Premier 2026

[Bunk Moreland]

VAFA competing against Perth Football League and Bendigo comp. Surely it’s time for the EFNL to bring back representative footy. Would be a handy team this year.

Here is a list of players. I’m sure I’ve missed a few but not a bad group to pick from. Berwick was the only team without representation. Happy for someone to help me with a few Berwick players.

East Ringwood
Belo
Tovey
Downie
Weightman
R Weatherill

Blackburn
Harry
Wood
Philactides
Wooler
Stoddart

Balwyn
Durdin
Turner
Haley
Young

Rowville
T Sruk
Brolic
Schoenmakers

Noble Park
Lambert
Gilbert
McDonnell
B Marson

Doncaster East
Schache
Deluca

Vermont
Ross
Weideman
Johns

Sth Croydon
Latchford
King

Berwick
-

Mitcham
Uren
Donohue
Parente

Same old issue, the players just don’t play. The SFNL did it this year and they all pulled out. It just doesn’t mean anything to anybody.

 

[Max Leader]

VAFA competing against Perth Football League and Bendigo comp. Surely it’s time for the EFNL to bring back representative footy. Would be a handy team this year.

Here is a list of players. I’m sure I’ve missed a few but not a bad group to pick from. Berwick was the only team without representation. Happy for someone to help me with a few Berwick players.

East Ringwood
Belo
Tovey
Downie
Weightman
R Weatherill

Blackburn
Harry
Wood
Philactides
Wooler
Stoddart

Balwyn
Durdin
Turner
Haley
Young

Rowville
T Sruk
Brolic
Schoenmakers

Noble Park
Lambert
Gilbert
McDonnell
B Marson

Doncaster East
Schache
Deluca

Vermont
Ross
Weideman
Johns

Sth Croydon
Latchford
King

Berwick
-

Mitcham
Uren
Donohue
Parente

Most of the players are x AFL/VFL. Where is the home grown talent.

 

[hansie]

Most of the players are x AFL/VFL. Where is the home grown talent.

There’s some there…

Philactides and stoddart both Blackburn juniors.
Belo, possibly weightman at ER
Lachie Johns
Dano king
Sruk pretty sure is lysterfield. Schoenmakers might also be local

 

[hotchilli]

There’s some there…

Philactides and stoddart both Blackburn juniors.
Belo, possibly weightman at ER
Lachie Johns
Dano king
Sruk pretty sure is lysterfield. Schoenmakers might also be local

Johns is the definition of Vermont "home grown".

 

[The_General#1]

Johns is the definition of Vermont "home grown".

100% agree! He’s been loyal and a star of Vermont FC for a long long time.

Same old issue, the players just don’t play. The SFNL did it this year and they all pulled out. It just doesn’t mean anything to anybody.

I disagree. Many of the players listed are homegrown EFNL juniors that probably represented at junior level and I think they’d love to represent their league. Just cause SFNL didn’t embrace isn’t a strong argument for the EFNL not to work. The VAFA is littered with very good players. They embrace it and I have factual feedback that the VAFA players love the carnival.

Most of the players are x AFL/VFL. Where is the home grown talent.

There is a stack of home grown talent. The only clubs that don’t are East Doncaster and Balwyn as historically they haven’t had a junior club. They both now have junior alignments but not under the senior club name.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Johns is the definition of Vermont "home grown".

The very definition - a Heathmont junior

 

[The_General#1]

The very definition - a Heathmont junior

He’s a Vermont 1 pointer.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

He’s a Vermont 1 pointer.

Any local player can go elsewhere for three points and within two seasons they’re a one pointer.

Johns is indeed the very definition of “home grown Vermont” - he’s a Heathmont kid who was poached by Vermont as a junior. Been happening for decades and continues.

 

[good thing]

Any local player can go elsewhere for three points and within two seasons they’re a one pointer.

Johns is indeed the very definition of “home grown Vermont” - he’s a Heathmont kid who was poached by Vermont as a junior. Been happening for decades and continues.

the EB coming out in you again

 

[hotchilli]

100% agree! He’s been loyal and a star of Vermont FC for a long long time.



I disagree. Many of the players listed are homegrown EFNL juniors that probably represented at junior level and I think they’d love to represent their league. Just cause SFNL didn’t embrace isn’t a strong argument for the EFNL not to work. The VAFA is littered with very good players. They embrace it and I have factual feedback that the VAFA players love the carnival.


There is a stack of home grown talent. The only clubs that don’t are East Doncaster and Balwyn as historically they haven’t had a junior club. They both now have junior alignments but not under the senior club name.

