Posted on Saturday 31st December, 2022

TOP 22 MOMENTS IN 2022

Over the past few weeks, the WRFL has shared the Top 22 moments of the 2022 season. Take a look back at some of the Moments that shaped the year:

22. Cachia & Buttigieg-Clarke kick 100 goals

Two men reached 100 goals in 2022 – Dean Cachia (Suns) and Shaun Buttigieg-Clarke (Braybrook). An incredible effort from two of the best this season.

21. Individual Brilliance

We had some individual brilliance in 2022 – Dillon Viojo-Rainbow winning the Barry Priest Medal, Dijana Vasilevska claiming the VU Polytechnic Senior Women’s Division 1 award and Rebecca Hicks winning Netball’s top award. See all the Award winners from the 2022 seasons here: https://bit.ly/3xHprgj

20. Female Devlopment Network

The mission of the Female Development Network is to increase participation of girls and women on and off the field/court, provide an avenue for education and to ensure there are opportunities for advancement within clubs and throughout the league.

This year we hosted two workshops, hosted by Lyndall Russell from Mad4Leaders. Eighteen women from across the league came together discuss leadership and becoming “impact players” within their club.

19. The Players Take with KA & J

The gals love the pod and this year they spoke to 64 players from across the league on The Players Take. To listen back to some of the episodes, click below.

18. Dean Cachia speech goes viral 

It is the speech that caught the attention of footy fans from across the country.

With a reach of 2 million people on Facebook alone, Dean Cachia’s speech became the most watched video on the WRFL page ever.

17. Junior stars shine on Interleague stage 

The Queen’s Birthday long weekend saw the WRFL participate in the AFL Victoria Junior Metro Development Series.

We won several games across seven competitions, with our Under 13B team winning the Junior Carnival against the EDFL and RDFNL.

There was a lot to celebrate, with some exciting talent coming through the ranks.

16. WRFL enters Netball Association Championships for the first time 

For the first time the WRFL entered a representative team in the Netball Victoria Association Championships. 12 players from across the league took part in the competition, with the team finishing fifth – winning three of seven matches.

15. D’Ambrosio, Dawson and Elliott drafted 

Massimo D’Ambrosio and Kallan Dawson were selected in the Mid-Season AFL Draft and young gun Laura Elliott was drafted to Hawthorn in their inaugural AFLW team.

All three made their debuts in 2022 and all three made the WRFL and their junior clubs proud.

14. Henry McFerran Umpires 1800th game 

WRFL Umpire Henry McFerran celebrated an extraordinary milestone this season, he umpired his 1800th match. An amazing achievement.

13. VU Netball Premiers – Manor Lakes (Division 2), Albanvale (Division 3), Manor Lakes (Division 4)

Manor Lakes won two VU WRFL Netball Premierships in 2022 – taking out the Division 2 and Division 4 titles. Albanvale also claimed the Division 3 Premiership. Congratulations on a wonderful season.

12. Reserves Premiers 

Pure elation. Werribee Districts (TIV Division 1), Wyndhamvale (Division 2) and Albanvale (Alan Mance Motors Division 3) all claimed Reserves premierships in 2022.

11. Junior Grand Finals 

Junior WRFL Grand Finals returned for the first time in 952 days on August 14.

It was a special two weeks for our Junior Competitions, with 16 Premiership Cups handed out.

10. Flemington Juniors/Yarraville Seddon Eagles win VU Polytechnic Under 18 Girls Premiership 

The combined Flemington Juniors/Yarraville Seddon Eagles upset ladder-leaders Spotswood in the VU Polytechnic Under 18 Girls Preliminary Final and then defeated Williamstown Juniors in the Grand Final, claiming a special premiership victory at Avalon Airport Oval.

9. Under 18 Division 1 & 2 Boys Premiers 

Werribee Districts went undefeated in the Under 18 Division 1 Boys competition and the Yarraville Seddon Eagles won a thrilling Under 18 Division 2 Grand Final against Newport.

8. The People 

After two covid-affected years, we finally got to experience a full home and away season and finals and didn’t you all come out in force to support your teams. Thank you to everyone who attended finals matches and brought the atmosphere to our games. Bring on 2023!

7. VU WRFL Netball Division 5 Premiers 

Scores were level at the final whistle of the VU Netball Division 5 Grand Final.

Albanvale shooter Jayden Saltmarsh had the chance to win the game with one final shot. She scored, sparking exciting scenes for the Cobras. A special finals moment from 2022.

@westernregionfl A shot after the final whistle to win the Grand Final 🥺 #WestIsBest #WRFL #Finals #Netball ♬ My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from “Titanic”) – Céline Dion

6.  Sharks win VU Polytechnic Senior Women’s Division 2 Premiership 

Point Cook Centrals finished the VU Polytechnic Senior Women’s Division 2 season on top of the ladder and went on to claim their first ever piece of Women’s silverware, defeating Caroline Springs in the Grand Final.

5.  Spotswood thriller 

In what was one of the most thrilling games of the year, Spotswood came from seven goals down in the VU Netball Division 1 Grand Final to score a nail-biting victory over rivals Point Cook Centrals. A win that will certainly be remembered for years to come.

@westernregionfl The most insane finish in netball. Spotswood come from behind to win the Division 1 VU WRFL Netball premiership #WestIsBest #WRFL #Finals #Netball ♬ original sound – WRFL

4. Third time is the charm for Caroline Springs 

The Lakers have been one of the most successful teams in the Senior Women’s competitions without having one a Premiership Cup. All their hard work and determination came to fruition this season, winning the VU Polytechnic Division 1 flag.

3. Braybrook upset Suns 

What a story this was.

Braybrook defeated Sunshine Heights in the Semi Final, Albanvale in the Preliminary Final and the Suns in the Grand Final to win the Alan Mance Motors Division 3 Premiership. An incredible effort from John Mangos and his team.

2. Undefeated Sharks 

It was the year of the Sharks. In just their second full season of Division 2 went undefeated in claiming the club’s second senior men’s flag in five years.

 

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1. Kings of the West  

The #1 Moment of 2022 – Altona’s premiership success.

The Vikings received due reward for a sustained period of success, their win signalling a changing of the guard.