VAFA live stream: University Blues face University Black in first Premier Men's derby since 2017 (VAFA)

The long wait for a Black victory in the University VAFA derby goes on as Blues edge home despite some wayward kicking. Relive all the action from the first game between the two in six years.

It may have been the first time the two had met in the VAFA Premier Men’s competition since 2017, but the result was pretty much the same as it has been in recent times.

Blues proving too strong for Blacks.

The University derby has been hold for the last six years as the Blacks toiled in the second tier, but back in big time, and keen to make an instant impression, they took it to the Blues from the outset.

But they ultimately fell 12 points short - 46-34 - in a low-scoring affair.

Both sides were guilty of being particularly wasteful in front of goal (three times the amount of behinds were kicked compared to goals).

Replay: VAFA Round 2 - University Blues v University Blacks (Men - Reserves)

PREVIEW

There is no rivalry quite like the Uni derby.

University Blues and University Blacks are historic VAFA clubs, both share the same oval and are only separated by the last word in their names.

And you get to see the latest edition of this time-honoured game LIVE on KommunityTV on Saturday as part of a two-year streaming partnership between News Corp and VAFA.

Catch the senior clash from 2.15pm. See the live stream schedule below.

WATCH THE DOUBLE HEADER ACTION LIVE IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The match will be the first time the teams have met since 2017. The Blues have won the last six derbies while the Blacks will be out to defeat their rivals for the first time since 2013.

LAST TIME THEY MET

Blues defeated Blacks, 13.8 (86) to 9.11 (65), on July 1, 2017 at Melbourne University Oval.

University Blues captain Ayce Cordy.

RECENT TIMES

Worthy to note, the Blacks are coming off four hard-fought seasons in the VAFA second tier where they lost preliminary finals in 2018 and 2019, a grand final last season and a chance of a premiership in 2021 when the season was ended prematurely due to Covid.

It is fair to say the Blacks have been through it all in recent times.

Meanwhile, the Blues are coming off an unprecedented campaign where they were docked almost all their premiership points in the middle of the last season due to exceeding the player points limit.

The Blues managed to bounced back strongly after falling into the bottom two relegation zone, ending the season in eighth position.

TEAM CHANGES

The Blues have confirmed the inclusion of Cam O‘Shea at half-back for the match.

Key forward and backup ruckman, William Carrington, will miss the game due to concussion while 2019 premiership half-back and midfielder Tom Young will also miss.

The Blacks have an unchanged team at this stage, although, ruckman Joshua Steadman and midfielder Harry Broderick may be late outs depending on their fitness.

WHO WINS

Heading in the clash, the Blues are favourites after clinching a win in their season-opener last week and being the side who has had recent success at this top level.

The Blues won the A-grade premiership in 2019 and have since added some talent to their list, including former AFL footballer Tom Cutler coming on board this season.

The Blacks can’t be written off, however, especially after five years where winning has been the norm.

The Blacks have won 26 of their last 29 matches in B-grade over the past two seasons.

In their season opener in Premier A last week, the Blacks matched reigning grand finalists Old Brighton early - and even led at quarter time - before the Tonners finished as 34-point winners.

Former AFL player Tom Cutler is playing for the Blues.

COMMENTS

Former Melbourne University president Peter Brukner, who is in his 52nd year at University Oval, spoke about the history of the match.

“It’s a special day,” he said.

“It’s got a great tradition, a very long tradition and there is a friendly rivalry.

“We obviously know a lot of the other people involved in the other club.

“It’s the biggest game of the year for us in the home-and-away season.

“It’s the game we want to win ahead of all the other games, so both sides take it very seriously and are desperate to win.

“It’s always played in very good spirit and then after the game we come together as one overarching club.

“It’s just a traditional-terrific day, we get a great crowd, a lot of former players come and have a bit of a reunion on that day both with the Blues and Blacks.

“Over the years, the Blues and Blacks were quite close, we played together in intervarsity teams around Australia so you got to know the people in the other club quite well.

“It’s just the best day in the year from a football point of view.”

Blues captain Ayce Cordy was looking forward to having the new experience.

“This is going to be my first Uni derby,” he said.

“I used to watch them, I had a couple of good mates who used to play back in the day.

“I have heard nothing but good things about them.

Cordy kicked three goals in the wet last week against Old Melburnians.

“Obviously a lot of pride is on the line, we train on the same ground, we share the ground, we have changerooms that look at eachother.

“It is quite funny actually because I have been down there for five or six years now, I think, and I have never really thought too much about University Blacks because they are not in our competition.

“But obviously this year, pre-season and then the start of the year, I have been keeping an eye on them and having a chat to their coaches because we got a big game on Saturday.”

Blacks coach Dale Bower said he was excited for the match.

“Yep, (I am excited),” he said in pre-season.

“There is a friendly rivalry there so it will be great to play them on the main.

“We got our first three games at the Uni main so that is a great way to start for us.

“So we are happy with that.”

SOME ADDITIONAL HISTORY

The Blues and Blacks traditionally play on Anzac Day, or close to the date, to commemorate the University players who served in World War I, including the 19 who were lost.

The Blacks won were in Division 1 in 2004 and rose up to Premier B in 2006 after back-to-back senior premierships.

The Blacks were runner up in B-grade in 2007 and met with Blues the following season in A-grade in a big 2008 encounter.