The Victorian Blind Football League (VBFL) is an Australian rules football competition for people with vision impairment. As of 2023, it has 45 players in three different teams.
The competition is mix-gendered, and open to people with different levels of vision.
History The VBFL was founded in 2018 with four teams that were not linked to AFL clubs − Bombers, Bulldogs, Hawks and Saints. Hawthorn and St Kilda formally entered the competition in 2019, with Hawthorn winning the grand final in its inaugural season.
The Bulldogs and the Bombers did not compete in the 2023 season, with Hawthorn instead entering two teams − Hawthorn Gold and Hawthorn Brown.
In 2024, joined the VBFL, becoming the first Victorian Football League club to do so. As a result, Hawthorn Gold and Hawthorn Brown ceased to exist as separate teams, and a single Hawthorn team returned to the competition.
Rule modifications The VBFL includes a specifically modified football that features a continuous beeping device to assist players tracking the ball. Signage and flickering lights are centrally placed behind the goals to assist players with accuracy when kicking for goal.
Player classifications Players fall into three different classifications:
Classification A: Players who are totally blind Classification B: Players who have limited vision but use hearing as their primary tracking sense Classification C: Players who have limited vision but use vision as their primary tracking sense
Players wear different-coloured wristbands depending on their classification, which assists umpires to officiate matches.
Clubs Current clubs Club Colours Moniker First season Total premierships Years of premierships Hawthorn Hawks 2019 2 2019, 2024 Port Melbourne Borough 2024 0 − St Kilda Saints 2019 1 2021
Former clubs Club Colours Moniker First season Last season Total premierships Years of premierships Bombers Bombers 2018 2022 0 − Bulldogs Bulldogs 2018 2022 1 2022 Hawthorn Gold Hawks, Gold 2023 2023 0 − Hawthorn Brown Hawks, Brown 2023 2023 1 2023 Hawks Hawks 2018 2018 0 − Saints Saints 2018 2018 0 −
Premiers Year Premiers Runners-up Score Date 2019 Hawthorn Bulldogs 13.8 (86) d. 12.7 (79) 12 October 2019 2021 St Kilda Bulldogs 135 d. 71 4 December 2021 2022 Bulldogs St Kilda 68 d. 58 3 September 2022 2023 Hawthorn Brown Hawthorn Gold 133 d. 106 9 September 2023 2024 Hawthorn 28 July 2024
References