Australian rules football in Queensland has been celebrated with three awards at last nights Queensland Sport Awards, and saw one of the greats of the Brisbane Lions, Shaun Hart, inducted into the Queensland Sporting Hall of Fame.
Trisha Squires, the Head of AFL Queensland, was named the Gallagher 2024 Queensland Sport Administrator of the Year after another record-breaking year of growth for Australian rules football across the state. Chris Fagan, Premiership Coach of the Brisbane Lions, received the Queensland Government 2024 Queensland Coach of the Year award, while Kate Guy, life member and revered 'matriarch' of the Mt Gravatt Football Club, received a Queensland Government Service to Sport Award in recognition of her 35 years of dedication to Australian rules football.
Shaun Hart, one of the all-time greats of the Brisbane Lions, was inducted into the Queensland Sporting Hall of Fame. Hart is forever etched in club history as the winner of the Norm Smith Medal during the Lions' first premiership in 2001, and as a triple premiership icon.
Trisha Squires – Gallagher 2024 Queensland Sport Administrator of the Year
Since taking over as Head of AFL Queensland in 2020, Trisha Squires has overseen a period of significant growth for the game in Queensland. 2024 has seen this tren continue with participation across the state up 16%. Trisha leads a team dedicated to ensuring that Queenslanders have every opportunity to play Australian rules, whether through traditional leagues or social formats such as AFL Nines, as well as inclusive and wheelchair AFL competitions.
Under Trisha’s leadership, women and girls' participation has broken records, with substantial increases in NAB AFL Auskick and community football, particularly in the youth sector. AFL in Queensland has become more accessible, with the AFL Queensland Wheelchair competition seeing a 16% growth in its second year, 20% of participants being female. School footy has also thrived, with the StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup growing to over 745 teams, making it one of the largest school sporting competitions in the country.
Fan engagement has soared, with both the Gold Coast SUNS and Brisbane Lions setting record membership numbers and experiencing multiple sell-out fixtures. The recent Brisbane Lions AFL Premiership was celebrated by thousands through activations, live sites, and fan days. Trisha leads her team with passion, working to build opportunities for people to connect with the game.
Chris Fagan – Queensland Government 2024 Queensland Sport Coach of the Year
When Chris Fagan arrived at the Brisbane Lions at the end of 2016, he had a clear plan to rebuild the club, transforming it from the wooden spoon to premiership glory. In 2024, despite a heartbreaking grand final loss, injuries, and mixed form, Fagan’s leadership brought the Lions back from adversity. After the mid-season bye, the team won nine straight games to climb into the top eight, eventually finishing fifth.
The Lions entered elimination football, overcoming a 44-point deficit in the third quarter of the semifinal against GWS — a feat that only Fagan and his team could foresee. A remarkable comeback against Geelong in the preliminary final set the stage for another grand final appearance.
Throughout the season, Fagan maintained an honest and optimistic outlook, viewing injuries as opportunities. The infusion of youthful enthusiasm alongside seasoned experience proved to be the perfect combination.
Fagan’s leadership culminated in the Lions securing the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership with a commanding 60-point victory over the Sydney Swans. His remarkable journey and reputation were further solidified when he was honored as the Senior Coach of the Year by his AFL coaching peers in 2024.
Kate Guy – Queensland Government 2024 Service to Queensland Sport
With 35 years of service and dedication, Kate Guy has left an indelible mark on the Mt Gravatt Football Club. Her involvement has spanned numerous roles, including player, coach, team manager, football director, and committee member, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to both the club and the broader football community.
Kate’s journey began at the age of 14, when she joined the boys for training and eagerly embraced the opportunity to be part of the first women’s team at Mt Gravatt in the 1970s. As football began to offer more opportunities for women and girls in the early 2000s, she emerged as a key advocate, tirelessly ensuring that female players received the same chances as their male counterparts.
Thanks to Kate’s dedication, the women’s program has flourished, evolving from humble beginnings to a vibrant community with teams ranging from under-6 to senior women. In a testament to her love for the game, Kate returned to the field at age 58 to play for the club's first women’s team in 2018.
Last year, to honour her tireless efforts, the club named the women’s Best and Fairest medal after her—a fitting tribute to her legacy.
In recognition of her contributions to community football, Kate was awarded an AFL Merit Award in 2024, celebrating her remarkable journey and the profound impact she has made at Mt Gravatt and beyond.
Australian rules football in Queensland was acknowledged on the night with 11 nominations in total. To read more about the nominations - https://play.afl/news/year-remember-australian-rules-football-queensland