2024 VAFA Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Team of the Year

2024 was a golden season for the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier competition with so much talent spread across the league, making for a gripping finals series that went all the way to the wire on Grand Final Day, with Old Brighton just pipping St Kevin’s for the silverware in a classic premiership decider at Elsternwick Park.

The season also saw the successful staging of the Holmesglen Under 19 Showcase curtain-raiser to the Big V’s thriller against the Bendigo Football League, which allowed a group of the competition’s finest talents to experience and shine at the next level.

Each VAFA Team of the Year is based on feedback and analysis from coaches, VAFA Media and umpires.

Without question, this was one of the most difficult teams to select across the entire VAFA. It was literally impossible to fit all who were worthy into the final 22, further highlighting just how much young emerging talent the VAFA has in its Under 19 ranks.

After much deliberation, here is the 2024 Holmesglen Under 19 Premier Team of the Year:

Premiers Old Brighton have the most representatives – 4, including Coach of the Year Matt McLennan, who guided his team to the minor premiership, then recovered from their heartbreaking 2nd Semi Final loss to SKOB to get the job done on Preliminary Final Day before flipping the script on St Kevin’s in the Grand Final.

Matt would love to coach this team, which is packed with elite young talent all over the park, including 3 of his Tonners – Mason Szonyi & Cooper Dowe from his premiership team, along with Jonah Campigli, who spent the first half of the season in the team before rising into Old Brighton’s senior team and winning the 2024 VAFA Anytime Fitness Rising Star Award.

Runners-up St Kevin’s also have 3 players in the side, including inspirational skipper George Delimitrou, who has been named Captain of this team as well. He’ll line up alongside SKOB teammate Liam Edwards at the opening bounce, with Xavier Duke narrowly pipping a number of other worthy contenders to earn a spot in what is a stacked defence.

Three players also for Old Scotch, who finished the season in third – key defender Oliver Iser will provide defensive steel, with Henry Long (31 goals) part of this incredible attack. And what a luxury for Matt McLennan to have Cards’ Best & Fairest winner Jake Phillips rotating in to add further quality through the middle or behind the ball!

University Blues finished fourth and also have 3 players in this team. All enjoyed superb seasons, none more so than joint League Best & Fairest Luca Di Lallo, who booted 39 goals in just his second season of footy and is certainly one to watch in the years ahead. Luca is joined by Blues’ Best & Fairest Johnny Pring at centre half-back and the talented Carl Ziebarth on the wing.

Old Xaverians ultimately missed the finals by a game-and-a-half. They also contribute 3 talented youngsters to this side, with ruck Tom Gorman narrowly edging a couple of other worthy contenders to win the Number 1 ruck spot, with Xavs’ Best & Fairest Harry Bird and runner-up Ed Dalton both adding to this team’s midfield depth.

Two representatives from St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, with joint League Best & Fairest Sasha Dimashki starting on the ball and club Best & Fairest Finn Chandler at half-back.

Caulfield Grammarians also have two players in the line-up – Callum Hankin (33 goals in a team which finished 7th) providing another dangerous target up forward, and Best & Fairest winner Hamish McInerney getting a job down back.

De La Salle Best & Fairest winner Josh Stewart and Williamstown CYMS club champion Xavier Snelling will provide additional midfield talent off the bench, while Beaumaris Best & Fairest Carlos Reynolds will work in tandem with Tom Gorman in the ruck.

What an incredible line-up.

Congratulations to all who received the Team of the Year honour in 2024 – it really was a difficult team to get into and we look forward to seeing some of you again in the Holmesglen Under 19 Premier comp next season and some of you in senior footy as you step up to the next level.