VFL The North VFL Thread

[The Nostradamus]

lol a bye in round 1 so dumb

our first vfl game is in round 3 of the afl season

good luck reserves players trying to force your way into the team the first 3 weeks if no injuries

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Is there gunna be bye's every week in the VFL ?

Yes, just like previous seasons. Preston goes out, Tassie comes in, so odd teams still.

 

[RightWingRoo]

Yes, just like previous seasons. Preston goes out, Tassie comes in, so odd teams still.

Saints are fielding their own side now and Sandy are standing alone. 2 in and 1 out, there's even numbers now.
So no excuse whatsoever to keep running byes, should be playing 20 games instead of 18

 

[giantroo]

 

[Topparoo]

It says a lot about their genuine commitment to football. Hope the ABC picks it up again.

 

[gokangas]

Channel 7 set to walk away from VFL broadcasting​

VFL clubs face a broadcasting crisis as Channel 7 prepares to walk away from covering the league, ending over five decades of free-to-air television tradition.

Jon Ralph and Paul Amy

January 27, 2026 - 5:07PM
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...ory/02177b8f8db18f2c069908f1e64066cb#comments

Channel 7 will end its VFL coverage . Picture: Michael Klein

Channel 7 will walk away from broadcasting the VFL, leaving the state league without free-to-air television coverage for the first time in more than 50 years.
Clubs are bracing for the loss of Seven, which last year switched to calling games on Saturday nights at three rotating venues: Kinetic Stadium at Frankston, IKON Park and Whitten Oval.

Matches were shown in Victoria on secondary channel 7Mate but clubs have been told audiences were smaller than what they had been in the previous Sunday afternoon slot on the main channel.

The cost of broadcasting games with modest ratings was the key concern for Channel 7, which has been covering the league since 2015.

The state league will be off free-to-air for the first time in 50 years. Picture: Michael Klein
Despite discussions with the AFL over summer, Seven eventually decided broadcasting the VFL was not commercially viable.

The AFL is yet to make an official announcement but industry sources said on Tuesday the VFL and VFLW would be broadcast only on the AFL’s own app.

The league had welcomed the chance to show VFL in 2025 as part of the first year of a seven-season AFL broadcast rights deal. The Saturday night games allowed the network to produce football content every night of the week.

But with Fox Footy’s Super Saturday giving it exclusive rights to all Saturday AFL games in Victoria, Seven was always going to be challenged to draw big ratings for the state league competition.

Clubs say the TV coverage offered great exposure to the competition and helped them attract sponsors.

“It’s a great selling point for us – you’ll see your name on TV,’’ one club official said.

It also creates a point of difference between the VFL and strong suburban leagues.

Clubs were given the news at a meeting attended by top AFL officials Greg Swann and Laura Kane in December.

The club official said the prospect of Channel 7 dropping its coverage was “pretty bad for everyone involved in the VFL’’.

“It’s always been broadcast on terrestrial television. For it to be removed from terrestrial television after all these years wouldn’t be good,’’ he said.

He said the decision to go to 7pm on Saturdays had been a mistake, frustrating supporters by delaying the release of the draw, upsetting clubs that didn’t want to give up home games and producing disappointing ratings.

Fans won’t see the action on Channel 7. Picture: Michael Klein
Reigning premiers Werribee played before TV cameras just once during the season, against Casey Demons at Whitten Oval.

“The reality is, we didn’t rate. It was a ridiculous time slot,’’ the official said.

He said the AFL should “get creative’’ and look to offer the VFL to national broadcasters the ABC and SBS.

The ABC began covering the old VFA in 1987 after it was broadcast for many years on Channel 0/10.

With Ross Booth, Phil Cleary and Sam Kekovich in the ABC commentary box, matches gained a cult following on Saturday afternoons.

“I’ve said many times that Peter Gee and Ross Booth’s calls of VFA grand finals on ABC TV were as good as any AFL grand final calls the commercial stations have produced,’’ Cleary said in 2024 after the death of Booth.

The ABC’s coverage of the VFA-VFL ended after the 2014 season, when it told AFL Victoria it could not commit to the broadcast in 2015 and beyond.

Since 2022 every VFL game has been streamed live and shown on AFL.com.au and the VFL app.

VFL spokesman Sam Zito said this afternoon: “Broadcast arrangements for season 2026 are currently not finalised and will be announced ahead of the season. However, we can confirm all VFL and VFLW matches will again be broadcast live and free via AFL channels.”