In fairness he only managed to get a look in at Ranges after a couple of years playing at Vermont. If I recall correctly he kept getting overlooked for rep footy due to his height.

 

[rightfoot_sloth]

The Ballarat league and Hampden league played an inter league match on the weekend and it was restricted to under 23’s. By restricting the age you might get better buy in from the collective.

 

[toxic]

Berwick - wow

 

[The_General#1]

Berwick - wow

ERFC at home and petty much full strength as well. Premiership race wide open between the top 4.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Tough season for Vermont sitting 8th. If it wasn’t for one of the EFNL’s misguided projects (Berwick) and players departing Mitcham in the off-season, they’d be staring at relegation.

I can’t quite understand how this has happened when Vermont has been made great by the best people, and a history of working harder and smarter than everybody else.





Oh wait, it wasn’t, all of their success was purchased with pokies money, and the cap and points system means they can no longer poach and pillage at will. What a shame.

 

[mightyroos06]

Predictions on who wins the flag at this point in the year? I feel like Blackburn are front runners on form. East aren't fully convincing of late and Balwyn have lost a few to the teams currently in the top 5. Rowville are hit or miss, and whoever fills the 5th finals spot looks to be a step off the mark in comparison to the rest.

 

[The_General#1]

Gonna be hard for Balwyn to finish top 2 now. Bad loss for them.
Poor old Vermont. I’m sure there are some very unhappy people inside the purple walls.
Mitcham were never going to have a strong enough list to compete in premier. Going back to div 1 won’t be a walker in the park (see what i did there ) Either Sth Belgrave or Park Orchards will recruit heavily.
Battle for outright top spot next week East Ringwood v Blackburn. I see ex saints Dan McKenzie played his first game for Blackburn as did Jake Hammond in the magoos.

 

[thefunnelweb]

Gonna be hard for Balwyn to finish top 2 now. Bad loss for them.
Poor old Vermont. I’m sure there are some very unhappy people inside the purple walls.
Mitcham were never going to have a strong enough list to compete in premier. Going back to div 1 won’t be a walker in the park (see what i did there ) Either Sth Belgrave or Park Orchards will recruit heavily.
Battle for outright top spot next week East Ringwood v Blackburn. I see ex saints Dan McKenzie played his first game for Blackburn as did Jake Hammond in the magoos.

With a top 5 system finishing 2nd & 3rd is very similar regarding chances is it not? Bunk!??

 

[Bunk Moreland]

With a top 5 system finishing 2nd & 3rd is very similar regarding chances is it not? Bunk!??

Yeah 2nd and 3rd is identical. They play each other.

Great argument to return to the best system this year (Top 4). Noble Park in 5th… with a percentage of 83%??? They’re not finals material.

Divisions 2 and 3 are the same. Anybody below 4th is irrelevant, don’t belong in finals.

Just stupid money making exercise, final four is the best and fairest system.

 

[guest100]

Giving more players finals experience is pretty cool too.

 

[hansie]

Giving more players finals experience is pretty cool too.

This. And while I often agree with bunk, can’t in this regard. Pre season noble were written off as done and cooked and likely relegated. This has been a massive effort from a proud strong club. Ahead of Vermont and the Manchester city of the efnl in Doncaster east

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Would rather see the fairest system possible and I think the Final 4 provides this.

I don’t think the Final 5 is great for the team that finishes top. Two seperate weeks off is pretty disruptive I think… just think the Final 4 has always been the best system.

But there’s no going back now, it won’t change.

 

[thefunnelweb]

Would rather see the fairest system possible and I think the Final 4 provides this.

I don’t think the Final 5 is great for the team that finishes top. Two seperate weeks off is pretty disruptive I think… just think the Final 4 has always been the best system.

But there’s no going back now, it won’t change.

You can argue that finishing top and winning your game is a disadvantage you play 2 games in 5 weeks

 

[smy1305]

Would rather see the fairest system possible and I think the Final 4 provides this.

I don’t think the Final 5 is great for the team that finishes top. Two seperate weeks off is pretty disruptive I think… just think the Final 4 has always been the best system.

But there’s no going back now, it won’t change.

Was the system used in the vfl during the 12 team era for a while. Worked quite well but yes having 2 games in 5 weeks can be problematic at community level.

 

[ManInWhite]

Quite a few years ago when there was only 4 divisions, I noted that 6 of the 8 premiers had to play in the prelim. Sometimes I think the momentum of wining a tight prelim and running straight into GF week on a high does better than having a week off and doing general drills on the track for 2 weeks.

 

[The_General#1]

With a top 5 system finishing 2nd & 3rd is very similar regarding chances is it not? Bunk!??

Yep you’re right. Good point.