Preview: Pies-Dons to contest wheelchair Grand Final
A battle between traditional rivals wearing famous jumpers will decide the 2021 Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) premiership this Sunday 28 November.
Collingwood will take on Essendon in the 2021 VWFL Grand Final at the Boroondara Sports Complex, starting at 1pm.
The Magpies earned the right to play in the Grand Final after finishing on top of the VWFL ladder, while Essendon overcame reigning premiers St Kilda in a hard-fought preliminary final last weekend to progress to the big one.
Collingwood VWFL vice-captain and Disability Inclusion Officer, Ben Jankovski, said, “I am so proud of our team and what we have been able to achieve this season by securing a spot in the grand final.
“It has been a challenge with our season interrupted by long lockdowns due to COVID, however we have worked extremely hard over the last two seasons at improving our squad depth and to be in contention of our second premiership in three years.”
Essendon VWFL captain, Louis Rowe, said: "We've been together as a team for four years and working hard at improving. Finally we're starting to see fruits of the hard work, so it's great for the group to be playing in a Grand Final.
"Collingwood have been a really good team and been to the Grand Final a few times before, so it'll be tough but we're hoping to knock them off. It should be a great contest and an amazing day."
AFL Victoria Diversity Coordinator, Steve Odgers, said: “It is a true testament to the league and players, that once again despite COVID-19 we are able to complete the 2021 Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League season with an amazing Grand Final to showcase our sport of wheelchair football.”
The VWFL Grand Final will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/VicWheelchairFL.
COVID-safe conditions of entry for participants and spectators
As per the Boroondara Sports Complex conditions of entry, all participants and spectators aged 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated to attend the facility unless a medical exception applies. Proof of vaccination will be required upon entry. More details available at: https://bsc.boroondaraleisure.com.au/covid-19-updates
Instructions for media
Any media wishing to attend, please contact Will Michael (0435 283 200 / will.michael@afl.com.au). Media must be fully vaccinated and will be required to show proof of vaccination upon entry.
MATCH DETAILS
2021 Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League Grand Final
Collingwood v Essendon
Sunday 28 November
Boroondara Sports Complex
1pm start (Pre-match formalities from 12:30pm)
GRAND FINAL TEAM LISTS
Collingwood Magpies
3. Alex Gale-Grime
4. Riley Fitzgerald
7. Brendan Stroud (Captain)
10. Aaron Cutajar
11. Josh Christian
12. Jason Heagerty
13. Brett Newman
18. Arnold Razon
22. Ben Jankovski
33. Andrew Paddle
43. Tim Ryan
57. Brian Owens
Essendon Bombers
0. Peter Ogunyemi
2. Jason Jinks
5. Caleb Logan
8. James Leonard
11. Anthony Perito
12. Sam Maraldo
14. William Taylor
18. Antoy Arulnesathasan
24. Louis Rowe (Captain)
30. Nick Bryant
33. Mark Walker
About the Victorian Wheelchair Football League
The Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) was launched in 2018, providing Victorians with a physical disability the opportunity to play AFL in a regular competition.
The league is supported by Disability Sport and Recreation Victoria, and major partner the Robert Rose Foundation, which was established to support the spinal cord injured community.
Five teams aligned to AFL clubs - Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn, Richmond and St Kilda - have been involved in the competition since the inaugural season. AFL Victoria runs the league and works closely with Disability Sport and Recreation Victoria.
Wheelchair footy at a glance:
- Played between two teams of five (5), plus interchange players.
- The field is an indoor basketball/netball court and is divided into three zones: a centre zone and two scoring zones.
- Players are restricted to which zone they can enter and are required to wear a coloured item to differentiate themselves as either a forward, centre or back.
- Teams score by handballing or passing the football into their attacking scoring zone to the designated scorer, who can score a goal or behind by handballing the ball between the goal posts.
- A mark is awarded when the ball has travelled three or more metres.
- A handball is equivalent to a kick and a thrown ball equivalent to a pass. The ball may not be thrown overarm.
- The game consists of four 10-minute quarters with no time-on.
