa
BEST: Chivers, Delanty, Jackson, Palmer, Pollard, Walker
ORMOND: R. Amon 3, Rankin 2, Barnes 2, Hill
Grand Final Results
Bulleen-Temp | 17.11-113 |
Old Scotch Collegians | 13.9-87 |
BULLEEN-TEMPLESTOWE: Chivers 4, Kelleher 4, Young 4, Palmer 2, Empey, Jackson, Merrett
BEST: Chivers, Delanty, Jackson, Lawther, Merrett, Palmer
OLD SCOTCH COLLEGIANS: Davis 4, Grigg 2, Muller 2, Kay, Campbell, McIntyre, McLean, Patterson
BEST: Elliott, Kay, Campbell, McKinnon, Davis, Patterson
Division 2 Men’s was, without question, one of the most interesting sections in all of the VAFA throughout 2024. Brunswick set the early pace, winning 14 of their first 15,
The 2025 VAFA Football Season will commence on Saturday 5th April for all competitions, with every section playing two rounds before the Easter long-weekend bye on 19th April. The VAFA
Let’s shine some light on the season that was in Division 4 Women’s as we reveal who made the 2024 Team of the Year. St Kevin’s Coach Mikayla Dohnt spearheads