The Victorian Amateur Football Association board last week endorsed the re-badging of the seven senior sections with B Section now to be known as Premier B.
The top three sections will contain the Premier tag, along the lines of Melbournes Premier Cricket competition (formerly District Cricket). While the bottom four divisions will now be known as Divisions 1 to 4.
While the top three sections have primarily remained the same over the VAFAs long history, this isnt the first name change for the lower divisions, which were previously known as D Grade through to F Grade.
VAFA CEO Michael Sholly had the following to say on the name changes,
We believe that there are benefits on several levels, said.
The renaming lends more prestige to all levels of our competition. We expect that it will assist our clubs with recruiting and in dealing with local councils.
It gives clubs on the lower rungs an immediate and more attainable goal of reaching Division 1 and then perhaps lifting through the Premier tiers. It recognises the strength of our clubs and the ranking of our competition at the peak of community football.
While all in the VAFA community have understood our gradings, most outside our community havent. While our top step has always been A Section, many have referred to it as A Grade. Now all will know it as Premier Football,” the CEO said.
- What do you think about the name changes Vote on the poll on the front page of the Rovers website.
Meanwhile elsewhere in the VAFA, former VAFA president and Victorian coach Nick Bourke recently selected his Team of the Decade 2000-2009. Past Hampton Rovers champion Denver Artz was selected in the squad as an emergency. While all bar a few were consistently playing A and B grade, Denver mainly played C grade but was a regular in VAFA state games. Nick said on his Thursday blog, Artz was a powerhouse in lower grades and when asked to play rep senior football stepped and showed all that he would have been a gun in A Grade. You can see the full squad on the VAFA website here.
Nick also selected a team of the decade featuring only former AFL players that have played in the Ammos with new Hampton Rovers coach Matt Robbins selected following his two seasons at Ormond after playing 139 AFL games, primarily with the Western Bulldogs. Click Here to see the full team on the VAFA website.
The 2010 VAFA season kicks-off on the 10th of April with the Rovers taking on Old Essendon (away) who were relegated from A Section.
