AFL Victoria Diversity Ambassador of the Year - Tracey Bell (Nhill & District Sporting Club) Image: Josh Chadwick
The annual AFL Victoria Community Football Awards were held on Thursday 8 October at IKON Park, to celebrate the end of another season of local footy across the state.
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.
Cameron Bennett from East Point Dragons was awarded the Stan Alves Youth Coach of the Year, after being recognised in the 2026 Toyota AFL National Volunteer of the Year Awards earlier this year.
The other Victorian winners to be recognised in the national awards were Clare Skafte from Ashy Redbacks with the NAB AFL Superkick Volunteer of the Year Award, and Tracey Bell from Kyneton Tigers FIDA Football Club as Diversity Ambassador of the Year.
Full list of 2026 AFL Victoria Community Football Awards winners below.
COACHING
David Parkin Junior Coach of the Year
Katrina Gray - St Pauls McKinnon JFC (South Metro JFL)
Stan Alves Youth Coach of the Year **NATIONAL WINNER
Cameron Bennett - East Point FC (AFL Goldfields)
Peta Searle Female Coach of the Year
Jess Kennedy - Yea FNC (Outer East FN)
Gerard Fitzgerald Senior Coach of the Year
Sam Green - Tatura Women's FC (AFL Goulburn Murray)
COMMUNITY
CDS Victoria Sustainability Award
Scoresby Football Netball Club (Eastern FNL)
Castlemaine Football Netball Club (AFL Central Victoria)
AFL Merit Award
Don Kilgour - AFL Goulburn Murray
AFL Merit Award
Pauline Tantau - AFL Gippsland
AFL Victoria Young Leader of the Year
Jasmine Wood - Yarra Glen FNC (Outer East FN)
AFL Victoria WorkSafe Country Community Volunteer of the Year
David Trotman - Meeniyan Dumbalk United FNC (AFL Gippsland)
AFL Victoria Metropolitan Community Volunteer of the Year
Liana Keenan - Westmeadows FNC (Essendon District FL)
AFL Victoria Community Club of the Year
Langwarrin Junior Football Club - AFL South East
PARTICIPATION
AFL Victoria NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year Award
Charlotte Davitt - Aberfeldie FC (Essendon District FL)
AFL Victoria NAB AFL Superkick Volunteer of the Year Award **NATIONAL WINNER
Clare Skafte - Ashy Redbacks (Yarra Junior FL)
AFL Victoria School Teacher of the Year
Trent Archer - Werribee Primary School (Western FL)
AFL Victoria School of the Year
Garrang Wilam Primary School - Western FL
AFL Victoria Diversity Ambassador of the Year **NATIONAL WINNER
Tracey Bell - Nhill & District Sporting Club (AFL Wimmera Mallee)
AFL Victoria Disability Inclusion Ambassador of the Year
Kristy Torney - Kyneton FNC (Riddell District FNL)
UMPIRING
Greg Sidebottom Memorial Umpire Coach of the Year
Tim Beer - South Metro JFL
AFL Victoria Male Development Umpire Coach of the Year
Aaron Gillard - Outer East FN
AFL Victoria Golden Whistle Award
Peter Howe - Western FNL Umpire Association