Will Lewis to play in two Grand Finals in five days after qualifying for VAFA decider with Old Brighton

Will Lewis should be deep into premiership celebrations with Footscray. Instead, he’s plotting how to win his second flag in five days with Old Brighton.

Jordan Croft and Will Lewis celebrate a Grand Final goal. Picture: Michael Klein

Is Will Lewis football’s luckiest player?

He suspects he is.

The 195cm forward figured in Footscray’s VFL premiership on Sunday, kicking two goals to help the Bulldogs defeat Southport by 10 points at IKON Park.

And on Friday he’ll line up in the Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier section grand final for Old Brighton at Elsternwick Park.

Although Lewis spent most of the season with the Dogs, booting a club-high 40 goals from 19 matches, he qualified for the amateur finals by playing five games and kicking 24 goals for the Tonners.

Old Brighton has never won a premiership in the highest grade of the VAFA.

“It’s pretty good,’’ Lewis said this morning of the prospect of playing in two senior grand finals in five days.

“How the seasons lined up, I’m pretty happy I’ll get the opportunity to play on Friday. Getting the five games in was massive. The Dogs helped me get that across the line. I’ve pulled up pretty well, so I should be right to go.’’

Will Lewis with the second for @FootscrayVFL!

🎥: Watch the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final live and free on 7mate, 7plus and https://t.co/vYsGyBP3z6: https://t.co/3V9lTkSGTMpic.twitter.com/TMdlSFFIaw

— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) September 21, 2025

He said Footscray’s premiership celebrations were “good fun’’.

Bulldogs players, officials and family and friends went to the Railway Hotel in Yarraville on Sunday night and to The Clare Castle in Port Melbourne on Monday, where they watched a replay of the win over Southport and then the Brownlow Medal.

Lewis said he was feeling “pretty good, all things considered … the head’s a bit sore, but we’ll be right.’’

Will Lewis after kicking a Grand Final goal for the Bulldogs.

Footscray's Will Lewis shows off his VFL premiership medal.

He will train with the Tonners on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“It’s a pretty breezy week for me, just ticking the legs over and getting in a bit of touch,’’ Lewis said.

Bulldogs veteran Adam Treloar played in the VFL finals for Footscray, which led to Lewis to change his view on the best player he had played with; he told Tonners champion Harry Hill he had been bumped to second on the list.

Will Lewis is on FIRE early, and so are the dogs!

🎥: Watch the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final live and free on 7mate, 7plus and https://t.co/vYsGyBP3z6: https://t.co/3V9lTkSGTMpic.twitter.com/l1dGywfBrb

— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) September 21, 2025

Old Brighton will meet Old Scotch in the Premier grand final, a rematch of last year when the Cardinals broke a long premiership drought.

The Tonners were the minor premiers, finishing with a 16-2 record.

Will Lewis hoofs Old Brighton forward. Ppicture: Valeriu Campan

Old Scotch (9-9) has reached the decider from fourth.

Lewis, a project manager, joined Footscray in 2022 and at 26 is one of the more senior players in the VFL.

He said he enjoyed the challenge of state league football.

“We’ve got a good group of guys there (Footscray). That pulls me back, playing with them, and also the professionalism,’’ he said.

Originally published as Will Lewis to play in two Grand Finals in five days after qualifying for VAFA decider with Old Brighton