
Champions of Change: Celebrating Women Coaches in the VAFA
This July, the VAFA proudly joins AFL Victoria in celebrating Women’s Coaching Month, now in its fifth year. The 2025 theme, “Champions of Change,” recognises the powerful role women and
Nick Armistead
There’s rarely a shortage of inspirational and emotionally charged stories in the world of local football – and especially within the VAFA – but the story of Lachlan Francis is quite possibly where these tales peak.
At 7:15pm tonight, the feel-good story of the year will unfold at Banksia Reserve when ‘Banga’ returns to Shark Park after a four-year battle with leukaemia.
Yep, you read that right. Amazing.
The son of Mark (Thirds Coach) and Tracey (Club Secretary) received his cancer diagnosis when he was just 15yo and, after four years of treatment, was given the all-clear in 2020.
“Lachie has been doing footy training since October last year but hadn’t been given medical clearance to play,” Club President Terry Lucas said.
“He finally got the green light.”
Upon the news of Lachie’s return, the VAFA community rallied with their own messages of support:
Lachlan joined the Sharks when he was seven years old and played 119 games and won two premierships throughout his junior career.
Tonight, coached by his father, he will look to secure the Sharks’ first win of the Thirds Division 1 season against Old Trinity.
Good luck tonight, Banga. We’re all behind you.
This July, the VAFA proudly joins AFL Victoria in celebrating Women’s Coaching Month, now in its fifth year. The 2025 theme, “Champions of Change,” recognises the powerful role women and
The VAFA congratulates Ryder Mantello from Old Ivanhoe Grammarians Football Club who has been nominated as the Round 11 Anytime Fitness Men’s Rising Star. Ryder is ranked 24th for average
The ladder is heating up more every week, with plenty of teams on equal points vying for spots and some only outside the top four on percentage; with each round