VAFA set to propose Premier Men’s decider for Friday, day before AFL Grand Final

The biggest senior Australian football competition in the country is set to propose a new grand final day to its top tier clubs.

The VAFA is set to propose to have their Premier Men’s Grand Final on a Friday afternoon this year, the day before the AFL decider, when club presidents meet with the association this month.

Presidents of all 10 A-grade clubs will link up with VAFA chief executive Jason Reddick in March to discuss their interest in the idea among other matters.

If the Grand Final was to go ahead on the Friday, which is a public holiday, the two competing teams would have the bye in the week before.

Clubs were asked about the grand final date earlier this year in a survey but this next questioning is set to lead the 131-year-old association closer to an answer.

Reddick said he would take the feedback on board from clubs before making a decision.

“We have kept that open as an option and we probably want to talk a bit further to our A-grade clubs as to their appetite for that date,” Reddick said.

VAFA chief executive Jason Reddick.

“We are open to discussing it.

“It’s not locked in at this point in time.

“Traditionally, it’s been on the Sunday before (the AFL Grand Final).

“Our focus is obviously to maximise our attendances and exposure so if there is an appetite to move that game to the Friday and that’s what our A-grade clubs are keen to do, then absolutely we would explore that for this year.”

The Outer East competition went with the Friday Grand Final timeslot last year which their former chief executive and new Old Carey coach Aaron Bailey brought in.

Reddick was aware of their success in the move.

“I know that Outer East has done this before and it was a huge success for them,” he said.

“Their feedback to me was that originally the clubs weren’t in favour of it but now they love it and they fully support it.

“So it will be interesting to see where we get to.”

Reddick said he thought it was an opportunity to offer an extra event on the long weekend.

“A lot of people seem to be at a loose end on that public holiday and here’s an opportunity we think to market it to the masses and get, not just the followers of the two clubs, but anyone interested in football,” he said.

Reddick, who worked in executive positions at Carlton and Williamstown before joining the VAFA last season, said he would “want to get just a really good consensus” before going ahead with the new date.

“I’m not saying it’s put to a vote or anything, I just want to get their feedback,” he said.

“As we said, the experience from Outer East was, their CEO told me that the clubs didn’t want it, the league went ahead with it anyway and it’s turned out to be a really popular decision amongst the clubs, now that they have seen it in action.

“But what we have been very big on in the amateurs is engaging with our clubs and making sure they are a part of the decision making.”

The VAFA is the largest senior Australian rules football competition in the world with more than 350 teams registered across its 37 competitions.

Reddick said there was no time frame on when a decision would be made on the date for the Grand Final as it was still a while away.

The VAFA Men’s A-grade season will commence on Saturday, April 15.

ROUND 1 FIXTURE

Old Melburnians vs. University Blues

Caulfield Grammarians vs. Old Scotch

University Blacks vs. Old Brighton

Old Haileybury vs. St Kevin’s (reigning premiers)

Old Xaverians vs. Collegians