AFL Victoria has recognised outstanding contributors to the grassroots game at the annual AFL Victoria Community Football Awards, held at IKON Park last Friday.
Australian Rules Football is driven by volunteers, coaches, umpires and administrators who are the heartbeat of the local game. Tens of thousands of people in Victoria dedicate significant time and effort towards ensuring the success of their clubs and communities.
In 2024, Kellie Frazer from the Gordon Football Netball Club in Victoria was recognised as the WorkSafe Victoria Country Community Volunteer of the Year. Adding to that acknowledgment, Kellie also took out the 2024 Toyota AFL National Volunteer of the Year Awards' top national honour as the Toyota AFL Community Volunteer of the Year for her outstanding service to her club and community for the past 20 years.
The other Victorian winners to be recognised in the national awards were Olivia Ashcroft from Ringwood Football Netball Club, as the 2024 Young Leader of the Year for her state and nationally, as well as AFL Merit Award recipients Maree Williams (Shepparton Swans Football Netball Club) and Michelle Gerdtz (Chair of AFL Barwon Commission).
The 2024 AFL Victoria Community Club of the Year award was won by Queenscliff Football Netball Club, which competes in the AFL Barwon FNL.
Full list of 2024 AFL Victoria Community Football Awards winners below
COACHING
David Parkin Junior Coach of the Year
Dean Memedoski - Hume Bombers, Essendon District Football League
Stan Alves Youth Coach of the Year - Joint winners
Naomi Irvin - Ballarat Football Netball Club, AFL Goldfields
Stuart Farr - AFL Wimmera Mallee
Peta Searle Female Coach of the Year
Tina Henshaw - Seaford Junior Football Club, AFL South East
Gerard Fitzgerald Senior Coach of the Year
Ashley Watson - Rochester Football Netball Club, AFL Goulburn Murray
COMMUNITY
The CDS VIC Sustainability Award
Alexandra Football Netball Club - Outer East Football Netball
AFL Merit Award Recipients
Maree Williams - Shepparton Swans Football Netball Club, AFL Goulburn Murray *NATIONAL WINNER*
Michelle Gerdtz - Chair of AFL Barwon Commission *NATIONAL WINNER*
AFL Victoria Young Leader of the Year
Olivia Ashcroft - Ringwood Football Netball Club, Eastern Football Netball League *NATIONAL WINNER*
AFL Victoria Metropolitan Community Volunteer of the Year
Jacqueline Bowshall-Tanner - Kilmore Junior Football Club, Northern Football Netball League *NATIONAL WINNER*
WorkSafe Victoria Country Community Volunteer of the Year
Kellee Frazer - Gordon Football Netball Club, AFL Goldfields
AFL Victoria Community Club of the Year
Queenscliff Football Netball Club - AFL Barwon
PARTICIPATION
AFL Victoria NAB Auskick Volunteer Award
Kim Tempest - South Belgrave Auskick Centre, Eastern FNL
AFL Victoria Superkick Volunteer of the Year
David Cash - Oakleigh Superkick Centre, South Metro Junior Football League
AFL Victoria School Teacher of the Year
Daniel Saleh - Al Siraat College (Epping), Northern Football Netball League
AFL Victoria Diversity Ambassador of the Year
Beck Dean - Rumbalara Football Netball Club, AFL Goulburn Murray
AFL Victoria Disability Inclusion Ambassador of the Year
Ben Trevena - Echuca Moama Rockets All Abilities, AFL Goulburn Murray
UMPIRING
Greg Sidebottom Memorial Umpire Coach of the Year
Sean Clarke - Eastern Football Netball League
AFL Victoria Male Development Umpire Coach
Lachlan Carney - South Metro Junior Football League
AFL Victoria Female Development Umpire Coach
Ashleigh Lovas - AFL Gippsland
AFL Victoria Community Umpire Manager of the Year
Andrew Moore - AFL Goulburn Murray
AFL Victoria Golden Whistle Award
Adam Marrow - Southern Football Netball League
AFL Victoria Umpiring Service Award
Bec Malseed - AFL Western District