VAFA Legends joins Podcast family in 2023

VAFA’s Podcasts will step it up a gear in 2023, with the introduction of the brand-new VAFA Legends show, alongside two returning favourites.

For the Love of the Game, the competition’s flagship show, now into its sixth year, will see Joe Pignataro return to the hosting chair, this year supported by ‘handsome Dipper’ Josh Heriot. Heriot is known to many VAFA listeners in his co-hosting role, and play-by-play commentary on RSN Carnival during the VAFA’s previous three home and away seasons.

Fan favourite ‘Grumpy’ Brian Waldron will be heard throughout the year as the season unfolds to give his effervescent take on the world of the VAFA, and recount stories of yesteryear. 

Joey and Josh have formed a great on-air relationship across 2021 and 2022, mainly on Saturday afternoons on RSN Carnival. This year Heriot will bring his own unique take on the weekend that was, and the weekend coming up, every Wednesday, along with insights from the players, and coaches of respective clubs.

For Heriot, doubling up as this year’s Premier B Men’s reporter, this is another feather in the cap of the young man that’s going places, “I had the pleasure of being part of the podcast in 2022 with Joey and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he told VAFA Media.

“I’m really looking forward to doing it weekly for the upcoming season and of course the best part about the podcast is that we get to discuss all sections of the VAFA and speak to some wonderful people in the VAFA community.” 

After a successful debut in 2022, Inside the Boundary returns in 2023 for the full season. Melbourne Uni’s Lucy Watkin will drive the agenda every Thursday, with the support of long-time friend, and former Prahran FC player, Sophie Welsh. 

Watkin and Welsh provide a strong pairing dedicated to VAFA Women’s footy. Every Thursday, they will dissect, discuss and analyse the week that’s been in the VAFA Women’s competition. 

Hear interviews from your favourite players and coaches, tune in for your favourite pump up pre-game songs, warm-up routines and plenty more.

Welsh, the newest member to join the VAFA podcast family said, “I’m thrilled and incredibly flattered to be joining the incomparable Lucy Watkin on Inside the Boundary for the 2023 VAFA Women’s season to talk all things footy and footy-adjacent.

“As a former Division 3 toiler, the VAFA holds a very special place in my heart, and it’s a real privilege to be able to share the best footy stories and canteen options with a broader audience.

“Anyone who’s eavesdropped on Luce and my conversations in the kitchen at work is probably shocked that we’ve now got a proper platform, but we promise to be on our best behaviour and limit ourselves to only one Dua Lipa mention per episode (I maintain she’d be a great full-forward).”

The newest podcast to join the VAFA Media landscape is VAFA Legends. A legend of the competition himself, Russell Barnes has teamed up with Joe Pignataro.

As the name implies, the legends of the competition will get behind the microphone and recount the stories from their day that make up everything brilliant about the VAFA. 

From on-field rivalries, to post-season footy trips, playing representative footy and winning (or losing) Premierships. Barnes takes us back to a simpler time in footy.

Hear from the likes of Luke Beveridge, Mike McArthur-Allen, Wayne Carey, and George Wakim. 

Stay tuned to VAFA.com.au for the release of the first episode as part of this series coming soon.

You can listen and subscribe to all three VAFA Podcasts on your favourite podcast platform, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, tune in via the Podcasts page on the VAFA website, and for the first time this year, through the Footy Live App.