The VAFA, which is the largest metropolitan football league in Victoria, boasting six senior divisions for both men and women’s football - a total of 56 and 60 senior football sides under the VAFA banner respectively - will continue to field two separate interleague men’s sides as it has done in previous years.
One team will consist of players from the Premier Men’s division, while another squad will hold players from Premier B to Division 3.
The VAFA’s Premier Men’s side played the Perth Football League in 2025, but in 2026 will travel to Norwood Oval in South Australia to play the Adelaide Footy League.
Despite discussions that the GVL and VAFA could host a women’s interleague clash, the VAFA stated that a women’s representative side will play in Adelaide on June 6 alongside the Premier Men’s division squad.
Meanwhile, it will be the Premier B to Division 3 side that takes on the GVL, moving on from its rivalry with the Bendigo Football League.
The VAFA also confirmed that there will be a Big V under-19s rep fixture against the GVL, with games to be held at the VAFA’s headquarters, Elsternwick Park.
VAFA chief executive officer Jason Reddick said he was confident the GVL would be a competitive clash for the Big V squad.
“The VAFA’s long and proud tradition of representative football, showcasing the best talent in our competition, is always a highlight of any VAFA season, and we are thrilled to have secured two-year agreements with both the Adelaide Footy League and the Goulburn Valley League,” Reddick said.
“We are excited to be heading to Adelaide in June, and we look forward to hosting the GVL at Elsternwick Park in July.
“We’re confident these high-class opponents will bring out the very best in our players as they honour the Big V jumper over the next two seasons.”
