Top 40 moments in 2023: 20-11

2023 has been a year to remember at the VAFA.

As we pull the curtain across to close out the year, VAFA Media has siphoned through the moments of the season and formulated a top 40.

Throughout this week, join Joe Pignataro in counting down to the #1 moment of the year. Today, we are counting down 20-11.

Featuring today: Individual seasons became a standout, the fight for relegation in William Buck Premier went down to the wire, and old fashioned coaching coup and a farewell to two of the competitions greatest characters.

Did you miss any of the countdown to this point?

• Catch up on 40-31 here

• Read up on 30-21 here

#20 – WILLIAMSTOWN COMPLETE THE PERFECT SEASON

Williamstown CYMS were beyond awesome in 2023 going through the home and away season, as well as the finals series without a loss. 

After coming down from Division 1 in 2022 where they finished fifth, the CY’s bookmarked their year beating Parkdale in the season opener, and then doing so again on Grand Final day. 

Opposition sides genuinely struggled to kick a score against Williamstown this year, the defence was a brick wall all the way through. The average score kicked against them 9.6 points per game. 

At the other end of the ground Alessia Acquaro (49 goals) and Sofi – Kristin Georgas (30 goals) had the sherrin delivered on a platter as they were able to score at will. 

There may have been some nerves through the change rooms during the half time break on Grand Final day having kicked 2.8.20 and opportunities seemingly squandered. Before a third quarter blitz of seven goals put the result and the premiership beyond doubt. 

#19 – OLD XAVERIANS SECURE A FAVOURITE SON AS ITS NEW COACH

It’s the biggest coup of the off-season so far. 

Dan Donati leaves his post at Old Brighton after having agreed to an extended stay at Brighton Beach Oval 12 months ago, he returns to Toorak Park where he initially made his way as a youngster during the Old Xaverians straight six. 

The master coach has always been a man in demand across local footy circles, and once James Byrne made the decision to step aside from the Xav’s coaching role with a month remaining in the season, the head hunt began. 

For all the jovial nature in which this column regularly refers to the red and black mafia, the big wigs at Toorak Park wanted their man, and got him. The way many on the outside expect the Old Xaverians to operate. They get what they want, and they get it when they want it. 

Old Brighton left in the lurch and left to look for a new man themselves. It’s sure to be fireworks when these sides meet for the first time in 2024. 

#18 – BEAUMARIS STRIPPED OF PREMIERSHIP POINTS

Beaumaris were the only team that got anywhere near St Bernard’s in Premier B throughout 2023. 

On the particular day in question, and in Round 11 the week previous, the Sharks were found to have played an ineligible player and therefore forced to forfeit the points against the Snowdogs. 

It left many at Banksia Reserve feeling frustrated and aggrieved. However, the club was able to put it behind them as best they could, refocus on the remaining home and away matches, and reach a Preliminary Final. 

#17 – OLD MELBURNIANS SURVIVE THE TIGHTEST RELEGATION BATTLE 

Going into the final home and away round Old Melburnians needed to win against Caulfield Grammarians and make up 4% on Old Haileybury. The sum of 60 points was the margin from the outset that was discussed in the pre-game. 

Old Haileybury losing to St Kevin’s was the next box that needed to be ticked, and the percentage hit the Bloods felt was enough for OM’s to retain their spot. 

An OM’s victory of 61 points means they fulfilled their side of the ledger. A St Kevin’s victory of 50 points was enough to see Old Haileybury going back down to Premier B in 2024 

The gap of 1.62% between the two sides is the closest finish in the relegation battle for over a decade. 

Old Melburnians had the year from hell. Five straight losses to start the year, they were on the back foot early. A staggering 14 consecutive first quarters lost. Players injured left, right and centre. They finished with 54 players used throughout the year, the most of any side.

#16 – LUKE MAHONEY BIDS A FAREWELL TO FITZROY

When Luke Mahoney took over the coaching role at Fitzroy FC the team at Brunswick St Oval allowed themselves to dream, and dream big. 

Mahn’s came to the club highly credentialed, and delivered in spades to the faithful fans of the Lions. 

Under Luke’s leadership Fitzroy has enjoyed its greatest achievements of the modern era, including the 2018 Premier C premiership, enduring and coming out of COVID stronger and better, avoiding the drop back to C Grade in 2019 and, last year (2022), making Premier B finals for the first time in the club’s history. 

This year, he guided the Roys into William Buck Premier for the first time in the club’s history. One box after another has been ticked under one of the best coaches to come through the competition. 

Mahn’s is a VAFA man at heart, from his playing days at St Kevin’s, through to coaching Brunswick NOBSFC, assisting the Big V program, and now Fitzroy. 

Fitting that the 2022 AFL Victoria Coach of the Year was able to go out on his terms and in his own way. 

