Community football makes its return to Victoria University Whitten Oval this Saturday after nearly 10 years, when West Footscray and Yarraville Seddon battle it out in the inaugural Maribyrnong Cup.

With the last WRFL game played at VU Whitten Oval in the 2006 Grand Final between Hoppers Crossing and Port Melbourne Colts, the Maribyrnong Cup will mark the homecoming of grassroots football to the west’s iconic venue.

The inaugural Cup has been made possible following the recent VU Whitten Oval redevelopment which upgraded the facility to allow for VFL-fixtured games through a joint funding project by the AFL, the Western Bulldogs and Maribyrnong Council.

WRFL chief executive Bob Tregear said that the league was delighted to be involved in the event.

“It’s fantastic to have local football return to Whitten Oval, the sacred home of football in the west.

“The league is thrilled to be involved in this inaugural event which provides a great opportunity for our clubs to experience the new facilities.”

The Maribyrnong Cup will feature West Footscray and Yarraville Seddon who will be keen to take home the silverware as they both try to cement their place in the top four in the hotly contested Division Two competition.

City of Maribyrnong Mayor, Councillor Nam Quach, said the event was one local clubs could look forward to participating in for many years to come.

"Maribyrnong Council is proud to be supporting the return of community football to Whitten Oval.

“The Maribyrnong Cup will be a hotly contested trophy for years to come and we look forward to seeing the best football teams in the west battle it out.”

The inaugural cup will also coincide with the WRFL’s dedicated EJ Whitten Round which is held a week prior to the EJ Whitten Legend Game, raising awareness for prostate cancer and men’s health.

The dedicated EJ Whitten Round will once again see an EJ Whitten Medal presented to one senior player from each club during Round 11 which their coach deems embraced the guts, skills, and determination Whitten was renowned for.

EJ Whitten Foundation CEO Ted Whitten will be in attendance to present the two EJ Whitten medals at the inaugural event.

“The Maribyrnong Cup will raise money for the E.J Whitten Foundation and celebrates the career of footballing legend Ted Whitten,” Councillor Quach said.

The Maribyrnong Cup is a free event and will kick off from 2:15pm at VU Whitten Oval on Saturday 27 June.