William Buck Premier Men: Young hearts, run free – Play the kids

Joe Pignataro

Finally, after 245 days between games we got our scarves, our old coats because as Greg Champion famously sang, we had a footy game to go.

VAFA footy is on, it’s here again and for many across the competition it’s back to greet us like an old friend. Whilst the familiarities graced our presence on the weekend. Melbourne traffic and inconsistent weather, the stench of deep heat in the club rooms, heading out to the huddle for the coaches address, club luncheons and Premiership reunions.

On the field there were plenty of new looking faces, excitable young lads who when footy was last a constant, were running around in junior footy or under 19 level.

Old Scotch, St Bernard’s, Old Trinity have all told VAFA.com.au in the lead up to round 1 there’s been a changing of the guard in their senior line ups, regeneration and the dawning of a new era.

So much is often made about the headline recruits that join the VAFA each year and the experience that returns from AFL/VFL football.

It’s worth highlighting over the opening round the changing faces that we’re sure all clubs will be pushing for higher honours as their senior careers progress.

In the VAFA RSN Carnival Match of the Day there was a sense that Old Scotch, a team with 15 players under the age of 22 would stick with University Blues for a half of football, not many would have expected them to come storming home with 8 final quarter goals to pinch it at the death.

This season, mark down the names Angus Symons (Round 1 rising star nominee), Tyler Sellers, Sam Seach, Max Bennett, Hugo Bromell, Jesse Castan all coming through the ranks under Mark Gnatt who will back his young troops every opportunity he gets.

On the other side of the ledger, despite being “stacked” with AFL experience on Saturday and 7 goals to Sam Grimley. University Blues have hidden gems in Charlie Furphy, Lachie Gee, Joe Nagle and Eddie Ziebarth (2021 rising star nominee). Charlie Furphy nearly took the Blues to the line on the weekend and all 4 will soak up every piece of advice they can get from teammates who’ve experienced playing footy in the big time.

The Blues opposition this weekend, St Bernard’s have presented its youngest playing list in 15 years, while the Snowdogs haven’t recruited the high-prized big names, they’ve got a brashness around the youth coming through that leaves Paul Groves feeling confident they’ll mix it with the best sides this season and already, down at the snakepit, they’ve taken many learnings away from the opening round loss to Old Xavs.

Through injury and necessity in 2021 Collegians were forced to dive into the depths of their list. Since his debut vs. Old Scotch last year, Josh Watson has looked right at home in the senior midfield, reminding us all of Ollie Wines, along with Daniel Orgill another strong bodied midfielder. Throw in Max Pinchbeck up forward, Matt Warren down in defence, and even Brayden Fleming (son of Damien) there’s a good crop of purple shoots sprouting at Harry Trott Oval.

They’ll take great confidence walking away with the points from Glenhuntly Oval and strutt into Wesley College this Saturday against Old Trinity with the aim to make it 2 in a row.

The Fields have told VAFA.com.au they’re very excited about the prospects of Ollie Lowe, in his senior debut kicked 2 goals in the first half and was lively forward of the centre. Jack Ellwood, won the under 19 best and fairest in 2021 is set to be playing a Jack Ginnivan style role as a small forward for the Fields.

You can expect Tommy Flanagan to sharpen up those vocal cords on the Caulfield live-stream when the ball gets in the vicinity of these 2 and we at VAFA media are expecting Jack to have a Go-Pro on hand when they make the trek to Elsternwick Park.

Old Xaverians and St Kevin’s, for all their headline recruits always find diamonds amongst their under 19 squads. Through 2021 and the opening round of this year, it’s no exception.

From Toorak Park, Charlie MacIsaac has springs in his feet, and a lethal boot on him in the red and black, Jack Hewitt enjoys hunting the footy and James Langford featured in the best in his 3rd game of senior footy.

These 3 will come up against an Old Brighton side that is always full of confidence and brash youth when they take to the field, it was a shock to many seeing Nick Pavlou on the transfer list, the club took it in their stride as Greg Hutchison handed debuts to Jordan Segar and Tom Blamires, both hit the scoreboard and looked composed in their first outing.

Last year St Kevin’s unveiled Luke Winter, Jack Darmody and Angus Hart (2021 Rising star nominee). Hart kicked 2 in the low-scoring win in Round 1, the “big-bird” will be one to watch when he comes up against Tom Ansell and Old Scotch this Saturday. One thing we know about Plugga Lynch, he is a developer of young men and they will relish playing their footy under one of St Kevin’s favourite sons.

Old Melburnians have the brightest young star in the competition with Ed Nicholls, the 2021 Rising Star winner, despite the loss on the weekend he was named in the best and will relish the wide expanses of Elsternwick Park in his second year of senior footy, Paul Satterley is excited to also add Charlie McKay and Chance Doultree to his team in a more regular fashion this year.

A complete off-season overhaul at Old Trinity has seen changes throughout the entire club, on-field George Belcher, Harris Mastras, Xavier Fry, Lachlan Mulcahy are all under the age of 22 as is Oliver Scott who Trinity fans know, if he’s anything like he’s older brother Anthony as the year goes on, the sky’s the limit for him.

The youngsters of today are set to be the future of the VAFA in years to come, what we know about the kids is they generate excitement and passion, they play without fear, run on instinct and simply play for the love of the game.

Something that we were reminded of over the opening weekend of footy, and will get to see every Saturday throughout this season.