VAFA Podcast

After 55 years with the Victorian Amateur Football Association, Brian ‘Benny’ Goodman is hanging up the boots. Benny departs with an incredible legacy as a player, umpire, coach, and administrator at both club and VAFA level.Joe Pignataro and Nick Armistead are joined by a host of special guests to pay tribute to a life in VAFA football dating back to 1965. Hear from Phil Stevens, Mike McArthur-Allen, Leigh Carlson and Mark Gibson who've all had working relationships with Brian, but even longer and deeper friendships.Congratulations on a wonderful career Brian, and good luck in retirement!

In a special edition, the VAFA are shining a light on mental health and talking through the ups and downs of the current situation we are living through in Victoria.Carlton psychologist, Tarah Kavanagh, has over a decade of experience with elite AFL footballers, outlining coping mechanisms and techniques for staying motivated, former Hawthorn AFC President Pat Clancey discusses the WINGS program that has become a significant part of the Hawks culture, St Kevin's assistant coach Nick Walsh is the program manager of Tackle Your Feelings, a program implemented for community coaches and clubs to assist in guiding themselves and their players plus we change tact and ask Joe Pignataro about how his football club St Bernard's supported him through a period of grief.Join Joey and Nick Armistead for a very special edition of the VAFA podcast.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron bring you the news that the VAFA season for 2020 has been cancelled. The #1 reason being the health and safety risks are far too great to proceed with the 2020 season. VAFA CEO, Brett Connell joins the boys to work through the last few months in the VAFA and what lies ahead in the coming months for the organisation.

Joe Pignataro and Nick Armistead bring you a special edition of the VAFA Podcast. Due to the coronavirus pandemic across the world, all sport has been postponed in 2020. VAFA Media is endeavouring to continue with brand new content and integrations to keep people entertained during this time, Nick Armistead updates the VAFA community on what they can expect to see over the coming months.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up the 2019 VAFA Season with plenty of highlights from the Premier sections Grand Final weekend, Brett Connell, the CEO of the VAFA wraps up the year from the VAFA HQ perspective, Brendon Goddard has claimed his first ever senior premiership while Williamstown CYMS have completed the perfect season in 2019 to come up to Premier B in 2020 as champions!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron recap all Premier Preliminary Finals + all the Division Grand Finals, it was a cracking weekend for St Kevin's, Old Scotch & Ajax who have all advanced to their section Grand Finals. Whitefriars completed the perfected season in the Divisions, Aquinas produced a 2 point thriller, Preston won their 4th flag in 7 years and St Francis Xavier farewell the VAFA in Division 4 as the Champions. We look ahead to the Premier Grand Finals this weekend & an in-depth chat with Jack Gray of Williamstown CYMS after they won their way into the Premier C Grand Final & B Grade promotion in semi-final weekend.

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron & Nick Armistead recap the semi-final weekend of the Premier sections, the preliminary finals of the Division sections plus a full recap of Woodrow Medal night including an in-depth chat with the 2019 Woodrow Medallist, Ayce Cordy from University Blues!

Joe Pignataro & Nick Armistead present the 2019 VAFA Awards night on RSN Carnival. Chief footy writer of the Wilson Women's Sections Alisha Min joins the panel to go through the votes & interview the worthy winners, plus Brian Waldron assists in awarding the mens section winners.Congratulations to all winners on putting together superb 2019 seasons!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron are reunited after Nick spent a month in the UK chasing the Ashes urn! Finals are one our doorstep in the Premier sections, the divisions are in the heat of it all - Luke Mahoney has had the Roys produce their best performance of the season to stay in Premier B for 2020, he was our very special guest!

Joe Pignataro is re-joined by Brian Waldron and "the list manager" Nick Roach from Collegians in this weeks edition of the VAFA podcast. We have 1 round to go in William Buck Premier, who will finish 4th? Who will go down? Premier B has 5 contenders for relegation, Premier C is just about locked away and the Divisions move into their finals this weekend. Shaun Payze kicked his 1,000th career goal on the weekend with Peninsula as the Pirates snuck into the 4 in Division 1! He is now 2 games away from 400!

In the 2nd edition of the Player Takeover podcast, it's all about the defenders with veteran from St Bernard's Tom Caven paired with up and coming star of Uni Blues Connor Lappin joining Joe Pignataro to wrap up the round of VAFA football, plus look ahead to this weekend's games. We head over to England to check in with the voice and face of the VAFA Nick Armistead!

The first of the player takeover episodes! Joe Pignataro is joined by Gossy & Kenno in place of Brian & Nick as they wrap up round 15 of VAFA football, look ahead to the next round of footy + a chat with Nick Armistead who's over in England.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up a big round of VAFA football, has the top 4 been locked away for another year or is there going to be a surprise bolter? Bags of 11 from Jarrad Waite and our special guest this week Seb Williams, plus a full wrap of the Women's first weekend of finals action!

