Representative Football Returns in 2023

The VAFA and Perth Football League are excited to announce a two year agreement has been reached that will see Men’s and Women’s representative matches played between the two competitions in 2023 and 2024.

The VAFA will host a Senior Men’s and a Senior Women’s representative match during the VAFA bye weekend on Saturday 15th July, 2023. Perth Football League will reciprocate and host the representative game at a date to be confirmed in 2024.

VAFA CEO Jason Reddick was ecstatic that representative football was returning to the VAFA football calendar for the first time since 2019.

“We are thrilled to provide both our VAFA Men’s and Women’s players with the opportunity of playing representative football for the first time since 2019,” Reddick said.

“Donning the ‘Big V’ has always been a proud experience for our VAFA players, who will be presented with their Big V guernseys at the annual Big V lunch at the RACV club on Friday 14^th July.

“Next to the VAFA, Perth Football League is one of the largest senior football competitions in Australia and it will be a great occasion to see the cream of the competitions battle it out for interstate honours on an upgraded Elsternwick Park.”

It’s been 20 years since the last time the Senior Men’s Big V team played against Perth.

Perth Football League CEO Andrew Dawe was excited to enter into a two year agreement that sees his competition fly east this season but then play host in 2024.

“It’s a great opportunity to reward the PFL’s stronger performers as well as provide an opportunity for coaches and umpires to represent WA in higher honours,” Dawe said.

“There’s no doubt that representing your state is a career highlight for any footballer and I know everyone involved in this double header will relish the opportunity.

“Both the PFL and VAFA have a rich history of state football and the return of senior representative football between these two proud competitions is incredibly significant for our men’s and women’s teams.”

The Senior Men’s VAFA representative side has been running since its first match against South Australia back in 1925, and proudly boasts a winning percentage of 82%.

The inaugural Big V Women’s program was established in 2017 and has a 100% winning record with three victories from three games.

Further match details will be communicated at a later date.