2025 William Buck Premier Men’s Team of the Year

William Buck Premier Men’s delivered another gripping year of football in 2025, with a cavalcade of Ammos stars shining in a season that kept us guessing all the way to Grand Final Day.

The finals and relegation races were extremely tight once again, with both decided on a dramatic last day of the home-and-away season.

Reigning premiers Old Scotch came from three games behind with three to play to snatch fourth spot in a virtual Elimination Final against Old Haileybury, while at the other end of the ladder, St Bernard’s dodged relegation with a victory over St Kevin’s that saw Collegians slide into the drop zone.

Old Brighton collected back-to-back minor premierships, a game clear of a rejuvenated Old Xaverians, who rocketed back into flag contention after agonisingly missing the finals in the last round of 2024.

Perennial finalists St Kevin’s qualified third for their seventh straight September campaign – an amazing feat of consistency. But they ran into a white-hot Old Scotch on First Semi Final Day and progressed no further.

Old Brighton powered away from Xavs in the final quarter of the Second Semi to win through to Grand Final Day, setting up a mouthwatering Preliminary Final between Old Xavs and the Cardinals.

It turned out to be one of the great VAFA finals of the modern era, with momentum swinging in both directions throughout a tight, tough and thoroughly entertaining exhibition of classic cut-throat September football.

In the end, it was a clever snap from Cardinal Angus Jones at the 32-minute mark of the final term that saw the Cards keep their premiership defence alive in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Old Scotch progressed to face Old Brighton in a second consecutive Grand Final, and it turned out to be another entertaining decider. The Tonners seized control with 4 unanswered goals in the second term, and ultimately ended the Cards’ fairytale run to secure their first senior top-flight premiership in club history.

The Team of the Year is exclusively based on the home & away season, and compiled from nominations by Premier Men’s coaches, umpires and VAFA Media representatives.

Here is the VAFA’s 2025 William Buck Premier Men’s Team of the Year:

Old Brighton has five representatives, including the Coach of the Year, Marcel Bruin. ‘Soupy’ has an embarrassment of riches to work with in this line-up, which features four of his premiership players.

Louis Butler enjoyed an outstanding debut season in defence, Felix Flockart got the nod as the second ruck, while gun midfielders Harry Hill and Tom Fisher (who both finished in the Top 4 of the League Best & Fairest) were popular choices with selectors. Harry – the Big V skipper – was also named captain of this line-up, adding yet another honour to his Hall of Fame VAFA career.

Old Xaverians also have five reps, with League Best & Fairest winner Marcus Stavrou lining up in the middle, and Campbell Lane – who was sensational in his first full-time season with Xavs – starting on a wing and providing hard two-way run.

A pair of Xavs defenders got the nod, with Alex Trigar and Thomas Dunne rewarded for their seasons, while gun goalkicker Charlie MacIsaac (54 goals) lines up in a brilliant forward line loaded with exceptional talent.

University Blues have three players in this line-up, with former Woodrow Medallist Marty Gleeson providing leadership and drive from half back, James Stewart providing a commanding presence at centre half-forward, and arguably the Recruit of the Year – Darcy Chirgwin – who led the competition for Disposals, starting in the middle alongside Stavrou and Hill in a power-packed engine room.

Old Scotch have two representatives, and both had outstanding seasons. Sam Grant was an overwhelming choice as first ruck, while Charlie Cormack dominated in the back half all season long.

There’s a brilliant pair from Old Haileybury as well, with leading goalkicker Andreas Stefanakis lining up with Bloods’ Best & Fairest Olli Hotton to provide plenty of X-factor up forward.

St Kevin’s also have two reps, with young gun Best & Fairest Liam Gunson to provide plenty of run in the front half, plus hard-working contested beast Luke Winter adding even more midfield depth to a team that can just keep throwing A-grade ball-winning mids at the opposition all day long.

University Blacks have a couple of representatives, with key defender Sam McKenzie and midfielder Kane Loftus getting the nod from selectors.

Two Lions feature also, with key forward Alex Lukic standing tall for Collegians all season, and tackling machine Max Pinchbeck set to come off the bench and provide plenty of grunt and intensity to this midfield unit.

It’s a superb team full of deserving nominees, and with an impressive group of players unlucky to miss out, such is the depth of talent throughout the Premier Men’s competition.

Congratulations to all who made the team – it is a significant honour to be considered the Best of the Best in the top flight of the VAFA men’s competition, as nominated by coaches, umpires and VAFA Media experts.