Old Xavs are removed from the VAFA grand final after an eligibility issue related to players’ experience in the AFL’s Talent League. Coverage across outlets says the club’s under-19s players exceeded the maximum number of matches allowed in the relevant season, which affects finals eligibility.
The rule cited by multiple sources is described as “black and white” in that it applies automatically once the threshold is passed. VAFA regulations state that under-19 footballers must not have played more than 12 games in the Talent League during the season in question to be eligible to play finals in the VAFA.
All three reports focus on the same decision and underlying regulation, with similar framing that the cutoff is applied strictly. While outlets differ mainly in how they emphasize the rule’s strictness, they agree that the outcome is driven by the count of Talent League appearances against the VAFA eligibility limit.
