The AFL today announced the 2021 East Coast VFL season is set to begin on Saturday April 17, which will see state league men’s footy return to Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales after a 2020 season affected by COVID-19.
The home and away season will feature 22 clubs from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and will consist of a 16-game season across 19 rounds.
The largest second-tier football competition in Australia will provide all players with a premium standard of football with matches played in Queensland and New South Wales for the first time. A Top Eight Finals structure will commence on Saturday August 28 with the Grand Final to be held on the weekend of September 18/19.
All clubs will have three allocated byes to provide an added level of flexibility to adjust where required. The competition will integrate into a streamlined calendar for men’s football with the 2021 NAB League Boys, with both seasons running concurrently with the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
The 2021 fixture is set to be released at the end of February given the connection to the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. The involvement of AFL-listed players from 14 AFL clubs in the competition is central to the fixturing of the season.
The Sydney Swans have signed 11 players for the club's inaugural East Coast VFL team (see below) and players in the squad can train twice a week with the senior Sydney Swans program.
Sydney Swans East Coast VFL (players confirmed to date)
Jake Bartholomaeus (QBE Sydney Swans Academy / Sydney University)
Nick Brewer (QBE Sydney Swans Academy / North Shore Bombers)
Darcy Cordell (QBE Sydney Swans Academy/ UNSW Bulldogs)
Max Geddes (QBE Sydney Swans Academy / UNSW Bulldogs )
Ryan Hebron (QBE Sydney Swans Academy, North Shore Bombers)
Lachlan McAndrew (QBE Sydney Swans Academy / Manly Wolves)
Harry Morrison (Sydney Uni, Sturt, Old Geelong)
Ben Silvagni (Carlton Football Club)
Sam Thorne (QBE Sydney Swans Academy / UNSW Bulldogs)
Reed van Husstede (QBE Sydney Swans Academy / Newcastle City)
Aidan Watling (QBE Sydney Swans Academy / Newcastle City)
Note: The playing list will comprise a primary list of up to 12 open-age players, and a development list of up to 18 players aged 22 and under.
Clubs to take part in East Coast VFL competition in 2021:
Standalone Clubs: Aspley, Coburg, Frankston, Northern Bullants, Port Melbourne, Southport,
Werribee, Williamstown
Standalone AFL Clubs: Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Footscray, Geelong Cats,
Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS, North Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney Swans
Aligned Clubs: Sandringham, Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons
