D3 Division 3 2026

[cantwinfinals]

have you seen chaddys facilities ?
how nothing has been done with those rooms (even for cricket) by state government is beyond me
they are atrocious

Agree 100%. One small piddly area for the rooms, surrounded by some pretty rough members of society so the external parts of the building get regularly trashed.
The oval is actually in real good condition. Council is notorious around the Chadstone surrounding areas for neglecting the clubs that don't have women's teams especially (not kidding - grants are prioritized for teams that are 'inclusive'.) Don't think Chaddy make it to 2026 unfortunately with the state of affairs.

 

[God Yeah]

Think it may be more to do with being a side from a second tier uni.

Since covid, a lot of uni courses are being run mostly / entirely online. Students who rarely / never set foot on campus or meet fellow students in person would probably be less likely to want to play for the uni.

This problem will probably get worse as AI starts to bite, imo. Looking around online there are more and more articles with titles like 'I graduated in 2021 and now my $40k IT degree is useless', as AI displaces people. Uni enrolments might be reaching a turning point - there's not much attraction to running up a gigantic HECS debt and having no chance of getting a job with your degree.

If Swinburne are stuck in thirds long term maybe they should consider merging with Hawthorn Amateurs. Good for students who want to play senior footy and certainly good for Hawthorn.

You'll also find historically, a large chunk of students who go to Swinburne already play for Xavs, SKOBS, De La, Scotch and other more prominent VAFA clubs.

 

[hansie]

You'll also find historically, a large chunk of students who go to Swinburne already play for Xavs, SKOBS, De La, Scotch and other more prominent VAFA clubs.

True. Like La Trobe and VU Swinny just doesn’t have the size/scale of Melbourne (or even monash). I was a swinny student when they set the club up in the 90s (I may even still have my letter from them trying to recruit me!) Essentially the club was like most uni clubs heavily reliant on country blokes that couldn’t be arsed driving home to play and wanted to make new mates in the city. Biggest driving factor of them forming was dick Pratt who was chancellor at the time.

Had if they managed to stay at glenferrie that may have helped - while st James is well located it is a terrible deck and poor facilities don’t help. Hopefully they can survive. But yeah would (and do) suffer from a high number of APS/AGS students (who would stay playing at their old boys clubs), local competition for players (hawks, Canterbury etc) and players from the east who would stay there also.

I still remain stunned to see how Melbourne sustains blues and blacks still (3 seniors teams each plus 19s) even allowing for the number of students who would play for home clubs

 

[nowthatscrazy]

True. Like La Trobe and VU Swinny just doesn’t have the size/scale of Melbourne (or even monash). I was a swinny student when they set the club up in the 90s (I may even still have my letter from them trying to recruit me!) Essentially the club was like most uni clubs heavily reliant on country blokes that couldn’t be arsed driving home to play and wanted to make new mates in the city. Biggest driving factor of them forming was dick Pratt who was chancellor at the time.

Had if they managed to stay at glenferrie that may have helped - while st James is well located it is a terrible deck and poor facilities don’t help. Hopefully they can survive. But yeah would (and do) suffer from a high number of APS/AGS students (who would stay playing at their old boys clubs), local competition for players (hawks, Canterbury etc) and players from the east who would stay there also.

I still remain stunned to see how Melbourne sustains blues and blacks still (3 seniors teams each plus 19s) even allowing for the number of students who would play for home clubs

With clubs like Swinburne, EP, Chadstone in this position, the likes of MASALA as well, not sure what this says about the division for 2026. I would hope they do not combine 2/3 as it will make the competition even worse with blowouts. Maybe there is a way that they don't relegate from Div 2 and put Wattle Park (knowing they want to go up) up as well as PH and NB. Trying to make the comp more even, still won't be but maybe a lesser extent without the fact of losing clubs to clubbies football.

 

[God Yeah]

With clubs like Swinburne, EP, Chadstone in this position, the likes of MASALA as well, not sure what this says about the division for 2026. I would hope they do not combine 2/3 as it will make the competition even worse with blowouts. Maybe there is a way that they don't relegate from Div 2 and put Wattle Park (knowing they want to go up) up as well as PH and NB. Trying to make the comp more even, still won't be but maybe a lesser extent without the fact of losing clubs to clubbies football.

Put up the 3 mentioned and leave Hawthorn in D2, leaves you with a 12 team comp (Final 5 possibly). Elevate Masala to make an 8 team comp in D3.

Or Hawthorn go down and only PH and WP go up. That would leave 10 & 10, not sure Hawthorn would like to see their rivals WP promoted, but it could work.

D2
Old Yarra
WB
South Melbourne
MHSOB
Whitfriars
Canterbury
Aquinas
Hawthorn
Powerhouse
WP
North Brunswick
Elsternwick

D3
Centrals
BHN
AP
La Trobe
Swinburne
Chaddy
EP
Masala

 

[cromball90]

Put up the 3 mentioned and leave Hawthorn in D2, leaves you with a 12 team comp (Final 5 possibly). Elevate Masala to make an 8 team comp in D3.

Or Hawthorn go down and only PH and WP go up. That would leave 10 & 10, not sure Hawthorn would like to see their rivals WP promoted, but it could work.

D2
Old Yarra
WB
South Melbourne
MHSOB
Whitfriars
Canterbury
Aquinas
Hawthorn
Powerhouse
WP
North Brunswick
Elsternwick

D3
Centrals
BHN
AP
La Trobe
Swinburne
Chaddy
EP
Masala

swinburne moving to thirds

 

[rightfoot_sloth]

swinburne moving to thirds

Where did you see this ?

 

[Hammerjudd]

Who's the favorite to win the flag next year?

 

[Egg Boy]

swinburne moving to thirds

Just signed a Senior Coach

 

[Jezzawank0]

Mr ‘Ton’ watch been seen in South Yarra meeting with MHSOB.

 

[cromball90]

Just signed a Senior Coach

weird wording
1 team & 1 coach

 

[cromball90]

Where did you see this ?

heard from a player there

 

[JS#35]

Mr ‘Ton’ watch been seen in South Yarra meeting with MHSOB.

The Richmond 2s bloke or Williams?

 

[Jezzawank0]

The Richmond 2s bloke or Williams?

Williams.

 

[rightfoot_sloth]

heard from a player there

You’d hope they try to get two sides up. As someone called out previously it’s a long road back from one team in Clubbies. It might have been God Yeah if I was there I’d wait to see what O week brings.

Chaddy has done a very good job keeping two sides on the park over the last 2 years. The win late in the season against Albert Park would have been excellent for the playing group and their supporters.

To some of the posters who are concerned about clubs falling over. There are so many quality people involved in these clubs at this level. Everything is harder but people persevere as they love being involved. They are there for the right reasons and underestimate that drive at your own peril.

One of the best thing in ammo clubs is the flat hierarchy. Everyone is equal and there isn’t bitching about certain players getting paid x amount and not performing. Whilst the local guy gets next to nothing but dominates.

I hope that VAFA can give us a plan of what divisional footy looks like 2026 real soon.

 

[cromball90]

You’d hope they try to get two sides up. As someone called out previously it’s a long road back from one team in Clubbies. It might have been God Yeah if I was there I’d wait to see what O week brings.

Chaddy has done a very good job keeping two sides on the park over the last 2 years. The win late in the season against Albert Park would have been excellent for the playing group and their supporters.

To some of the posters who are concerned about clubs falling over. There are so many quality people involved in these clubs at this level. Everything is harder but people persevere as they love being involved. They are there for the right reasons and underestimate that drive at your own peril.

One of the best thing in ammo clubs is the flat hierarchy. Everyone is equal and there isn’t bitching about certain players getting paid x amount and not performing. Whilst the local guy gets next to nothing but dominates.

I hope that VAFA can give us a plan of what divisional footy looks like 2026 real soon.

here here well said

 

[ButchersDog]

Williams.

 

[Jezzawank0]

Means nothing in VAFA. Commit to what? Until the real offer$ come in.

 

[nowthatscrazy]

Means nothing in VAFA. Commit to what? Until the real offer$ come in.

This is 100% accurate 'signings' mean nothing until a ball is bounced

 

[random observer]

You'll also find historically, a large chunk of students who go to Swinburne already play for Xavs, SKOBS, De La, Scotch and other more prominent VAFA clubs.

I'll have to take your word for it. I went to Swinburne in the late 90s but I was only a TAFE pleb. We didn't have much to do with the important people in higher ed (uni) section.

Essentially the club was like most uni clubs heavily reliant on country blokes that couldn’t be arsed driving home to play and wanted to make new mates in the city.

There were also cultural issues back in my day. TAFE students students made up a large chunk of the student population (3 out of 7 was the number quoted at the time) but were very much outsiders - Swinburne was all about the higher ed students. TAFE students did not really identify with the place and did not participate much in student activities (I didn't know anyone who played for Swinburne AFC). Hopefully the culture is more inclusive these days.

 

[nowthatscrazy]

Pretty poor that the VAFA haven't done the divisions considering some clubs are starting preseason this week and next week. Clubs are advertising for senior/reserves coach and do not even know what division they are playing

 

[ClaudiaCarvin]

Think it may be more to do with being a side from a second tier uni.

Since covid, a lot of uni courses are being run mostly / entirely online. Students who rarely / never set foot on campus or meet fellow students in person would probably be less likely to want to play for the uni.

This problem will probably get worse as AI starts to bite, imo. Looking around online there are more and more articles with titles like 'I graduated in 2021 and now my $40k IT degree is useless', as AI displaces people. Uni enrolments might be reaching a turning point - there's not much attraction to running up a gigantic HECS debt and having no chance of getting a job with your degree.

If Swinburne are stuck in thirds long term maybe they should consider merging with Hawthorn Amateurs. Good for students who want to play senior footy and certainly good for Hawthorn.

You write this with AI?

 

[ClaudiaCarvin]

Pretty poor that the VAFA haven't done the divisions considering some clubs are starting preseason this week and next week. Clubs are advertising for senior/reserves coach and do not even know what division they are playing

Looks like they have now...

 

[nowthatscrazy]

Looks like they have now...

nothing in D1/2/3, do you have a link?

 

[ancient_rome]

Looks like they have now..

Looks like they have now...

Still only Prem, from what I can see