Tackle Your Feelings kicks off strong in 2026
The Tackle Your Feelings (TYF) program has officially launched for the 2026 VAFA season, continuing as a key initiative supporting mental health and wellbeing across the competition. With the VAFA’s
The VAFA is delighted to announce its Big V Premier B-Division 3 and Big V Under 19’s teams to face Bendigo Football & Netball League this Sunday at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
Premier B – Division 3 coach Luke Mahoney and his coaching panel had the challenge of combining talent from across 50 different clubs into one line-up and are delighted with the side they’ll be sending out to do battle on Sunday:

Beaumaris’ Callum Linehan returns as the Big V Prem B – Div 3 skipper whilst Matt Fewings and Will Nichols have been named vice captains.
Last year’s Big V-Bendigo clash at Elsternwick Park was a superb contest, with the Big V hanging on against a fast-finishing Bendigo to collect the silverware by 13 points, and this promises to be a hotly contested, high-quality game once again.
Big V Premier B – Division 3 Coaching Panel
Head Coach: Luke Mahoney
Assistant Coaches: Pete Higginbotham, Dave Murray, Michael Pickering, Adam Andrews, Bernie Carter
Team Manager: Dale Christie
The Big V Under 19 team returns to action for the first time since 2019 after the success of last season’s VAFA ‘Under 19 North vs South Showcase’ exhibition game, which highlighted the incredible depth of young emerging talent across the VAFA.
Hampton Rovers Under 19 coach Paul Carrigan coached the South team in that game and has been handed the reins to lead the Big V Under 19 team this year, aided by a group of talented young assistants.
They have had a wealth of talent to choose from, all the way from Premier Men’s down through the Under 19 Divisions and here’s the line-up they have settled on for Sunday:

Old Ivanhoe’s Charlie Opie will captain the side with Mitch Kirkwood-Scott and Sam Linder named vice captains.
Big V Under 19’s Coaching Panel
Head Coach: Paul Carrigan
Assistant Coaches: Oscar Roberts, Travis O’Donaghue, Jordan Pollard
Team Manager: Nick Jackson
The Big V Under 19’s will kick things off against the Bendigo Football Netball League at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo at 11:00am. The Big V Premier B – Division 3 match will follow at 1:30pm.
Both matches will be live-streamed on VAFA.com.au from 11am Sunday.
The Tackle Your Feelings (TYF) program has officially launched for the 2026 VAFA season, continuing as a key initiative supporting mental health and wellbeing across the competition. With the VAFA’s
Old Brighton entered the 2025 Premier Men’s competition as both the hunter AND the hunted. Externally, the club was widely seen as the clear premiership favourite, yet internally, the Tonners
The VAFA Women’s competition will feature five Divisions in 2026, and the fixtures have been released, with Round 1 kicking off on Saturday, April 18. All five Women’s Divisions will
