Record-breaking Big V Lunch one for the ages

The 2024 Big V Lunch saw a record-breaking crowd of more than 350 pack the RACV Club in the city to enjoy a fantastic afternoon honouring Big V greats of the past and the present.

The first-ever 60-year Big V Reunion was held as members of the 1964 National Carnival winning team came together, along with players from the 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2004 Big V teams to reminisce about their glory days and celebrate our current Big V teams.

All three 2024 Big V coaches addressed the crowd and presented Big V jumpers to their players in what has become a wonderful annual tradition that reinforces the significance of the honour to the Big V Club’s newest members, as they received a raucous ovation from the greats of the past.

All three coaches would reference the lunch during their coaching addresses across the weekend. “On Friday we learnt what pulling on this magnificent jumper means!” was the common theme.

The Big V Club recognises all players good enough to have worn the famous Big V jumper in representative matches for the VAFA since the first was played against South Australia at the MCG in 1925.

Each year, the Big V Club inducts former players as Big V Champions and in 2024, two former VAFA greats joined that elite company:-

Lightning-quick goalkicker ANDY CULTRERA, who began his Amateur career with Aquinas Under 19s in 1996 and immediately caught the eye with his huge leap and raking left boot.

Andy would go on to win a competition Best & Fairest and 2 Leading Goalkicker awards at Aquinas before challenging himself with a move to Old Trinity to play in a higher grade.

He played 8 games in the Big V, with an incredible 12 years spanning his first and last appearances, reinforcing the longevity of his brilliance.

MICAH BERRY played 169 games for Old Melburnians from 1992 to 2003, winning 3 premierships and a best & fairest.

A brilliant all-round footballer, he was fearless in his attack on the ball and would run himself to exhaustion to help his team. Known to his team-mates as ‘The Gun,’ he was a match-winner, capable of stepping up and making the big moment his own with a piece of brilliance.

He represented the Big V on 10 occasions across his storied 3-decade playing career and was named All-Australian at the 1994 Carnival.

Legendary VAFA player, coach and administrator NICK BOURKE was officially elevated to Big V LEGEND status, becoming just the sixteenth to join this most prestigious group.

Nick played 200 games for Marcellin and Old Xaverians, plus 8 games in the Big V.

He then had a long and storied coaching career at both club and Big V level, followed by lengthy service as an Administrator with the VAFA as a Director, Chairman, President and is still involved as a member of the Permits Committee. He has also served the Australian Amateur Football Council and AFL Victoria.

Inducted as a Big V Champion in 2017, he has quite rightly taken his place amongst the pantheon of VAFA greats as a Big V Legend.

With the 2024 Big V lunch attracting more than double the attendance of the 2023 event, anticipation starts to build for 2025, when the Big V will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

We may need to head back to where it all began – the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground – to fit everyone in!