The ‘Clash of the Champions’ Replay: Old Brighton U19s vs Fremantle CBC Colts

Join us TONIGHT for a historic occasion as the VAFA’s reigning back-to-back Under 19 Premier champions Old Brighton host the Perth Football League’s reigning Colts champions Fremantle CBC, LIVE on VAFA.com.au from 6.05pm!

Click here for the LIVE STREAM: Clash of the Champions – LIVE

The two teams are coming together to play a one-off ‘Clash of the Champions’ as part of the build-up to their respective home & away seasons, and you can enjoy the action LIVE on VAFA.com.au.

Old Brighton lost just three matches on their way to the 2025 Under 19 Premier flag, but coach Travis O’Donohue knows that – particularly in age-bracketed footy – every season throws up a completely new challenge, with 7 premiership players returning for the Tonners’ tilt at the hat-trick of flags.

Fortunately, the player pipeline from the club’s ongoing relationship with Brighton Grammar, a strong APS school for the past decade, continues to provide solid depth to both their Under 19 and Senior teams.

“Last year, we had 10 guys play senior footy,” O’Donohue told the Herald Sun.

“My job is to just develop these guys to play the highest level of footy they can.”

Fremantle CBC finished the 2025 home & away season in second position (14-4), 3 games behind minor premiers University, who went 17-1 and then defeated CBC by 22 points in the Second Semi Final to win straight through to Grand Final Day.

Fremantle CBC bounced back to defeat Scarborough by 23 points in the Preliminary Final, before pulling off an enormous Grand Final upset, powering away from hot favourites University to win the Colts premiership by 7 goals.

O’Donohue caught up with their coach Dave Larsen while on a trip to Perth, and the Clash of the Champions concept was born.

“You could really see his passion for coaching,” he told the Herald Sun.

“At the time, I thought it would be impressive if they’re able to get a group of 19-year-old men together to the other side of the country and they’ve done a remarkable job to pull it off.

“A lot of credit to Fremantle for making this happen, it should be a really exciting concept.”

The Tonners’ two-time premiership coach is looking forward to the challenge.

“Our first hit-out for the year and we’re really excited for it. Plenty of fresh faces out of the school, and we’ll also be trying some top-age guys in new positions.

“We want to see our boys make plenty of mistakes tonight. Play boldly, get speed on the ball and make the ground as big as possible. Defensively, we want to be really proactive, come forward at the opposition and force turnovers in our front half.

“We’re expecting a really good challenge against a quality opposition, who have made a huge effort to come over here.”

Larsen agrees.

“It’s a great opportunity to get over to Melbourne, and test out the boys against another state’s top level competition.

“We are hopeful that the lads can get a lot from this experience, get some exposure to a higher level of football, take that experience home, and apply it to the season ahead.”

The game is at the Healthy Futures Hub (formerly St Kilda’s training centre, known as Linen House Centre) in Seaford, with our LIVE coverage on VAFA.com.au from 6.05pm ET, with the match commencing around 6.10pm.

Clash of the Champions – LIVE