VICTORIAN WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

In 2018, the Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) was launched, providing Victorian’s with a physical disability the opportunity to play AFL in a regular competition.

An exciting opportunity for participants/players who want to participate in a modified version of Australian Rules Football played in a wheelchair through ensuring there is a pathway from introductory programs through to an elite competition.

See below the leagues Purpose, Pillars and programs offered.

Purpose

Governed by AFL Victoria, the Victorian Wheelchair Pathway Programs and Competitions exist to offer opportunities for participants/players who want to participate in a modified version of Australian Rules Football played in a wheelchair through ensuring there is a pathway from introductory programs to an elite competition.

The Victorian Wheelchair Pathway Programs and Competitions are defined by 3 focus areas to ensure we give participants with physical disabilities the chance to play our sport.

• Inclusion - A game for participants (or players) that want to participate in a modified version of Australian Rules Football, with a focus on providing opportunities for people with a physical disability to participate in a modified version of Australian Rules Football.
• Pathways - Opportunities for participants to progress along the participation pathway from an Introduction program through to an Elite competition.
• Elite- An elite competition with representation at AFL level.
• Representative - National Wheelchair Championships where the best players from the VWFL are given the opportunity to represent Victoria.

Pillars

AFL Victoria have established three (3) defined pathways of wheelchair football:

• INTRODUCTION targeted at kids aged 5-14 focused on understanding the rules of the game through skill and drills at a Auskick Program.
• COMMUNITY for participants to continue their journey into playing the game in a community focused competition.
• ELITE for players identified with talent are selected to represent one of the AFL Clubs at the elite level for Wheelchair Australian Rules Football.

Programs & Competitions

Based on our three pillars, the following programs and competitions will exist for 2023:

• NAB AFL Auskick Wheelchair Program: An introductory program focused on skills, drills and chair skills, delivered by AFL Victoria and supported by elite players. The program will be delivered at Boroondara Sports Complex on Sunday and run for 8 weeks.
• Community Wheelchair Football League: A community focused competition for all to participate. This league will continue to develop providing an opportunity for participants looking to explore the elite pathway in the future and able bodied participants to play Wheelchair football. The competition will have 13 rounds with the majority of fixtures played out of Boroondara Sports Complex.
• Victorian Wheelchair Football League: An elite level competition, representing an AFL Club in the highest level of wheelchair AFL.
• Women’s Showcase Rounds: A community focused initiative which is designed to increase the number of females playing the sport. There will be one games this year with the vision to build in years to come.
• National Championships: Victorian State Team made up of players within the league representing Victoria in the National Championships

About the game:

Check out the video below, created for International Day of People with Disability featuring Judeland Antony (St Kilda), which explains how the game is played and what you can expect from Wheelchair Football.

Teams:

Essendon

Click here to learn more about the Essendon Football Club wheelchair football team and catch up on all the latest news and results.

2023 Fixtures and Teams:

• Click here for the 2023 season fixture 
• Click here for the 2023 team sheet 

Follow the VWFL social pages:

VWFL InstagramVWFL Facebook

To get in contact with this department, please email the relevant staff member(s) below:

Steve Odgers

Diversity Coordinator - AFL Victoria

Email: steve.odgers@afl.com.au

Grace Nicholls

Disability Inclusion Lead - AFL Victoria

Email: grace.nicholls@afl.com.au