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron & Nick Armistead have a new edition of the VAFA podcast - Wrapping up the round of footy across all the sections, a hot debate about players who come to play for 1 season, win a flag and move on plus a look ahead to all the Women's Finals with Alisha Min.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up the round of VAFA footy, another draw in William Buck Premier plus do we have a new flag favourite? Luke Pacconi, the captain of Old Trinity joins the guys for a chat!

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron & Nick Armistead bring you a MASSIVE edition of the VAFA podcast, wrapping up the VAFA's loss to AFL Vic Country on the weekend, all the divisional sections played on the weekend, a preview of the Premier sections that return this week plus an in-depth chat with the CEO of the VAFA Brett Connell.

A big BIG V edition of For the Love of the Game with Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron - Wrapping up the Prem B - D4 Big V win in Perth, a chat with AFL Vic Country coach Danny Frawley, plus an in-depth look at the Big V side with the captain Josh Freezer as well as a look at the Divisional sections which will be playing this weekend!

It's a big edition of the For the Love of the Game VAFA podcast with Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron & Nick Armistead - A points investigation is ongoing with Old Xavierians, we've got some big results in Premier B, C & the Divisions to discuss - Plus an interview with Uni Blacks ruckman Josh Steadman who's been announced the captain of the Premier B - D4 Big V side that's heading to Perth this weekend to take on WAAFL!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up a big weekend of VAFA footy that included a "Bernards Boilover" - Superstar of the Snowdogs Adam Bentick joined the boys for a chat about the win over Uni Blues plus there's plenty more on the agenda!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up the round of VAFA football & look ahead to the round 10 games coming up, recapping the Big V u/19 and Women's dominant wins at Elsternwick Park plus discuss the squads announced for the Prem B - D4 / William Buck Premier A Grade team as well as an in-depth chat with the captain of De La Salle, Tom Humphrey after they've put 2 wins in a row together!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up a big round 8 of VAFA football, going through all the results across all sections. Plus a look ahead to the U19 Big V game this Saturday with coach David Kinsella & the final team for the VAFA Women's Big V side taking to the field this Saturday at Elsternwick Park as well!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up a big round 7 of VAFA football, the power forwards of A Grade, who has the strongest midfield in William Buck Premier, scores & results from all other sections plus an in-depth chat with Josh Green who's starring in the Uni Blues forward line with 20 goals from his 7 games!

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron & Nick Armistead recap a big round 6 of VAFA footy, we saw the first draw of the season in William Buck Premier between Old Trinity & Old Brighton. Old Scotch have got a new coach in Barry Mitchell for the remainder of the season in Premier B. Who are the front runners in Prem C? Are UHS-VU the most dominant side in all the VAFA plus plenty more on the agenda!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron recap a big round 5 of VAFA football, Old Xavier are front runners in William Buck Premier 5-0 at the top of the ladder, the VAFA has gone global with incredible vision from the Snakepit, we look ahead to Thick & Thin Round this weekend plus an in-depth chat with Sir Vivian Michie from Collegians.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up round 4 of VAFA football - Anthony "Plugga" Lynch is the special guest, legend of the St Kevin's footy club looking ahead to round 5 where the Skobs host the top of the table University Blues.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up round 3 of VAFA footy plus recognize the work of the VAFA umpires this coming weekend with a chat with Gavin De Kretser, ball-magnet from Old Brighton Nic Pavlou joins the fun. The big footy team of the week returns and Nick Armistead gives his famous tips leading into round 4.

Joe Pignataro & Nick Armistead bring you a special edition of For the Love of the Game. With no games over the Easter weekend the guys take an in-depth look at the start of the season for 4 VAFA clubs - Ajax in Premier C with captain Nick Lewis, UHS-VU in Division 1 with leadership group member James Dimattina, Whitefriars in Division 2 with playing-coach Kristian Height and the President of Masala-Dandenong Wayne McMahon, plus Nick's famous tips are back ahead of Round 3 of William Buck Premier & VAFA football action!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up round 2 of VAFA football, plus an in-depth chat with the coach of Old Melburnians Nathan Brown. Alisha Min, the chief footy reporter from the women's section joins the fun and we have the round 2 Big Footy team of the week.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron are back for the 2019 VAFA season wrapping up round 1 of the VAFA season, Brendan Goss joins the boys from Old Xavier fresh off a bag of 5 goals on the weekend plus the rolling team of the week, the weeks rising star nominees and Nick's famous tips!

