Block Model students face a Grand test

When the Bulldogs storm on to the premiership battlefield this Saturday to compete in the 125th Grand Final, there will likely be seven Victoria University students among their ranks.

The partnership between Victoria University and the Western Bulldogs, which began in the 1980s, has grown in strength and depth every year with the two communities benefitting greatly from the relationship.

A total of 20 Bulldogs players across  AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW study at VU, with 12 of them on the AFL team.

Business is the most popular discipline with the students who are vying for a place on Saturday. Captain Marcus Bontempelli, Zaine Cordy, Jackson Macrae, Bailey Dale, Hayden Crozier and Joshua Dunkley are all studying Bachelor of Business. Lewis Young is doing a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business. Mitch Wallis graduated with a Bachelor of Business in 2018 and is now studying for a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.

Ryan Gardner is studying Advanced Diploma Building Design and Lachlan McNeil’s aim is a Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours). Aaron Naughton is doing a Bachelor of Education P-12 and, for Cody Weightman, it’s a Bachelor of Sport Science (Human Movement) / Bachelor Psychology. Easton Wood graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Sport Science. Many of these students are achieving Distinctions and High Distinctions.

Zaine Cordy, who made footy history by kicking his first goal in the 2016 Grand Final, says that studying has helped his game by giving him another focus. “It takes my mind off football when I’m not training or playing. I feel like I have a better work-life balance, which helps both my playing and my uni results.”

VU’s Block Model, which has delivered exceptional performance results for students, is an incentive for Bulldogs players to choose to study at the University. Unlike traditional models where multiple subjects are juggled each semester, the Block Model allows students to focus on one subject at a time. It offers flexibility, a more focused way to study and a more manageable use of time.

Many students studying with the Block Model find that they complete their studies faster than with traditional study methods.

Zaine, who is VU’s player ambassador, is majoring in management and innovation. He has experienced traditional and Block Model methods and says that it was difficult to juggle several subjects over 12 weeks. “Block Model helps me set goals and get subjects done a lot faster. Doing one subject at a time, I’m not struggling to manage training, playing and studying.

“If I can get a subject ticked off in four weeks, it goes a long way towards getting the course finished. That’s pretty much why I’ve nearly finished my courses because I’ve been able to tick off a couple of subjects here and there without having to spend too much time at uni.”