2025 VAFA live stream: Old Brighton v Old Scotch (Premier Men’s Grand Final)
The Tonners have turned it on in performance one year in the making to defeat Old Scotch for a breakthrough VAFA premiership. Watch the full grand final REPLAY here.
Old Brighton are premiers of the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s top grade for the first time.
Marcel Bruin’s Tonners claimed a 10.17 (77) to 7.10 (52) win over Old Scotch in Friday’s Premier Men’s grand final to create a significant piece of club history.
In a rematch of the 2024 decider, the Tonners overturned last year’s result on the back of a dominant defensive display in the first half where they held the Cardinals to just one goal, which was the game’s opener.
WATCH THE FULL REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
Old Scotch found their backs against the wall in the first term when they lost Angus Symons and Oli Badr, both to hamstring injuries, leaving them with two on the bench for the rest of the game.
Just five days after winning the VFL premiership with Footscray, Tonners gun forward Will Lewis broke the game open in the second term with three goals alongside one from Jonah Campigli gave their side a 22-point lead at the main break.
Old Scotch would have been disappointed with how the third term played out after dominating play. The Cardinals booted just two goals before conceding two late ones to Angus Edgar and Tom Fisher which actually saw the Tonners’ lead stretch to 23 points.
Hamish Dick kicked the first of the last for Old Brighton and extended the lead to 29 points and it appeared all but over before Tom Farrer kicked two goals to give Scotch a sniff.
But Dick’s second and Lewis’ fourth of the day meant it was time to celebrate for the Tonners.
Lewis was awarded the Jock Nelson Medal after being named the best player on the ground.
“Definitely the best week I’ve had in football,” he said post-game on the KommunityTV broadcast.
Then in perhaps the most fitting moment of the day, Jamie Hope kicked the game’s last goal directly on the goal line and celebrated with the Old Brighton faithful.
PREVIEW
VAFA fans will be hoping the sequel is better than the original heading into Friday’s Premier Men’s grand final.
Old Brighton and Old Scotch will again face off in the decider at Elsternwick Park with the game set to be live streamed on KommunityTV from 2.30pm.
Pre-game coverage will begin from 2pm.
The Tonners finished the season on top of the ladder and will go in as strong favourites. While the Cardinals are hoping to complete a stunning back half of the season and defend last season’s premiership.
Old Brighton coach Marcel Bruin and his players are chasing the top flight flag in their club’s history.
“We’ve got a tremendous opportunity in front of us,” he said.
“The idea of winning the club’s first one isn’t something we’ve spoken about, we’re not overwriting it, it’s just about taking the opportunity.
“They’ve (Old Scotch) been playing finals for the last few weeks and we know this is going to take another 120-minute performance.”
Mark Gnatt’s side enters the decider on the back of five straight wins including a thrilling one-point victory over Old Xaverians in last week’s preliminary final.
The 2024 premiership mentor said this week wasn’t about defending the premiership.
Instead, he’s focused on the several new faces looking to lift the cup.
“You look at guys including Brodie Easton and Aidan Frenetic, two vice-captains, who missed out last year,” Gnatt said.
“They’re guys who have given so much to the club and want nothing more than to be part of this. The journey has been so different this year.
“We know the pressure is on Old Brighton and we’re the underdogs which sits well with us.
“As thrilling as last week was, we’ve had to reset and make sure we know there’s still so much to play out this weekend.”
Old Brighton’s preparations have been a little different in recent weeks. Forced off their home ground, the Tonners have been training at Trevor Barker Beach Oval in Sandringham.
Although Bruin sees it as a positive.
“It’s a little bigger and probably is similar to Elsternwick Park,” he said.
Old Brighton is also set to be boosted by the return of Will Lewis who played in the VFL grand final for Footscray.
The gun forward will replace Alfie Jarnestrom who suffered a horror leg injury in the second semi-final and underwent surgery.
Originally published as 2025 VAFA live stream: Old Brighton v Old Scotch (Premier Men’s Grand Final)
