Beau’s impressive start

For Longwarry’s Beau Jones, the newly created Victorian Blind Football League is giving him the chance to play the sport he loves.

Having formed part of the trial program to set up the competition from the outset, Beau was recently selected with the number one draft pick for the Bulldogs in a newly created four team competition.

With each team playing each other once before the final Beau has made a good start to the short season, booting nine goals in the Bulldogs’ first up 111-48 win. A fall onto his knee after tripping over an opponent while sprinting for the ball cut short his time on the field in the final quarter and a bid for a huge bag of 10 goals.

Beau, who is a B2 athlete, should come up for the next game on Saturday, with the third match to be played on December 8 before a potential date in the inaugural grand final on December 15.

With matches played at the Action Sports Centre in Tullamarine, the sport caters for the three different categories of blind being B1 (players with no sight), B2 (players with little functional vision and hearing as primary tracking sense) and B3 (players with limited vision, with vision as their primary tracking sense).

Teams are made of up of six per side plus interchange, with four 12minute quarters and no tackling.

Players must be in their forward zone to score, with a sound played through speakers to alert players that they are in the scoring zone while a buzzer in the ball helps the players find the footy. A PA announcer helps the players keep track of the score.

To ensure an inclusive environment, scoring amounts differ depending on a player’s classification, with B1 athletes scoring nine points for a goal with six points on offer for B2 and B3 athletes.

“It’s a surprisingly fast-moving game,” Beau said.

“You can take 15 steps, take one bounce then have another 15 steps.

“If you’re touched double handed and you’ve had prior opportunity it’s holding the ball, and it’s a mark if it hits your hands.”

AFL Victoria hope to eventually affiliate with the AFL, with hopes of getting more people interested and involved to expand the competition next year.

People without vision impairment are welcome to play, but they must wear simulation goggles.

Photograph courtesy AFL Victoria. Beau Jones looks for a passing option during a nine-goal performance for the Bulldogs in his first match in the Victorian Blind Football League;

Beau Jones receives well wishes from his parents Janine and Aaron ahead of his first match in the Victorian Blind Football League.