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron are back for 2019! A full blown pre-season preview with all the coaching changes, player movement and new rule interpretations for the year on the agenda. We get an update from Shona McInness on the continued rise of participation in women's footy and the growth in those numbers PLUS the world famous pre-season predictions from Nick himself.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron wrap up the William Buck Premier Grand Final win by St Kevin's with an in-depth chat with Mitch Brown, successful St Bernard's coach Mark "Bomber" Riley joins the boys after the Snowdogs claimed the B Grade Premiership and Fitzroy favourite Luke Mahoney reflects on the first Premiership won by the Roys since 1944.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up the Division Grand Finals from the weekend including a chat with North Brunswick's Jake George after their 37 year Premiership drought. Ayce Cordy is the 2018 Woodrow Medallist and he joined the guys for an in-depth chat plus a legend of the VAFA who made his VFL debut in the 1975 finals series for Hawthorn, Michael Cook ahead of Premier B Grand Final between St Bernard's vs. Old Carey.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up the first round of finals action for Premier A, B and C - Preview the Division Grand Finals plus an in-depth chat with Old Brighton's coach Greg Hutchison.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron wrap up the final round of the home and away season for William Buck Premier. De La Salle have avoided relegation and remain in A Grade in 2019. Plus coach of Carlton's AFLW side and 2015 Premiership coach of St Kevin's Daniel Harford joins the boys taking an in-depth look at how the final 4 of William Buck Premier will approach this first weekend of finals.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron wrap up Round 17 of William Buck Premier football leading into the final round of action. Old Xavier stalwart & Big V champion Matt Handley reaches 250 games, Danny Frawley is the champion coach of the Old Haileybury women's side in 2018 plus Brendan Iezzi has returned to Old Trinity leading into their 2018 finals campaign.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up Round 16 of VAFA football at William Buck Premier, preview the Women's Grand Finals plus an in-depth chat with St Kevin's head of football & 1990 Premiership player with Collingwood, Michael Christian.

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron & Nick Armistead discuss the first round of finals for the women, a preview of Round 16 of William Buck Premier plus an in-depth chat with Tomi Johnston from Old Xavier.

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron & Nick Armistead wrap up Round 15 of VAFA football with some upsets across many of the divisions plus Nat Edwards from Old Camberwell previews the Women's finals series and relives the day she won the Premiership with Old Camberwell in 2017.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron wrap up Round 14 of VAFA football with relegation tightening up in William Buck Premier, how big is is the gulf between the best and worst in Premier B? Undefeated Old Paradian captain Chris Kandilakis talks division 2 and the run to the finals plus Joey released the first part of his 2018 William Buck Premier team of the year.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up round 13 of VAFA football plus Ayce Cordy joins the guys after Uni Blues big 46 point win over St Kevin's on the weekend.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron wrap up the history making weekend of Big V representative football with 4 wins from 4 games plus the successful Premier B to D4 coach Russell Barnes joins the boys for a chat about the win plus Jane's Match this Saturday - St Bede's vs. Old Trinity.

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron and Nick Armistead wrap up the round of VAFA football plus an in-depth chat with St Bede's coach Sam Anstey.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron wrap up Round 11 of the VAFA plus a wrap of all the other divisions. Should a team who finishes on top be granted a home final during the finals series as a reward plus plenty more. 

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron and Nick Armistead wrap up Round 10 of VAFA football plus have an in-depth chat with Edyn Sibbald of St Bernard's, the ladder leaders of Premier B footall.

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead & Brian Waldron run through the mid-season report card of William Buck Premier plus an in-depth chat with captain of the Big V and superstar of Collegians George Burbury and PR for FightMND Andrew Holmes ahead of the FightMND this Saturday with De La Salle vs. Old Trinity. 

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron wrap up Round 9 across the VAFA plus Al Armstrong from Old Melburnians who's part of the Big V side heading over to Adelaide this weekend. 

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron discuss how the VAFA can help struggling clubs, Collegian the big winners for the round in A-Grade, St Bernard's take top spot in B Grade and PEGS with an upset victory over Fitzroy in C Grade. 

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Andrew Leonard wrap up the Round 7 of the VAFA football with an in-depth chat with Tom Quinn who played in the first draw of William Buck Premier for 2018 plus an exclusive chat with St Kevin's superstar Mitch Brown. 

Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron wrap up Round 6 of VAFA football, answer all your Twitter questions plus a preview of the Premier C top of the table clash with Williamstown CYMS and Fitzroy FC this Saturday at Brunswick St Oval. 

Joe Pignataro, Brian Waldron and Nick Armistead discuss the Big V 40 man squad that was released. A full wrap of Round 5 VAFA footy and a preview to this weekend's games. Plus an in-depth chat with a superstar of Old Trinity - Harry Tinney.