Most importantly, under the influence of his coaching and mentorship, the young men of Fitzroy have grown and developed as respectful, honourable people the club is so proud of.

#15 – ST KEVIN’S REACH THEIR FIFTH STRAIGHT A-GRADE GRAND FINAL

It’s incredible to think just over a decade ago, St Kevin’s were regular finalists in Premier B and unable to take the next step. 

Fast forward to that breakthrough finals victory and then Grand Final success in 2015, and the club hasn’t looked back since. 

This year SKOB reached their fifth consecutive A-Section Grand Final. 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023. Despite going down to Collegians, a 3-2 record still has them the envy of the competition. 

The core of the playing group remains the same, only two players from last years premiership side didn’t take to the field this year, the hunger and drive that comes from coach Anthony ‘Plugger’ Lynch to his playing group is second to none. 

While there were uncharacteristic losses during the home and away season, they only needed to qualify for September to know what needed to be done. 

A professional win over Old Scotch in the second semi-final, against adversity and a late withdrawal to Tom Jok it was a scintillating performance in the Preliminary Final over Uni Blues. 

Collegians, one step ahead of them on the final day. But, don’t count St Kevin’s out of your top four calculations in 2024. 

#14 – FAREWELL TO A CHAMPION OF UNIVERSITY BLUES

The biggest retirement news came on Preliminary Final day as the University Blues had their season come to a close at the hands of St Kevin’s. 

Ayce Cordy has proudly worn the #12 since he joined Uni Blues at the beginning of 2018. A 2x Woodrow Medallist has thrown everything into his VAFA playing career entertaining fans, teammates and opponents right along the way. 

Cordy is one of only five players to win the coveted Woodrow Medal twice. The competition’s best player. He was unstoppable in 2018, and 2019. 

Having battled against the best rucks the competition has to offer, his crowning moment came in 2019 when, up against Plugger Lynch in the ruck the Blues were able to bring down SKOB on Grand Final day and return the LA Adamson Cup to the Uni Main for the first time since 2004. 

The latter part of his career was impacted by COVID and injury. However, when Cordy took to the field, you never wrote the Uni Blues off, for he had the ability to single handedly bring them back from the dead. 

#13 – ST KEVIN’S WOMEN CLAIM A FAMOUS THREE-PEAT

Yet again St Kevin’s have finished the William Buck Premier Women’s season as the premiers.

2019, 2022 and now 2023 trophies will sit proudly at the TH King Oval.

Tom Purcell has guided his team through another successful campaign. This September is almost a mirror image of September 12 months ago. Losing to Kew in the semi-final, St Kevin’s had to go the long way to reach the Grand Final, overcoming Old Scotch last weekend.

Trailing by 8 points without a goal at half-time, words of wisdom from Purcell spurred his team into action.

This is a special group of SKOB Saints that have fought against wholesale changes, from 2022 to 2023 there are now 11 new premiership players to join the ever growing list of champions at the TH King Oval.

Tom Purcell declared a statue is being built for Doyle at the club-rooms in the pre-game. They have officially started to commission that after her performance today.

#12 – JUSTIN RAITI WINS HIS THIRD P. HUTCHISON MEDAL

A tower of strength in the Hawthorn AFC program. One would argue that Hawthorn aren’t in the position they’re in within the tireless work on the field of Justin Raiti. 

A picture of consistency and excellence. In 2023, Raiti continued on the form he has displayed for a number of years. 

After winning the P. Hutchison Medal in 2018, and 2021. Raiti added a third one to his name in 2023. Finishing the year with 68 goals from 18 games and named captain of the VAFA’s Division 3 Team of the Year. 

While the Hawks didn’t claim the ultimate title on Grand Final day, individually Raiti doesn’t look like slowing down as he continues to kick bags of goals and rack up the votes from the umpires. 

Lookout Division 2 in 2024. 

#11 – JOHANNAH GRIFFIN MAKES IT THREE FROM THREE

Everytime I hear about the Albert Park Falcons women’s program, I think of Johannah Griffin. 

From almost the inception of the VAFA Women’s competition, Jo Griffin has been a name that’s been put in front of us. Week in, week out, Jo gets the best out of herself, and out of her teammates. 

Over the years she has gone from a powerhouse full forward, to a tower of strength and centre half forward, and this year proved her ability to win the football at the contest. 

Griffin is the first in the Women’s Competition to win three competition best and fairest awards. Since the awards were created in 2021, Griffin’s voice has been heard accepting her section’s award as the best player in the competition in all three of those years. 

A deserved winner, she caught the umpires eyes and in 2023 racked up a record 36 votes from her 16 home and away games. 

When the Falcons release their first Women’s team of the Decade, you can safely expect the club’s new President’s name to be the first one selected.