AFL Victoria is pleased to release the fixture for the 2018 WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships held on Saturday May 19.
Thirty-four leagues have opted in to compete in the annual event with 30 leagues hailing from country Victoria, while a further four metropolitan leagues will prepare to lace up the boots next year.
In its third season, the 2018 WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships will see the best senior community footballers go head-to-head in a bid to rise up the ranks on their quest to be crowned the number-one community league in the state.
The current number-one-ranked Geelong Football League will travel east to line up against the Eastern Football League in season 2018, while the battle for a spot in the 2019 top-ranked match will be decided when Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League meet the Northern Football League in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
In addition, the highest ranked country representative match between Ballarat Football Netball League and Goulburn Valley League (7th vs 8th) has been selected to be part of the 2018 AFL Country Game.
It is proposed the game will be played on the MCG as a curtain raiser to the Round 9 AFL match between Geelong and Essendon, with final confirmation of the venue and time to be advised in the new year.
AFL Victoria Community Football Development Manager Stephen O’Donohue said the event is a terrific opportunity for community players to be able to showcase their skills.
“The WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships has fast become one of the most anticipated events on the community football calendar, with the opportunity for players to represent their league continuing to be a highlight for footballers in grass root competitions across the state,” he said.
“The number-one-ranked game between the GFL and EFL is set to produce another hotly contested match, while ultimate bragging rights will be on the line for many community leagues when they come face to face in venues throughout Victoria.”
2018 WORKSAFE AFL VICTORIA COMMUNITY CHAMPIONSHIPS FIXTURE:
| MATCHES | HOST LEAGUE |
| Geelong FNL v Eastern FL | Eastern |
| MPNFL v Northern FL | Northern |
| Ovens & Murray FL v Western RFL | Ovens & Murray |
| Ballarat FNL v Goulburn Valley L | Ballarat |
| Hampden FNL v Bendigo FNL | Hampden |
| AFL Yarra Ranges v South East FNL | South East |
| Murray FL v Gippsland L | Gippsland |
| Bellarine FNL v Wimmera FNL | Wimmera |
| Central Murray FNL v Sunraysia FNL | Central Murray |
| Geelong DFL v Heathcote DFL | Geelong |
| Southern FNL v North Central FL | North Central |
| Riddell DFNL v Central Highlands FL | Central Highlands |
| MCDFNL v West Gippsland FNL | West Gippsland |
| Horsham DFNL v Warrnambool DFNL | Warrnambool |
| Kyabram DFNL v Colac DFNL | Colac |
| Golden Rivers FL v Loddon Valley DFL | Loddon Valley |
| Ellinbank DFL v Alberton DFL | Ellinbank |
