 | |
| Sport | Australian rules football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 |
| Administrator | AFL Victoria |
| No. of teams | 3 |
| Country | Australia |
| Headquarters | Action Indoor Sports Tullamarine, Melbourne |
| Most recent champion(s) | Hawthorn (2nd premiership) |
| Sponsor(s) | Energy Safe Victoria |
| Related competitions | |
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.
The competition is mix-gendered, and open to people with different levels of vision.
History
The VBFL was founded in 2018 with four teams that were not linked to AFL clubs − Bombers, Bulldogs, Hawks and Saints. Hawthorn and St Kilda formally entered the competition in 2019, with Hawthorn winning the grand final in its inaugural season.
The Bulldogs and the Bombers did not compete in the 2023 season, with Hawthorn instead entering two teams − Hawthorn Gold and Hawthorn Brown.
In 2024, Port Melbourne joined the VBFL, becoming the first Victorian Football League club to do so. As a result, Hawthorn Gold and Hawthorn Brown ceased to exist as separate teams, and a single Hawthorn team returned to the competition.
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.
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.
Clubs
Current clubs
| Club | Colours | Moniker | First season | Total premierships | Years of premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | 
|
Hawks | 2019 | 2 | 2019, 2024 |
| Port Melbourne |  |
Borough | 2024 | 0 | − |
| St Kilda | 
|
Saints | 2019 | 1 | 2021 |
Former clubs
| Club | Colours | Moniker | First season | Last season | Total premierships | Years of premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombers | 
|
Bombers | 2018 | 2022 | 0 | − |
| Bulldogs | 
|
Bulldogs | 2018 | 2022 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hawthorn Gold | 
|
Hawks, Gold | 2023 | 2023 | 0 | − |
| Hawthorn Brown |
|
Hawks, Brown | 2023 | 2023 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hawks | 
|
Hawks | 2018 | 2018 | 0 | − |
| Saints |
|
Saints | 2018 | 2018 | 0 | − |
Premiers
| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Hawthorn | Bulldogs | 13.8 (86) d. 12.7 (79) | 12 October 2019 |
| 2021 | St Kilda | Bulldogs | 135 d. 71 | 4 December 2021 |
| 2022 | Bulldogs | St Kilda | 68 d. 58 | 3 September 2022 |
| 2023 | Hawthorn Brown | Hawthorn Gold | 133 d. 106 | 9 September 2023 |
| 2024 | Hawthorn | Port Melbourne | 11.21 (87) d. 10.12 (72) | 28 July 2024 |
References
- ^ "VFL/W to celebrate Inclusion Round". afl.com.au. 28 June 2023.
- ^ "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 historic day for Hawthorn's AFL Blind team". Hawthorn Football Club. 14 October 2019.
- "PORT MELBOURNE JOINS VICTORIAN BLIND FOOTBALL LEAGUE". AFL Victoria. 7 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "SAINTS AND BULLDOGS TO MEET IN AFL BLIND GRAND FINAL". AFL Victoria.
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