AFL Victoria Community Championships: which is truly the No 1 ranked league in the state?

THE Eastern Football League’s rise to number one in the AFL Victoria Community Championships has reignited an age-old debate over which is rightfully the state’s top-ranked competition.

The Eastern Football League celebrates its win over the Geelong Football League on Saturday night. Picture: Garry Sparke

THE Eastern Football League’s rise to number one in the AFL Victoria Community Championships has reignited an age-old debate over which is rightfully the state’s top-ranked competition.

The EFL ended Geelong’s six-year reign at the top of the rankings on Saturday night with a 43-point win to move into the top spot for the first time in the competition’s history.

But passionate VAFA supporters have since been quick to point out the EFL has secured the No.1 ranking without defeating the Big V.

EFL MOVES TO NO 1 RANKED COMPETITON IN VICTORIA

NFL JUST ONE WIN AWAY FROM NO 1 RANKING

Thanks for enlightening everyone on the Amateur status. Facts are we are the number 1 RANKED competition in the state and i would nearly go as far as to say in the country. Keep ur AMATEURISH comments to urselfs lads. #stickthatinyourpipeandsmokeit

— Paul Mynott (@paulmynott) May 20, 2018

VAFA won 3 years ago. Time to prove it again or accept the fact the EFL are once again number 1! Or maybe just a few of u blokes do #boohoo

— BWS (@BWS_EFL_Media) May 20, 2018

#AFLVChamps | A couple of new additions to EFL House after Saturday's 42-point win over @AFLBarwon in the @aflvic Community Championships! #Champions #Number1 pic.twitter.com/uc9bNZFO8G

— EFL (@footyefl) May 21, 2018

The two leagues locked horns three times from 2009 to 2014, with the VAFA winning each meeting before the country and metropolitan interleague competitions merged in 2016.

The VAFA instead plays against the South Australian Amateur competition and a representative AFL Vic Country team every second year.

VAFA chief executive Brett Connell said the association would not rule out entering the AFL Victoria Community Championships but a packed representative schedule would make it difficult for the league to field a side in the competition.

“It’s always hard to demand players’ time when they want to play for their clubs more than they want to play for the association on most occasions,” Connell said.

“We’d be open to it, but at this stage we haven’t considered what 2019 looks like.”

Connell was diplomatic when asked if the VAFA would topple the EFL.

“Currently they’re clearly No.1 out of those championships but we are not a part of those,” he said.

“The argument will still go on as to who is No.1 in Victoria in a community sense, but out of the championships the EFL is the No.1.

“It would be a great opportunity (to play EFL) but whether we could fit it into a schedule and satisfy everybody is always a difficult one.

“We’ve always got to be careful we don’t demand too much of their (players’) time because they are there to win a premiership or do really well for their respective clubs.”

Eastern is scheduled to play the Northern league next year for the top billing in the championships.