VAFA Holmesglen U19 Footy Festival hits the mark

History was made last Sunday when the VAFA hosted all five Under 19 Premier men’s matches at Elsternwick Park and Holmes/Todd Oval as part of the VAFA Holmesglen Under 19 Footy Festival.

An initiative born out of the VAFA Under 19 Football Advisory Group, the day celebrated everything that is great about Under 19 football and the future of the VAFA was on show for everyone to see.

To the on-field action, Old Brighton was the first team to notch a win on the day with a convincing 11-goal victory over St Kevin’s OB. The Tonners increased their lead at every break and were assisted by a five-goal performance by Sebastian Harris-Knipe.

With the sun starting to break through and the crowd beginning to build, Beaumaris recorded their first win of the season by defeating St Bernard’s by 19 points in the 11.40am match on Elsternwick Park. Out the back on Holmes/Todd Oval, the trip over the West Gate Bridge proved no issue for Williamstown CYMS as they led at every change to defeat De La Salle.

There was a finals feel in the air as the 2pm matches rolled around. The sun was out, the wind was non-existent and there was a healthy spread of patrons and vehicles lined around the fence. A club not afraid of a finals-type environment, Old Xaverians put the foot down from start to finish to demolish Old Scotch by 115-points with Charles Knott booting seven goals and unofficially taking out the VAFA Holmesglen Under 19 Footy Festival ‘golden boot’. Despite playing in similar surrounds, Old Melburnians proved no match for Caulfield Grammarians with the Fields recording a comfortable 33-point win.

Buoyed by the positive feedback from all involved, the VAFA will strongly consider fixturing similar days in the future.