Season 2009/10
In 2009/10 the FFV's summer competition underwent some significant changes, none more prominent than the branding of the League itself and each of its 12 representative Zone Clubs.
Changed from the working title of 'Summer League' to the more appropriate 'Victorian Champions League' and given a terrific new logo, the competition quickly became affectionately referred to as the VCL and instantly grew in prominance on the Victorian football calendar.
In addition to the League's makeover, the Zones enjoyed the fruits of the FFV's branding project with each boasting new colours and playing strips - most of which were modelled on a famous international football team - as well as a new nickname and logo. The delightful result was football pitches Victoria-wide filled over summer, the usual 'off season', with Victoria's most talented players in colourful, sharp-looking kits proudly representing their Zone against the professional backdrop of Club pitch signage displaying the new logo and nickname!
The format of the League also changed for season two, the result of extensive feedback collected by FFV to improve the competition. Pre-Christmas, participants enjoyed a traditional home and away series, with the team on top of the ladder crowned the Premier. We congratulate the following top of the table teams from the 2009-10 home and away season:
Under 13 Boys
Western Wolves
Under 14 Boys
Western Wolves
Under 15 Boys
North West Wanderers
Under 18 Boys
Sourthern Bluetongues
Under 13 Girls
South East Cougars
Under 15 Girls
North East Diamonds
Under 17 Girls
North East Diamonds
Open Women
Central City
The Under 18 Boys and Open Women's finals were also played before the Christmas break, and we congratulate the following Zones who had the Championship teams in these categories for the 2009-10 League:
Under 18 Boys
Southern Bluetongues (3) defeated South East Cougars (0)
Open Women
Central City (2) defeated Gippsland Knights (2) on penalties
After Christmas, the junior teams came together once again, this time to compete in a three-stage 'Championship Series' which provided the final opportunity players to shine and for State Squad coaches to formulate their selections. The series began with an enjoyable, though hot, weekend in Shepparton where teams were divided into seeded 'pools' to play a round-robin format which would determine which team they would in turn play in a semi-final and classification match or ulitmately Grand Final. The second weekend saw the boys head to Epping and the girls to DISC for another wonderful week of football, where the following Zones were crowned Champions:
Under 13 Boys
Western Wolves (0) defeated by North East Diamonds (1)
Under 14 Boys
Central City (2) defeated South East Cougars (0)
Under 15 Boys
North West Wanderers (2) defeated South East Cougars (1)
Under 13 Girls
South East Cougars (1) defeated Loddon Mallee (0)
Under 15 Girls
North East Diamonds (2) defeated South East Cougars (0)
Under 17 Girls
North East Diamonds (0) defeated Loddon Mallee (0) on penalties
One of the major highlights of the final weekend was the first VCL Gold Medal night, held at Etihad Stadium to coincide with the Melbourne Victory's fixture against North Queensland Fury. FFV was delighted to have over 1,000 guests in the Victory Room honouring the season's best and fairest players, top goal scorer award winners, our top coaches and referees and Zone of the Year. We congratulate the following winners:
Under 13 Boys
Top Goal Scorer - Joseph Monek, Western Wolves & Mehdi Sarwari, Southern Blue Tongues, 11 Goals
Best & Fairest - Mehdi Sarwari, Southern Blue Tongues
Under 14 Boys
Top Goal Scorer - Anthony Laus, Western Wolves, 16 Goals
Best & Fairest - Anthony Laus, Western Wolves
Under 15 Boys
Top Goal Scorer - Michael Gerace, Central City & Nicolas Kassidas, Central City, 9 Goals
Best & Fairest - Peter Skapetis, Central City & Justin Yiah, Northern Allstars
Under 18 Boys
Top Goal Scorer - Sam Amaira, Gippsland Knights, 12 Goals
Best & Fairest - Angus Martin, Wimmera South Coast Eagles
Under 13 Girls
Top Goal Scorer - Beatrice Goad, Central City & Alicia Vakalopoulos, Central City, 7 Goals
Best & Fairest - Daniella Galluccio, South East Cougars & Daniela Gudelj, Eastern FC
Under 15 Girls
Top Goal Scorer - Bianca Priest, South East Cougars, 19 Goals
Best & Fairest - Candela Ferreyra Bas, South East Cougars
Under 17 Girls
Top Goal Scorer - Jadranka Ercea, Wimmera South Coast Eagles & Lia Privitelli, North East Diamonds, 16 Goals
Best & Fairest - Emma Runnalls, South East Cougars
Open Women
Top Goal Scorer - Stephanie Tanti, Gippsland Knights, 7 Goals
Best & Fairest - Emma Johnson, Central City
Young Referee of the Year
Zachary Clark
Referee of the Year
Laura Moya
Coach of the Year - Girls' Team
Anna Lymberopolous - North West Wanderers, Under 15 Girls
Coach of the Year - Boys' Team
Peter Raeburn - Loddon Mallee Lightning, Under 13 Boys
Fair Play - Zone of the Year
Loddon Mallee Lightning