AFL Victoria Young Leader of the Year - April Le Sueur - Rumbalara FNC (AFL Goulburn Murray). Image: Josh Chadwick
The annual AFL Victoria Community Football Awards were held on Friday night 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.
In 2025, April Le Sueur from Rumbalara FNC was awarded the AFL Victoria Young Leader of the Year award, after being recognised as the winner of the 2025 Toyota AFL National Volunteer of the Year Awards earlier this year.
The other Victorian winners to be recognised in the national awards were Minyip Murtoa FNC that was officially crowned Toyota AFL Community Club of the Year and Ben Watts from Wangaratta Auskick Centre who was awarded NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year.
Full list of 2025 AFL Victoria Community Football Awards winners below.
COACHING
David Parkin Junior Coach of the Year
Cazz Walkley - Kew Rovers JFC (Yarra JFL)
Stan Alves Youth Coach of the Year
Tim Johnstone - Werribee District Football Club (Western FNL)
Peta Searle Female Coach of the Year
Kylie Kennedy - Aberfeldie Sports Club (Essendon DFL)
Gerard Fitzgerald Senior Coach of the Year
Chris Meade - South Warrnambool FC (AFL Western District)
COMMUNITY
CDS Victoria Sustainability Award
Maribyrnong Park (Essendon DFL) and Phillip Island FNC (West Gippsland FNL)
AFL Merit Award
Debbie McColl - Congupna FNC (AFL Goulburn Murray)
AFL Merit Award
John Byrne - AFL North East Border Region Commission
AFL Victoria Young Leader of the Year **NATIONAL WINNER**
April Le Sueur - Rumbalara FNC (AFL Goulburn Murray)
AFL Victoria WorkSafe Country Community Volunteer of the Year
Nathan Condely - Ultima FNC (AFL Central Victoria)
AFL Victoria Metropolitan Community Volunteer of the Year
Paul Podbury - Woodend-Hesket FNC (Riddell DFNL)
AFL Victoria Community Club of the Year **NATIONAL WINNER**
Minyip Murtoa FNC (AFL Wimmera Mallee)
PARTICIPATION
AFL Victoria NAB AFL Auskick Volunteer of the Year Award **NATIONAL WINNER**
Ben Watts - Wangaratta Auskick Centre (AFL North East Border)
AFL Victoria NAB AFL Superkick Volunteer of the Year Award
Luke McNamara - Armstrong Creek (AFL Barwon)
AFL Victoria School Teacher of the Year
Lilly Malaeb - Minaret College, Officer Campus (AFL South East)
AFL Victoria School of the Year
Werribee Primary School (Western FNL)
AFL Victoria Diversity Ambassador of the Year
Akima Manoah - Caroline Springs FNC (Western FNL)
AFL Victoria Disability Inclusion Ambassador of the Year
Lexie Hardman - East Point Dragons Auskick/Ballarat Bulldogs (AFL Goldfields)
UMPIRING
Greg Sidebottom Memorial Umpire Coach of the Year
Brett Pallini - Essendon DFL Umpires
AFL Victoria Male Development Umpire Coach of the Year
Christopher Jones - AFL Barwon
AFL Victoria Golden Whistle Award
Marc Botoulas - Northern FNL
AFL Victoria Female Development Umpire Coach of the Year
Lisa Compton Robins - Yarra JFL
AFL Victoria Community Umpire Manager of the Year
Glenn Emery - Southern FNL
AFL Victoria Umpiring Service Award
Simon Walsh - AFL Goulburn Murray