V/Line and the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL)

 

V/Line has been a major sponsor of the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) since 2004.

 

Our sponsorship focuses on regional Victorian youth and junior footballer and umpire development.  Our sponsorship includes the following programs:

·         V/Line Cup (Under 15’s Championships)

·         V/Line Junior Carnivals

·         V/Line Life Training program

·         V/Line Umpire Development, including:

o        V/Line Umpire Academies and

o        V/Line Umpire Development Program

 

In 2009, we are continuing our work with the VCFL and are again sponsoring a broad range of football and life skills-related programs to engage the youth of regional Victoria and strengthen our commitment to communities across the state.

 

All VCFL registered players and officials are entitled to a VCFL 10% discount on off peak V/Line train and coach services across Victoria.

 

 

V/Line Cup

 

The V/Line Cup competition has been providing pathway for rising stars from country Vic to the AFL since 1949. 

 

Players can go on to be selected in the under 18’s TAC Cup and then possibly drafted to the AFL.  It is the elite under 15’s VCFL championship for the top junior VCFL players.

 

Played in Melbourne over 3 days, it’s a ‘round robin’ style competition with over 500 competitors across four divisions.

2008 winners of the V/Line Cup (previous winners):

 

• Division 1 – Ballarat
• Division 2 – Hampden
• Division 3 – A.C.T.
• Division 4 – Dandenong Ranges

 

 

Team of the V/Line Cup

The Team of the V/Line Cup is the players to keep your eyes on in the future. 

 

 

V/Line Junior Carnivals and V/Line Life Training

 

During 2008 there were 13 V/Line Junior carnivals across the state.

 

At each carnival, players participated in a V/Line Life Training session. Life Training aims to educate players about the importance of making positive choices in life and focus on areas such as diet, obesity, alcohol, drugs, isolation, depression and suicide.

 

Each session is facilitates delivered by former and current AFL stars. Kangaroos star forward Nathan Thompson is the program’s ambassador.  Nathan grew up in country Victoria, and his struggle with depression allows him to talk candidly with the participants about the challenges he faced during his AFL journey.

 

If you would like more information about this program or you know a team or community group who would benefit from some life training, we encourage you to contact us.

 

 

V/Line Umpire Development

 

V/Line Umpire Development program (dates TBC)

 

This program gives a selection of young umpires from across Victoria s a taste of what’s it’s like to be an AFL umpire. The Umpiring Associations nominate young umpires to attend a four day ‘camp’ in Melbourne.  The umpires participate in a range of activities including:

 

• Attending AFL umpire training
• Visiting an AFL club
• Attending a development session with key representatives from the AFL Umpiring Department
• Attending a V/Line Life Training session
• Working at the Salvation Army Outreach Centre serving breakfast;
• Taking a tour of the MCG; and
• Attending an AFL game and umpiring the NAB Auskick Grid Game at half time.

 

 

V/Line Umpire Academies

 

Over 200 aspiring umpires have been nominated to participate in the 2008/09 Umpire Academies, similar to the V/Line Cup, this program is designed as a platform for launching umpire careers with the AFL.

 

These young developing and some more mature ‘elite’ umpires from across the state participate in an intense umpire training and education program across the summer months.  

 

The Academies assist umpires to develop their skills with the aim of officiating at more senior games including the V/Line Cup and the Australia Country Football Championships

 

 

V/Line Umpire Academies

 

DATE	LOCATION	UMPIRE GROUPS
Mon 24 Nov	Weeroona Oval, Bendigo	Bendigo, Central Murray, Rochester /Echuca
Tue 25 Nov	Kardinia Park, Geelong	Geelong, Colac, Ballarat
Thu 27 Nov	Benalla All Black FNC, Benalla	Goulburn Valley, North East Umpires
Tue 2 Dec	Stephensons Park, Sale	E. Gippsland, Sale, Latrobe, Sth Gippsland
Wed 3 Dec	Shepley Oval, Dandenong	Southern, Yarra Ranges
Thu 4 Dec	Melville Oval, Hamilton	W. Districts, Warrnambool, North Central

 

Additional dates will be announced in early 2009.