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 2018 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.
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.[5]
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]
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[4] |
| 2021 | St Kilda | Bulldogs | 135 d. 71 | 4 December 2021[6] |
| 2022 | Bulldogs | St Kilda | 68 d. 58 | 3 September 2022[6] |
| 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ "PORT MELBOURNE JOINS VICTORIAN BLIND FOOTBALL LEAGUE". AFL Victoria. 7 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ a b "SAINTS AND BULLDOGS TO MEET IN AFL BLIND GRAND FINAL". AFL Victoria.