Tackle Your Feelings Round wrap

This past weekend of the VAFA competition was Tackle Your Feelings (TYF) Round.

Tackle Your Feelings is a FREE mental health training initiative designed for community players, coaches, committee members, and other club support staff. Delivered by a local psychologist, the program seeks to equip participants with the skills to Understand, Recognise, and Respond to signs of mental ill-health. Drawing from education provided to the AFL industry, the program is championed by prominent player and coach ambassadors.

As part of the TYF Round , the VAFA provided Best on Ground medals to clubs who have scheduled a TYF session in 2024. These medals were awarded  post game by coaches who recognised the on field contribution of a single player from the opposition. The integration of TYF Medals during TYF Round allows players, coaches and support staff the opportunity to discuss Mental Health and normalize the conversation around Mental Health within VAFA Clubs.

Special recognition goes to Penny Heath (President) and the committee members of St Mary’s Salesian AFC for their ongoing  commitment to  Mental Health education. The club was involved in a TYF workshop during the week, where Dylan Buckley, who is a TYF Ambassador, attended while also getting involved in training with their U19s team. The club also designed and wore TYF-specific jerseys for their U19s team, which will also serve as clash jerseys for 2024 and beyond. The club has committed to ensuring the rest of the players within the club go through the TYF workshop throughout 2024 ensuring a whole club approach to Mental Health Education.

If your club is interested in getting involved in this amazing workshop for VAFA community clubs, please fill this form here or reach out to Pranav Menon at [email protected].

(TYF Medal winners: William Buck Premier Women’s- (Left) Caulfield Grammarians-Isabelle Hartog and (right) Kew – Amelia Dawborn)

(TYF Medal winners: Division 3 Women’s- Ryan Dobson (Coach Old Carey) Jess Walsh (Old Carey), Anastasia Gilchrist (UHS), Alex Henry (Coach UHS)

(TYF Medal winners: U19s Division 4 – Senin Seymour (Ormond AFC) and Jack Bell (Preston Bullants)

(TYF Medal winners: Holmesglen U19s Division 3 Men’s – Collegians v St Mary’s Salesian)

(TYF Medal winners: Division 3 Women’s – De La Salle v LaTrobe University)