 

[gokangas]

AFL seems to be in a bit of a mess. Boss is overseas in India so timing of this leak is interesting.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Saints are fielding their own side now and Sandy are standing alone. 2 in and 1 out, there's even numbers now.
So no excuse whatsoever to keep running byes, should be playing 20 games instead of 18

Forgot Sandy were staying in. Not sure why they would shuttle 3-5 teams with a bye every week, like other seasons with the odd number.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

So stupid, the VFL was never going to get eyes on it with the broadcasting timeslot they were given last year.

Give the rights to the ABC and have earlier Saturday morning games prior to the Saturday AFL timeslot.

It’s simple shit really.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

So stupid, the VFL was never going to get eyes on it with the broadcasting timeslot they were given last year.

Give the rights to the ABC and have earlier Saturday morning games prior to the Saturday AFL timeslot.

It’s simple shit really.

Stop competing for the same numbers/viewers.

 

[muttley45]

Channel 7 televising VFL games will not be missed at all by me, watched all our games live on the AFL website, and no ad breaks, only dead air at the end of Quarter's, and 1/2 time.

 

[gokangas]

AFL's relationship with their FTA partner seems somewhat fragile. You would think they would be best mates. Bit of chat around that like Foxtel, they don't think they got their fair return over the last few years. Nine's NRL deal seems much happier and rates very well. Interesting times ahead as other pay TV poachers are hovering and doing the sums as they develop their next offer.

 

[tazaa]

The AFL is addicted to 7’s broadcast rights money however the content 7 produces is garbage and 7’s ROI is getting smashed due to streaming services and social media.

I can’t see them ever renewing next time, especially with Foxtel’s new owner wanting out and leaving them with a sizeable gap to fill.

Free to Air television is basically a dying medium and has been for a while, so whilst contractually obliged to continue with the AFL rights - I wonder what 7 plans to do to turn things around.

 

[kool kangas]

Just asking for a friend - Has any team won all four flags in afl, aflw , vfl and vflw in the same
Year

NO..

 

[shinboner magic]

View attachment 2516822

Our vfl side get more blockbusters than the afl team

 

[Gasometer]

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

View attachment 2518376

Seems like a good lad.

Hopefully, he gets at least a few games.

 

[Chadwiko]

Round 1 bye confirmed, by the way

 

[Lomas]

Round 1 bye confirmed, by the way

View attachment 2518572

Why are there four teams in a bye round?

 

[Gasometer]

The AFL is addicted to 7’s broadcast rights money however the content 7 produces is garbage and 7’s ROI is getting smashed due to streaming services and social media.

I can’t see them ever renewing next time, especially with Foxtel’s new owner wanting out and leaving them with a sizeable gap to fill.

Free to Air television is basically a dying medium and has been for a while, so whilst contractually obliged to continue with the AFL rights - I wonder what 7 plans to do to turn things around.

They could start with sacking BT

 

[andana]

Why are there four teams in a bye round?

The Smithy’s VFL campaign will feature 21 home and away rounds, with all 22 clubs to play 18 matches and have three byes.

“Season dates for the Smithy’s VFL remain consistent with previous seasons, with the home and away season to commence in late March and conclude with the Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, which will again be played on the AFL preliminary final weekend.”

afl.com.au

 

[hellas_johnny]

Amazing how they do 3 bye, even with 22 teams ffs. Its not that hard. Give all teams a bye during their afl affiliates bye. Have 1 round off for the vic representative match, play each other once. If it's a worry of an uneven fixture then have all teams play 1 game at a neutral venue

 

[The_General#1]

Amazing how they do 3 bye, even with 22 teams ffs. Its not that hard. Give all teams a bye during their afl affiliates bye. Have 1 round off for the vic representative match, play each other once. If it's a worry of an uneven fixture then have all teams play 1 game at a neutral venue

I wonder if they take into consideration that most local comps require their VFL players to play at least 3 games to qualify for finals.
Well that’s they only reason I can come up with.

 

[shinboner magic]

I wonder if they take into consideration that most local comps require their VFL players to play at least 3 games to qualify for finals.
Well that’s they only reason I can come up with.

They’re not that smart mate

 

[The Nostradamus]

Fos brother Jack has moved from our vfl team to blues vfl

Cousins with Sam Walsh

18

Sam Walsh

Age

25

Ht

184cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.1

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

3.2

5star

CL

3.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

26.2

5star

K

15.4

5star

HB

10.8

5star

M

6.0

5star

T

3.2

5star

CL

4.8

5star