The AFL has today confirmed the key dates for the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season.

The competition will commence on the weekend of March 23-24, aligning with Round Two of the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership season.

The 2024 VFL home and away season will consist of 21 rounds, with all teams to play 18 matches.

The same 21 teams from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland who competed in 2023 will again feature in the competition.

A league-wide bye will be scheduled across the weekend of April 6-7 when the VFL plays the SANFL in a representative clash in Adelaide during the AFL Gather Round weekend.

It will be the VFL’s first representative game since 2017 and the first time the VFL has played the SANFL since 2016.

The season will again feature a Wildcard Round and will take place at the conclusion of the VFL home and away season.

Wildcard Round will be played on the weekend of August 24-25 with the seventh placed team on the ladder playing against the team that finishes tenth, while eighth will take on ninth.

The two Wildcard Round winners will advance to the 2024 VFL Finals Series.

The opening weekend of the 2024 Finals Series, featuring the qualifying and elimination finals, will be played during the AFL pre-finals bye.

The 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final is scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 22, the weekend before the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

What a year we enjoyed at the Werribee Football Club. It had everything but a premiership cup, didn’t it? While that still stings, we look forward to the challenges of 2024.

We are undefeated, we have no injuries and the coach is smiling.

In reality, we have seen considerable changes in personnel, as happens at every club, every year.

The changes have been well documented across our channels so we will use this message from CEO Mark Penaluna and president Martin Carter to say THANKS.

To our staff, players and volunteers (ongoing and outgoing): Your dedication and contribution is much valued and appreciated.

Our sponsors have kept the faith through the ups and downs of the past few years and that is testament to the strength and importance of our partnerships with local businesses.

Our members and supporters and the wider Wyndham community were with us on our incredible football journey in 2023 and we know you will be fronting up again to help us go that one step further in 2024.

Have a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.

We look forward to seeing you at Avalon Airport Oval in 2024.

The Werribee Football Club and Chirnsides By The River function space will be closed from midday on Tuesday 19th December and will re-open on Monday 8th January.

In readiness for the upcoming VFL season 2024 memberships can be purchased from the club’s online shop HERE. More membership options will be available early in the New Year.

Werribee has finalised its coaching line-up for the upcoming season, the first under new mentor Jimmy Allan.

Allan, who played 27 games for the club across two seasons before a brilliant career in the SANFL, will be assisted by fellow Werribee alums Kyle Hartigan and Jarrod Young with Matt Dowling promoted from his role as a development coach.

Assuming the position of backline coach is Hartigan who after three years at Werribee went on to play 135 games with Adelaide and Hawthorn.

The former AFL defender isn’t unfamiliar with the current Werribee playing group after providing specialist coaching with the team during the 2023 season.

Young, a former teammate to Allan, has been appointed midfield coach and is back at Werribee for the first time since a four-year stint as a player from 2005-08.

After a decade of football in the VFL, SANFL and NTFL, Young has been an assistant coach at Grovedale and a playing coach at Geelong Amateur. He wrapped up his playing days by leading Inverleigh to a Geelong and District premiership this year.

Meanwhile, Dowling has been elevated and will now oversee the forwards following an outstanding first 12 months working with the line as a development coach.

The club’s development manager remains Hamish MacInnes who heads up the position for a third straight year, while Mario Mathuranayagam resumes his role as a development coach with the defenders.  

Joining the club as a development coach is Mark Hanson who arrives following a successful playing career and more recently coaching roles with Point Cook Centrals.

Werribee football manager Ash Collins said the club was delighted with its coaches for the upcoming campaign.

“We’re really happy with the support we’ve put around Jimmy as he prepares for his first season,” Collins said.

“With 10 years in the AFL system Kyle will be an invaluable resource for all of us and will be huge for not only the defenders but the entire playing list.

“Youngy returns to the place he started his senior career and brings a wealth of experience from his time playing and coaching, so he’ll be great for our midfielders.

“We’re excited to see Matt step-up as he is an impressive young coach. He’s eager to improve his coaching skillset and will continue to provide great guidance to our forwards.

“Hamish will continue to play a key role with the young and emerging talent at the club and has already played a big part this preseason leading training while Jimmy made the move from Adelaide.

“The development coaches under him in Mario and Mark are terrific guys to have onboard. Mario has a great connection with our players and staff and Mark comes in ready to share his knowledge.”


IMAGE: (L-R) Jimmy Allan, Matt Dowling, Jarrrod Young and Hamish MacInnes.