Hawthorn Football Club is one of five AFL teams to receive a Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL) license. Governed by AFL Victoria, the Victorian Wheelchair Football League exists to provide an organised regular competition for the sport of AFL Wheelchair in Victoria, demonstrating what’s possible for people with a disability and that AFL can be everyone’s game.

Overview of Rules:

  • The game is played on a basketball court with 5 players on each team.
  • Matches consist of four x 10 minute quarters.
  • A handball is equivalent to a kick and a single handed underarm throw is equivalent to a handpass. There is no kicking in AFL Wheelchair.
  • There are designated zones (forward, centre, defence) which dictate where assigned players can play. Forwards and midfielders can score with a handball through goal posts and behind posts set up similar to the traditional game 
  • A player may stay in possession of the ball for a maximum of 3 pushes/changes of direction of the wheelchair, or cover 10 metres before bouncing the ball. 
  • Tackling is prohibited. The equivalent to a tackle is a touch with one hand. A player has two seconds or one push of the wheelchair to warrant prior opportunity, before holding the ball can be rewarded.

2025 Victorian Wheelchair Football League playing list

Primary 
Hayden Auber
Finn Broadbent
Yassin Hill
Andria Kauer
Adam Smark
Mitch Bond
Rhys Higgins

Supplementary 
Andrew Harrison
David Ralph
Ricky Cox
Liam Fitzgerald

Community
Gerard McCarthy
Aaron Jardim
Ben Van Raay
Andrew Hutchings
Mel Pfitzner
Michael Cadd

2025 Wheelchair AFL fixture 

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 

ROUND GAME VENUE DATE & TIME
Pre-season Lightning Carnival  State Netball Hockey Centre Sunday 4 May 
1 Hawthorn v Richmond State Netball Hockey Centre  Friday 16 May, 8pm 
2 Collingwood v Hawthorn State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 25 May, 1pm
  Women's Exhibition Match State Netball Hockey Centre Sunday 25 May, 3pm
3 Essendon v Hawthorn  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 1 June, 2pm
  Women's Exhibition Match  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 1 June, 3pm
BYE WEEKEND      Sunday 8 June 
4 St Kilda v Hawthorn  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 15 June, 1.30pm
  Women's Exhibition Match  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 15 June, 3.30pm 
5 BYE     
6 Richmond v Hawthorn  Cardinia Life Stadium  Sunday 29 June, 1pm 
7 Hawthorn v Collingwood  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 6 July, 2.30pm
  Women's Exhibition Match  State Netball Hockey Centre Sunday 6 July, 3.30pm 
8 Hawthorn v Essendon  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 13 July, 1pm 
  Women's Exhibition Match  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 13 July, 3pm
9 Hawthorn v St Kilda  Geelong Leisuretime Centre Sunday 20 July, 2pm
10 BYE     
WEEK 1 FINALS  TBC  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 3 August
WEEK 2 FINALS  TBC  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 10 August
GRAND FINALS  TBC  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 17 August

 

COMMUNITY DIVISION 

ROUND  GAME  VENUE  DATE & TIME 
Pre-season Lightning Carnival  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 4 May
1 Hawthorn v Richmond State Netball Hockey Centre  Friday 16 May, 7pm 
2 Collingwood v Hawthorn State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 25 May, 2pm
3 Essendon v Hawthorn  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 1 June, 1pm
BYE WEEKEND      Sunday 8 June 
4 St Kilda v Hawthorn  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 15 June, 2.30pm
5 BYE     
6 Richmond v Hawthorn  Cardinia Life Stadium  Sunday 29 June, 2pm 
7 Hawthorn v Collingwood  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 6 July, 1.30pm
8 Hawthorn v Essendon  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 13 July, 2pm 
9 Hawthorn v St Kilda  Geelong Leisuretime Centre Sunday 20 July, 1pm
10 BYE     
WEEK 1 FINALS  TBC  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 3 August
WEEK 2 FINALS  TBC  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 10 August
GRAND FINALS  TBC  State Netball Hockey Centre  Sunday 17 August

Victorian Wheelchair Football League premiership team

Hawthorn VWFL (2023) 
Joanna Argaet (captain) 
Hayden Auber 
Finn Broadbent 
Jontee Brown 
Yassin Hill 
Jaylen Brown 
Brady Cochrane