AFL Victoria today announced a host of new initiatives and partnerships as part of its 2017 Season Launch at Box Hill City Oval.
The Launch was attended by over 150 VFL and TAC Cup club representatives, media and sponsors, leading up to the start of the Peter Jackson VFL season this Saturday at North Port Oval. The Swisse Wellness VFL Women’s competition will begin on Saturday May 6, while the TAC Cup and TAC Cup Girls began in March.
A key announcement made by AFL Victoria CEO Steven Reaper was a triple-header of matches for the 2017 Victorian state league Grand Final day at Etihad Stadium.
Not only will the traditional Peter Jackson VFL and TAC Cup season deciders be played on Sunday September 24, but they will be joined by the Swisse VFL Women’s Grand Final in a feast of state league football on the weekend prior to the AFL Grand Final.
“It will be a great opportunity for AFL Victoria to showcase some of the best talent from across three of our premier competitions,” Reaper said.
“As an added bonus, our VFL broadcast partner Channel 7 will provide TV coverage of both the men’s and women’s Grand Finals, adding further exposure to what is already a big day in September.
“We thank Channel 7 for its support of our two VFL competitions, especially committing to broadcast our VFL Women’s Grand Final in only its second season.
“We look forward to another season of increased ratings for the VFL, and thank our clubs for their ongoing promotion of our broadcast matches.”
The ratings for the Peter Jackson VFL increased by 8% (53,000 viewers per week) last year across the home and away season and 47% (131,000) during finals, with games to be broadcast after 2pm each Saturday afternoon in 2017. The first game to be featured this season will be Coburg versus Collingwood on Saturday April 15.
The launch saw the announcement of two new partners for the VFL Women’s competition, with Choose Tap and Victoria Police welcomed as sponsors for 2017.
Choose Tap was represented at the launch by new football Ambassador Moana Hope, from St Kilda in VFL Women’s and Collingwood in AFL W. Choose Tap will be the ‘Official Hydration Partner’ of VFL Women’s, and willrecognise the leading goalkicker each round in the competition, following the progress of the leading forwards throughout season 2017.
Victoria Police earlier this year launched a new "Be A Force For Good" recruitment drive, aimed at filling more than 3000 new policing jobs over the next five years. They were represented at the launch by Superintendent Lisa Hardeman, with the partnership promoting the links between football and policing in teamwork, leadership and fairness.
The new partnership announcements coincided with acknowledging current naming rights partners for 2017. The Transport Accident Commission will enter its 26th year of support of the TAC Cup competition, and partnering with the inaugural TAC Cup Girls season - providing the same leadership and mentoring opportunities to junior female footballers with their sights set on a career in the AFL.
Peter Jackson will continue as naming rights partner to the VFL for a 6th season, and Swisse Wellness has re-signed as naming rights partner to the VFL Women’s competition for another two years.
“These partnerships with our competitions are crucial to their success both on and off the field, which in turn allows the Victorian talent pathway to prosper and continue to be the envy of other states,” Reaper said.
“We wish all our clubs all the best for the season ahead, and thank them, and our sponsors, for the role they play in our talent pathway.”
2016 was another successful draft year for AFL Victoria’s premier competitions, welcoming the next crop of AFL players.
Across the competitions there were 58 TAC Cup and 13 VFL players drafted or rookied – providing 59% of new players drafted – and 97 VFL Women’s players drafted for the inaugural AFL W season.
Last Modified on 05/04/2017 19:38