2023 VAFA season

The 2023 VAFA season was the 122nd season of the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), the largest senior community Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season began on 15 April and concluded on 15 September, with 63 teams participating across seven divisions under a promotion and relegation system.

Following the conclusion of the season, Ivanhoe and Old Paradians left the VAFA to join the Northern Football Netball League, and Division 4 was abolished as a result.

Association membership
Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, Manningham Cobras merged with Yarra Old Grammarians in order to keep both clubs viable on and off-field. On 19 September 2022, the formation of Old Yarra Cobras Football Club was announced.

In November 2022, the VAFA revealed Westbourne Grammarians Football Club would not field senior teams in 2023 (having meant to be relegated from Division 3) to Division 4), and would instead field a team in the thirds competition. However, Westbourne announced on 31 March – around two weeks before the start of the season – that they would not field the thirds team, instead using 2023 to "regroup" as a club.

On 23 February 2023, Premier C club Old Mentonians announced that they would go into recess and not field any teams in 2023 because of a player shortage.

Name changes
Prahran/Assumption members voted on 30 November 2022 to revert to the club's traditional name of Prahran Football Club, which was reflected in the 2023 season.

Additionally, Emmaus St Leo's renamed to Wattle Park Amateur Football Club due to "extenuating circumstances".

Notable events

 * Accounting firm William Buck signed a three-year extension with the VAFA on 24 April 2023, which included continuing the naming rights for the "William Buck Premier Division".
 * On 15 July, VAFA defeated Perth Football League 20.10 (130) to 17.9 (111) in extra time in a representative game, the first representative victory for the VAFA since 2018.
 * On 2 September, during the Division 3 semi-final between Elsternwick and Hawthorn, a Hawthorn player was allegedly punched in the back of a head by a spectator, later identified as former AFL player Shem Tatpu. The player was taken to hospital while Tatpu was arrested by police, however he was later released from custody.

Premier
Collegians won their 18th Premier Division premiership, defeating St Kevin's by 85 points.

Ladder
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

Premier B
St Bernard's won their 5th Premier B premiership, defeating by 31 points, although Fitzroy was also promoted to Premier Division for the first time since the club entered the VAFA.

Ladder
Beaumaris were found to have fielded an ineligible player in their round 11 loss to St Bedes/Mentone Tigers and round 12 victory over St Bernard's. On 18 July, the VAFA announced Beaumaris would lose the four premiership points that was gained in their victory, along with their "points for" score from both games. Beaumaris appealed the decision, but it was upheld on 4 August.

As a result of gaining the four points that Beaumaris had lost, St Bernard's finished with a perfect season. Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

Premier C
As a result of Old Mentonians withdrawing prior to the start of the season, Premier C only had nine teams, with each having two byes and playing 16 games. Additionally, only one team would be relegated to Division 1, instead of the usual two.

Ladder
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

Division 1
On 7 June 2023, Preston Bullants departed with senior coach George Cotsonis, who was in his second season in the role. He was replaced by Tom Hill, a former and -listed player.

Following the conclusion of the season, in which they finished last, Ivanhoe left the VAFA and transferred to the Northern Football Netball League for 2024. Preston was ultimately not relegated for the 2024 season as part of the VAFA's aim to keep all divisions at 10 teams each.

Ladder
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

Division 2
Parkside won their second Premier B premiership, defeating Old Yarra Cobras (who were in their first VAFA season) by three points.

Following the conclusion of the season, in which they finished 7th, Old Paradians left the VAFA and transferred to the Northern Football Netball League for 2024.

Ladder
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

Ladder
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers

Division 4
Division 4 was abolished at the end of the season and merged into Division 3.

Ladder
Source: Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for. (P) Premiers