Play the kids and watch them flourish

Joe Pignataro

For as long as I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with the VAFA. The off-season sees a long-line of former AFL/VFL stars recruited and committing to clubs in the competition. 

This pre-season has seen arguably the lowest number of those players for quite some time. 

Mitch Wallis (Western Bulldogs) has returned to his old school, St Kevin’s. Dan Hannebery (Sydney/St Kilda) likewise with Old Xaverians. Tom Cutler (Essendon) has headed to University Blues.  

When Old Melburnians coach Paul Satterley joined the Saturday warm-up on RSN Xtra2, he noted the less than usual “high-profile” recruits to join William Buck Premier in 2023. 

“It’s a different looking VAFA, I think there seems to be a lot of young guys coming through, more than ever” he said. 

Our great friend Satts’ has me thinking about the opportunity that comes with less of the high-profile names joining the competition. Allowing and somewhat forcing the hands of all clubs to go deep into the list, be it reserves, thirds but moreso, the under 19’s.

Looking into Round 5, it’s incredible to think that Old Xaverians have given opportunities to 11 new players after four rounds. I can’t recall a time when the red and black mafia offered that many fresh faces a senior spot across an entire season, let alone the first month. 

Facing off against the reigning premiers, St Kevin’s, this next group of young stars will have to be at their very best. They’ve already had moments of brilliance, Oscar Duncan (Round 2 rising star nominee) has been the clubs first choice ruckman the past fortnight. 

Tommy McRae, has the traits of an old-fashioned footballer, while Tommy Dunne, has played in all four games so far. Making his senior debut last year, Ben Bilston-McGillen returned from the Carlton VFL side.

We’ve been arguing already, how does this SKOB team get even better? 

The Wallis inclusions are significant, no doubt. Looking beyond their output, the club holds the 2022 Rising Star in very high-regard, Luke Winter. Jack Darmody has played 26 games of senior footy, and isn’t 21 years old yet. While Ben Mansfield is one of the first picked when he’s available. 13 games into his senior career and he has a Premiership, the stuff of dreams. 

Anthony Lynch has given opportunities to Liam Gunson (18 years old), and Robert Larcher. Both are both straight out of the year 12 college APS team. Jack Palmer, another who made his senior debut on the weekend. 

When these two sides meet on Saturday at Elsternwick Park. The game that was billed as the Hannebery vs. Wallis Cup, will be an afterthought as the next wave of stars crash into one another. 

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At Harry Trott Oval, Collegians will be riding a wave of momentum. The purple army coming off their biggest winning margin in nearly four years. 

Old Melburnians are desperate for a win. This certainly isn’t ideal timing, running into one of the most in-form teams in the competition. 

The OM’s are the reason behind this column, 11 players in the team with less than 10 games of senior football.

Charles Dowling and Will Richards are two of the 11 who’ve got bright futures ahead of them, they held their heads high on Saturday. Doing everything they could to keep their team in the contest. They’ll have the responsibility of doing so again against the Lions. 

For the first time in his tenure, Jared Rivers has depth at his disposal. The fact that Teigan Otter (Round 1 rising star) played in the reserves on the weekend says plenty. Dylan Thomas made his club debut on Saturday, and Jordan Carroll started to find his groove on the wing. 

With eyes always on King Kenny, Viv Michie and Dave Mirra. There’s room in those purple and yellow hearts to find love for Ben Van Twest, Jasper Davy and Will Pewtress. 

Even off the field, the Lions are flying with Wesley graduate Josh Heriot going places behind the microphone.

Teigan Otter; Round 1 Anytime Fitness Rising Star in action. Photo: Bruce Tobin, Collegians FC

Old Brighton are humming under Dan Donati. Life under the new mentor is ticking all the boxes. 

This weekend they face off against University Blues, a side they’ve got the wood over (won the last 4 matches). Park the names Harry Hill, Ayce Cordy, Tom Fisher, Cam O’Shea, Tom Yorgey, Sam Grimley and Will Lewis for this. 

Circle the names Jamie Hope for the Tonners (Round 3 rising star), he’s kicked eight goals from his two senior appearances. Defender, Luca Macnab. And, two stars of the 2022 Under 19 brigade, Sam Flockhart, in the ruck and Tom Burnell, part of the midfield rotation. 

These are the ones who will make life tough for Blues. On the flipside, you won’t see Eddy Ziebath take a backward step. Much the opposite, he will relish the contest and the conditions of Brighton Beach Oval. 

Charlie Furphy on the wing has a strong turn of foot, speaking of pace, Sam Cousins has that in spades as the clubs small forward and James Paterson has been threatening to tear a game to shreds. 

There’s been significant change from the 2019 premiers to where we are today. From the Premiership Team, just five remain on the list, only three played on the weekend just gone. 

Guy Martyn’s side know they need to get going. They’re fortunate at this stage, three teams below the Blues remain winless.  

Jamie Hope; Round 3 Anytime Fitness Rising Star in action. Photo: Rod Hathway; Old Brighton

One of those three teams will find their way onto the winners list this week. Unless University Blacks and Caulfield Grammarians fight out a draw. 

Both sides have run into last year’s Grand Finalists in the opening month of the season and no doubt walked off the ground with plenty of learnings from those contests. 

Presumably, Uni Blacks will welcome back key ruckman Josh Steadman for this contest. Supporting the co-captain are the likes of Finnian Raymond, who moved to Melbourne from Queensland, has played all 4 games in 2023, turns 19 at the end of the month.

Lachie O’Hara, made his debut in Round 2 and Jack Cassidy. After having a taste of senior footy in 2021, and 2022, has played all four games in 2023, he celebrates his 21st birthday next week.

Ayui Makieng, what a talent. He has played every game this year, been made to ruck at times, he’s kicked goals and named amongst the best players. This young man is more than capable of playing different roles, and will take mark of the year one day. 

For the Fields, one of the competition’s best is Oscar Roberts. It is easy to forget how young he is as he made such a quick transition from school football to senior footy last season. His 2022 form (named in the team of the year) has continued and he has added an attacking thread to his game.

Archie Loughnan is a key forward, working with Julian Dobosz. He is immensely fit and strong for his age and has a beautiful pair of hands. Darcy Twist, the U/19’s best and fairest winner, holding down a starting midfield role and impressing with his ability to win his own football. 

These guys will be pivotal to Guy McKenna’s set up if they’re to come off the Uni Main with their first set of points for the year. 

Oscar Roberts; in action vs. Old Scotch. Photo: Diggle Photography, Caulfield Grammarians

The final game of the round, pins Old Scotch up against Old Haileybury. 

Daniel Ward’s team would have looked for any place to hide after the result of last weekend. This is a proud football club that internally will be expecting to be on from the first bounce to make amends for the round four result. 

Without Brede Seccull, the midfield looks slightly different. Lachie Treverton was also missing, a key component in the side. Luke Bailey is hard to miss in the middle, and Andreas Stefanakis provides the grunt work for Haileybury at the source. 

Mitch Kirkwood-Scott made his senior debut on the weekend, alongside his brother Liam. Charlie Sinclair is a young fella to keep your eye on as the season unfolds. 

Mark Gnatt is the prototype coach for blooding young talent. Although he has certainly got his fair share of followers in 2023 – Paul Satterley, James Byrne. 

If anyone asks, Gnatty started the trend. 

I could almost name the entire team of the Cardinals, except for a couple. Sorry Doug Lawrence, Andy Jelbart, Aiden Franetic. 

There is youthful exuberance in this Old Scotch line-up, Jack McCorkell, Angus Symons. When they’re available from the VFL, Tyler Sellers, Ryan Valentine. Even their ruckman Sam Grant has shown promising signs in the early stages of his senior career. 

The Cardinals are in the window, they want to go under the radar. I’m not sure how much longer we can keep them under wraps. 

There’s plenty to like about the future of William Buck Premier, and this competition. Our clubs are in good hands with the next generation of stars. The coaches are willing to give the youngsters opportunities to excel, and from here, maybe one-day, they’ll be the ‘high-profile recruits’ that return to the competition.