Energy Safe Victoria gets behind VBFL for 2021

23 JUN 2021 BY: AFL VICTORIA

The Energy Safe Victoria Victorian Blind Football League (VBFL) will officially return to the Australian Indoor Sports Complex in Tullamarine (AIST) this Saturday for Round One.

The 2021 Season commenced earlier this month with the virtual VBFL Draft which saw 14-year-old Lachlan Kosic from Geelong taken with the first pick by St Kilda Football Club. 17 additional players were selected, making up 38 male and females who will represent the Bulldogs, St Kilda, Bombers, and Hawthorn during the nine-round season.

The league offers Victorians with blindness and low vision the opportunity to participate in the modified indoor competition, which includes flashing lights and a ball with electronic beepers.

Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has thrown their support behind the VBFL this season and will become the competition’s first major sponsor.

ESV Commissioner and Chairperson Marnie Williams said the state’s independent energy regulator would provide $15,000 towards supporting the VBFL in 2021.

“We are so proud to get behind the Victorian Blind Football League, helping support this fantastic avenue for the visually impaired community to get out, have fun and enjoy some team camaraderie,” Ms Williams said.

“The ESV VBFL is a wonderfully innovative way to ensure people with different abilities are able to enjoy the same opportunities as those without vision impairments.

“We are looking forward to an entertaining season with players exhibiting sportsmanship and inclusion.”

Nish Moses, Schools, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager from AFL Victoria said it was great to have ESV partner with the VBFL.

“Last year we had to adapt to a three-week Round Robin style carnival due to the impact of Covid-19. We can’t wait to get back and have our players compete in a full season.

“We are thrilled to have Energy Safe Victoria on board to ensure we continue to manage the League and give opportunities to everyone to play the sport."

The Season will culminate with the Grand Final to be played on October 23rd at AIST.

The VBFL aims to provide an environment promoting fitness, fun, friendship and a sense of belonging for players, enhancing life skills, developing self-esteem, confidence and improved health.

To download the full 2021 Fixture, Please Click Here.

For any enquiries regarding the competition please contact Steve Odgers – steve.odgers@afl.com.au

How is AFL Blind Played?

A game of AFL Blind looks and feels like traditional Australian football, with slight adaptions to rules and modifications to equipment, it provides the support required to play a game of football.

Games are played indoors, which provides a controlled environment to allow players to utilise their hearing. The football has a USB charging port and an electronic beeper inserted to produce sound loud enough to assist with tracking the ball. To assist with identifying the centre and location of the goals, there are flashing lights behind the goals, high contrast backdrops hung behind the goals, and goal umpires how rattle shakers when the football enters the scoring zone.