Last week AFL Victoria hosted its Celebration of Disability Inclusion in Football in Victoria at Marvel Stadium, to recognise the contribution and achievements of footballers in Victoria’s wheelchair and blind football leagues in 2024.
Awards were presented to participants who competed in the Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL), Community Wheelchair Football League (CWFL) and the Victorian Blind Football League (VBFL), with award categories including Leading Goal Scorer, Best and Fairest, and a Team of the Year for each competition.
The Victoria Metro and Victoria Country wheelchair teams for the 2024 Toyota AFL Open were also presented to the crowd, with participants travelling to Brisbane for the AFL’s inaugural flagship inclusion tournament next week.
See below for a full list of award winners.
Victorian Wheelchair Football League (VWFL)
VWFL Leading Goal Scorer
Ryan Smith – St Kilda (105 goals)
VWFL Best & Fairest
Ryan Smith – St Kilda (17 votes)
VWFL AFL Values Award
Teisha Shadwell – Richmond
VWFL Team of the Year 2024
Forward: Ryan Smith (St Kilda), Angelo Mavroudis (Richmond)
Centre: Teisha Shadwell (Richmond)
Back: James Weinert (Richmond), Nick Briant (St Kilda)
Inter: Shaun Groenewegen (St Kilda), Christ Kotsanas (Richmond), Anthony Perito (Collingwood)
Community Wheelchair Football League (CWFL)
CWFL Leading Goal Scorer
Bryant Parsons – Richmond (55 goals)
CWFL Best & Fairest
Chris Henderson – Richmond (11 votes)
CWFL AFL Values Award
Shannan Sykes – St Kilda
CWFL Team of the Year 2024
Forward: Bryant Parsons (Richmond), Trent Johnson (St Kilda)
Centre: Piers Wall (St Kilda)
Back: Brad Axford (Collingwood), Shannan Sykes (St Kilda)
Inter: Mark Titford (Richmond), Troy Hawkins (Collingwood), Jordan Kinniburgh (Essendon)
Victorian Blind Football League (VBFL)
VBFL Leading Goal Scorer
Beau Jones – St Kilda (453 points)
VBFL Best & Fairest
Beau Jones – St Kilda (19 votes)
VBFL AFL Values Award
Bridget Jolley – Port Melbourne
VBFL Team of the Year 2024
Forward: Beau Jones (St Kilda), Cebby Johnson (Hawthorn)
Centre: Reuben Fairbank (Port Melbourne), Jasper Steeds (St Kilda)
Back: Steve O’beid (Hawthorn), David Gauci (Port Melbourne)
Inter: Travis Zimmer (Port Melbourne), Ned Brewer-Maiga (Hawthorn)
