Luke Mahoney to lead the Big V

The VAFA is delighted to announce that AFL Victoria 2022 Coach of the Year Luke Mahoney will coach the VAFA’s Premier B – Division 3 Men’s representative team against the Bendigo Football Netball League at Elsternwick Park on July 6.

Mahoney has enjoyed an illustrious career, playing 290 games with North Old Boys, Williamstown VFL and St Kevin’s Old Boys, where he was a premiership captain and won four best and fairests.

His coaching career began as an assistant to Daniel Harford at SKOB, then as a senior coach with Brunswick NOBSPC in 2016, winning the VAFA Coach of the Year in Division 1.

He headed to Brunswick Street Oval as Fitzroy senior coach in 2018, guiding the Roys to the premiership in his first season, before leading them into William Buck Premier Men’s in 2024 via last year’s Premier B Men’s Grand Final.

A former Victorian rep player himself, Mahoney also served as VAFA Premier B-D4 Assistant Coach in 2014 and has compiled a talented and experienced support staff for this year’s representative fixture.

Assistant – Adam Andrews (ex AJAX & Trinity coach)

Assistant – Dave Murray (ex SKOB, Mazenod and Big V coach)

Assistant – Michael Pickering (ex Fitzroy coach and Richmond AFL player)

Board – Bernie Carter (current reserves coach at Fitzroy)

Runner – Francis Leach (ex-sports commentator & veteran runner)

“Each of them bring a different football club background and success that will complement the representative playing group,” said Mahoney.

“Dave Murray has previously coached the Big V, along with several years of club senior coaching at St Kevin’s and Mazenod. Adam Andrews has been a recent senior coach at AJAX and Trinity and is a three-time Coach of the Year, while Michael Pickering played over 150 AFL games and has coached seniors at Fitzroy.

“Match day support will include Francis Leach, who has been a prominent sports broadcaster and been involved at VAFA club level with St Kevin’s and Brunswick, while Bernie Carter is a premiership coach who is still involved at Fitzroy with experience at Collegians and Therry Penola.

“Every single one of them jumped at the chance of being involved with the Big V and are excited by the opportunity it will provide players across the five divisions to play representative football. Representing the Big V is a huge honour and we can’t wait to get stuck into it in June.”

The VAFA and BFNL have agreed to a two-year partnership to host representative football matches between the two leagues, with the return match in Bendigo in 2025.

This year’s match at Elsternwick Park will be preceded by a Holmesglen Under 19 Showcase match featuring the best of the best in the VAFA U19 competition, with both matches to streamed live on the VAFA website.