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 FNC – AFL Goldfields, Ballarat Football Netball League

Stuart Farr – AFL Wimmera Mallee Youth Development Head Coach 

Peta Searle Female Coach of the Year

Tina Henshaw – Seaford JFC, AFL South East (Frankston District JFL)

Gerard Fitzgerald Senior Coach of the Year

Ashley Watson Rochester FNC – AFL Goulburn Murray (Goulburn Murray League)

GENERAL 

The CDS VIC Sustainability Award

Alexandra Football Netball Club – Outer East FNL

AFL Merit Award Recipients

Maree Williams – Shepparton Swans Football Netball Club, Goulburn Valley League *NATIONAL WINNER*

Michelle Gerdtz – Chair of AFL Barwon Commission *NATIONAL WINNER*

AFL Victoria Young Leader of the Year

Olivia Ashcroft – Ringwood FNC, Eastern FNL *NATIONAL WINNER*

AFL Victoria Metropolitan Community Volunteer of the Year

Jacqueline Bowshall-Tanner – President and Volunteer – Northern FNL (Kilmore Junior Football Club) *NATIONAL WINNER*

WorkSafe Victoria Country Community Volunteer of the Year

Kellie Frazer – President and Volunteer, Gordon Football Netball Club (Central Highlands Football League)

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 FNL 

AFL Victoria Diversity Ambassador of the Year

Beck Dean – Rumbalara FNC

AFL Victoria Disability Inclusion Ambassador of the Year

Ben Trevena – Echuca Moama Rockets All Abilities

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, Sale Umpires Association

AFL Victoria Community Umpire Manager of the Year

Andrew Moore – AFL Goulburn Murray 

AFL Victoria Golden Whistle Award

Adam Marrow – Southern FNL

AFL Victoria Umpiring Service Award

Bec Malseed – AFL Western District