THE PULSE – 2026 VAFA Finals Time

The 2026 VAFA Finals Series kicks off this weekend, with seven of our women’s competitions and all eight of our Men’s Thirds competitions in action.

Whilst the William Buck Premier Women’s competition enters Round 17 with only 4 points separating 3rd placed West Brunswick and 8th placed St Kevins, all other VAFA women’s competitions (Premier B, Division 1-5 and Holmesglen U19 Women’s) will be engaged in 14 engrossing semi-final battles.

The Women’s competitions have been tight all year. 

In Premier B Women’s, Beaumaris have been the standout team all year, but Port Melbourne Chargers will pose a significant threat after two impressive back-to-back wins against Beaumaris and Old Melburnians in the last two weeks.

As a great reflection of our re-grading in Women’s Divisions, at the end of the home and away season:

Only one game separates:

• the top three teams in Division 1: Ormond, Power House and Marcellin
• the top four teams in Division 2: Richmond Central, De La Salle, St Mary’s and Old Camberwell
• the top three teams in Division 3: Parkdale, Hawthorn, Old Haileybury

Whilst in Division 4, the top 3 teams: Aquinas, Mazenod and Wattle Park, were all level on points, and Old Xaverians only two games behind.

Preston have been the standout in Division 5, with St Kevins 3, Elsternwick and Ormond 2 challenging.

The Women’s semi-finals will be played across Saturday and Sunday at four neutral venues: Coburg City Oval (Coburg), Waverley Oval (Malvern), Jack Barker Oval (Cheltenham), Whitefriars College (Donvale).

Whilst the highest quality Premier B finals are fixtured at the best state-league-standard venue available (Coburg City Oval), the remaining finals are fixtured where possible to maximise attendance opportunities at the venues available (e.g. Marcellin, Preston, Uni Blacks at Coburg; Wattle Park, Aquinas at Whitefriars; Ormond, Elsternwick at Cheltenham). 

The Men’s Thirds semi-finals are all played at the home venue of the highest-ranked team.

All Men’s Thirds finals will be played on Saturday 22nd August, except for the two games involving AJAX (Premier Men’s and Division 4 Men’s) which have been scheduled for Sunday to accommodate their community needs, and Division 6 Men’s semi-final where Whitefriars will host Fitzroy to accommodate the servicing of the Women’s finals scheduled later that day at that ground. 

Perennial Men’s Thirds powerhouse Old Xaverians have qualified four of their five teams for finals.

Brighton are their nearest challenger in Division 1, whilst Uni Blacks and Fitzroy finished first and second respectfully, in Division 2.

Division 3 finalists Brighton 2, Williamstown CYMS, AJAX 2 and Collegians are only separated by one-and-a-half games.

AJAX 3 are the team to beat in Division 4, likewise Canterbury in Division 6 and UHS in Division 7. 

Following a significant re-structure for 2026, it’s great to see the re-emergence of Masala and Eley Park competing in a Men’s Thirds second semi-final in Division 5.

We wish the very best to all competing teams and the umpires who have earned their place in the finals.

May all the finals be played in traditional good Amateur spirit and all supporters enjoy the occasion in a safe and welcoming environment.

Jason Reddick