Wheelchair
Diversity
Inclusion
Blind
Vic inclusion leagues are back for 2024
10 MAY 2024 BY: MARGIE SAUNDERS, AFL VICTORIA
The Victorian Wheelchair Football League is back in 2024
The Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) and the Community Wheelchair Football League (CWFL) are full swing with two rounds of the 2024 season in the books, including some high scoring games to start the year, while the Victorian Blind Football League (VBFL) starts this weekend, with three back-to-back games at Action Indoor Sports Centre in Tullamarine.
The VWFL is entering its seventh season in 2024, with wheelchair teams from five AFL clubs: Richmond, Collingwood, St Kilda, Hawthorn and Essendon. The 2024 season consists of 10 rounds, followed by two weeks of finals, with the Grand Final to be played on Sunday August 4 at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).
The VBFL was launched in 2018, providing participants with a vision impairment the opportunity to play AFL in a regular competition. The league featured three teams in 2023, with a five-round competition and finals. The Hawthorn Football Club had two teams in 2023 and St Kilda Football Club also had a team.
In 2024, Port Melbourne Football Club have joined the competition, becoming first VFL club in history to have a blind team competing in the VBFL, marking another big step in the continued development of the competition.
Victorian Blind Football League Fixture – Round 1
Saturday May 11 – Action Indoor Sports Tullamine
9:00am – Hawthorn v St Kilda
10:00am – Hawthorn v Port Melbourne
11:00am – St Kilda v Port Melbourne
All games will be live streamed on the Victorian Blind Football League Facebook page from 8:45am.
For full fixtures visit PlayHQ
Victorian Wheelchair Football League – Round 3
Sunday 12 May – State Netball and Hockey Centre
1:00pm – Essendon v Hawthorn
2:00pm – St Kilda v Collingwood
Community Wheelchair Football League – Round 3
Sunday 12 May – State Netball and Hockey Centre
1:00pm – St Kilda v Collingwood
2:00pm – Essendon v Hawthorn
For full fixtures visit PlayHQ
Read more about the 2024 VFWL and CWFL teams here
For younger players keen to get involved in the sport, AFL Victoria runs a Wheelchair NAB AFL Auskick Centre every Sunday at 12pm at the State Netball and Hockey Centre, prior to the VWFL and CWFL games. Click here for more information or to register for Wheelchair Auskick, with registrations open until June 12.
For kids with vision impairment, AFL Victoria is soon to launch a Blind Auskick program. Follow AFL Victoria on Instagram and Facebook for updates on the launch of this new program.
