Victorian Blind Football League
- AFL
- VFL
The Victorian Blind Football League (VBFL) is an Australian rules football competition for people with vision impairment. As of 2023, it has 45 players in three different teams.[1]
The competition is mix-gendered, and open to people with different levels of vision.[2]
History
The VBFL was founded in 2019 with four teams that were not linked to AFL clubs − Bombers, Bulldogs, Hawks and Saints.[2] Hawthorn and St Kilda formally entered the competition in 2019, with Hawthorn winning the grand final in its inaugural season.[3][4]
The Bulldogs and the Bombers did not compete in the 2023 season, with Hawthorn instead entering two teams − Hawthorn Gold and Hawthorn Brown.
Rule modifications
The VBFL includes a specifically modified football that features a continuous beeping device to assist players tracking the ball. Signage and flickering lights are centrally placed behind the goals to assist players with accuracy when kicking for goal.[1]
Player classifications
Players fall into three different classifications:
- Classification A: Players who are totally blind
- Classification B: Players who have limited vision but use hearing as their primary tracking sense
- Classification C: Players who have limited vision but use vision as their primary tracking sense
Players wear different-coloured wristbands depending on their classification, which assists umpires to officiate matches.[2]
Teams
Current teams
| Team | Colours | Moniker | First season | Total premierships | Years of premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn Gold |  | Hawks, Gold | 2023 | 0 | − |
| Hawthorn Brown |  | Hawks, Brown | 2023 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Kilda |  | Saints | 2019 | 1 | 2021 |
Former teams
| Team | Colours | Moniker | First season | Last season | Total premierships | Years of premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombers |  | Bombers | 2019 | 2022 | 0 | − |
| Bulldogs |  | Bulldogs | 2019 | 2022 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hawthorn | | Hawks | 2019 | 2022 | 1 | 2019 |
| Hawks |  | Hawks | 2018 | 2018 | 0 | − |
| Saints | | Saints | 2018 | 2018 | 0 | − |
List of premiers
No VBFL team has ever won a premiership more than once, while the Bulldogs have made the most grand finals with three.
| Season | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Hawthorn | Bulldogs | 13.8 (86) d. 12.7 (79) | 12 October 2019[4] |
| 2021 | St Kilda | Bulldogs | 135 d. 71 | 4 December 2021[5] |
| 2022 | Bulldogs | St Kilda | 68 d. 58 | 3 September 2022[5] |
| 2023 | Hawthorn Brown | Hawthorn Gold | 133 d. 106 | 9 September 2023 |
References
- ^ a b "VFL/W to celebrate Inclusion Round". afl.com.au. 28 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "The all-inclusive AFL Blind is giving the vision impaired an opportunity to play the game they love". ABC News. 25 December 2022.
- ^ "Cebby Johnson: Photographic self portrait wins Frankston Arts Centre Open Exhibition Competition". Herald Sun.
- ^ a b "A historic day for Hawthorn's AFL Blind team". Hawthorn Football Club. 14 October 2019.
- ^ a b "SAINTS AND BULLDOGS TO MEET IN AFL BLIND GRAND FINAL". AFL Victoria.
- v
- t
- e
Australian rules football in Victoria
- AFL Victoria (metropolitan)
- AFL Victoria Country (regional)
- Eastern
- Essendon District
- Northern
- Riddell District
- Southern
- VAFA
- Western
- Victorian Women's Football League (1981–2016)
- VFL Women's (2016–present)
- South Eastern Women's Football (2017–2023)
- Talent League Girls
- AFL Victoria Youth Girls Competition
- Barwon
- N E Border Female FL
- Victorian Blind Football League
- Yarra Junior Football League
- Alberton (1945–2019)
- Ararat (1931-1999)
- Benalla (1946–2009)
- Benalla Tungamah/Central Goulburn (1938-2005)
- Central Goulburn Valley (1946-1952)
- Federal DFA (1897-1902)
- Federal FL (1909–1981)
- Goulburn Valley FA (1888-1931)
- Heytesbury Mount Noorat (1992-2002)
- Lexton Plains (1999–2010)
- Mallee (1997–2015)
- Northern Mallee (1979–1996)
- Riviera (1986–2003)
- South East (2015–2018)
- Southern Mallee (1932–1996)
- Tyrrell (1945–1978)
- VJFA (1883–1932)
- Walhalla (1888-1913)
- Yarra Valley Mountain (1966–2018)
- List of former Australian rules football competitions in Victoria
- Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Docklands Stadium
- Princes Park
- Kardinia Park
- History (1859–1900)
