2024 Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year finalists announced

September 2, 2024

By SANFL Media

SANFL is pleased to announce the seven finalists shortlisted for the 2024 Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year Award.

Selected from a record 223 nominations this year, the outstanding nominees, representing metropolitan and regional clubs across the state and recognised for their significant contribution to grassroots football, are:

Dominic Denton – Thevenard Football Club

Elle Griffiths – Broadview Football Club

Jamie Morgan – Plympton Football Club

Julie Clifton – Willunga Football Club

Leigh Thredgold – Kangarilla Football Club

Louise Trapp – Hahndorf Football Club

Shane Ploenges – Nangwarry Football Club

The seven are in the running to be named South Australia’s Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year to be announced at the annual SANFL Community Volunteers awards night at Adelaide Oval on Friday October 11.

Now in its eighth year, the SANFL Hostplus Volunteer of the Year Award aims to highlight those individuals who have provided outstanding voluntary service to community football in South Australia.

SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler congratulated the finalists for their commitment to football in SA.

“We acknowledge these finalists, and all the volunteers who were nominated for the Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year Award this year, for their remarkable contribution to our game,” Mr Chandler said

“This year’s finalists represent not just their clubs but are ambassadors for the tens of thousands of volunteers across all levels of footy and in every corner of the State to whom we owe so much.

“Volunteers enrich our game through their selflessness, encouragement and devotion and many clubs would simply be unable to operate without their contribution.”

In addition to being awarded the David Shipway AM Medal and a perpetual trophy, the award winner will receive the following prizes:

  • A night’s accommodation at The Oval Hotel, including breakfast, following the Awards Dinner
  • A one-night stay for two people at Serafino Winery, McLaren Vale, including a three-course dinner and breakfast. The winner also will be provided with the use of a brand-new luxury Kia vehicle to explore the famous wine region in style during their stay
  • Two x Ultimate Football Memberships, providing access to all AFL home games at Adelaide Oval (excluding finals) in season 2025, valued at approximately $1,600
  • A $200 e-gift voucher (prepaid Mastercard), courtesy of the AFL

2024 Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year finalists

Dominic Denton (Thevenard FC)

Dominic Denton could easily be considered one of the most decorated country footballers in recent years, having won three Mail Medals as the best and fairest player in the Western Eyre Football League. However, this is secondary to his time and effort volunteering for his club and league over the same period. Dom has been a highly-respected leader and mentor at the Thevenard Football Club and throughout the entire Ceduna community. This has included his roles as president and committee member at the Thevenard Sports Club. Like many volunteers, Dom’s time is often unseen as he spends considerable hours planning as Senior Coach and Auskick Coordinator, as well as coordinating PlayHQ within the Club. Dom is first at the ground for all home games, setting up for the day ahead. ‍Dom’s passion as a volunteer for the Western Eyre FL is unfounded. He has always put the community first in any decision-making process as a WEFL delegate and has worked closely with Indigenous communities such as Yalata to provide opportunities to play. In 2024, Dom led from the front in the establishment of the Junior Development Cup and adoption of Fair Play rules for juniors in the League to promote participation. At a time of need for the League, it was Dom who came forward to coach the association in the Mortlock Shield which he humbly stated “was an honour”.

Elle Griffiths (Broadview FC)

Elle Griffiths is an outstanding contributor to Broadview Football Club and the wider football community. She has undertaken various roles throughout her years of volunteering, from Auskick coordinator to club coach co-ordinate, to girls coordinator. She supports her son, Campbell, running the Auskick on a Saturday morning in terms 2 and 3, with 50-plus boys and girls to organise and ensure they are all having a great time. Elle’s passion lies within all things football, but a huge passion for her is coaching, particularly female coaching. Elle completed her Level 2 coaching course two years ago and although she doesn’t coach a specific team herself, she was able to take many learnings from the course to provide quality feedback and help set up other coaches to succeed. Elle and the team at Broadview have taken advantage of SANFL initiatives to ensure the best support for coaches, volunteers and players at the club and provide a quality experience for all involved. Elle bleeds black and yellow and will do anything required to support the club’s young players, coaches and volunteers.

Jamie Morgan (Plympton FC)

With 18 years of voluntary experience in football, Plympton Football Club’s Jamie Morgan is a deserving finalist of the Volunteer of the Year award. Currently holding both the President and Junior Football Director positions, Jamie dedicates his time to ensuring that the experience and environment for over 350 junior players and 18 teams, as well as three senior teams, is of the highest quality. Jamie’s efforts have been recognised recently, with Plympton Football Club winning the 2022 SANFL Juniors Club of the Year Award. Jamie’s love of growing the game has seen him volunteer any additional spare time to develop the game in the south-west region of Adelaide, from his presidency at the Metro South Junior Football League to his contribution today as a SANFL Juniors Football Committee member. In 2023, Jamie was appropriately recognised as the Sportsperson of the Year by the City of Marion at their annual awards ceremony.

Julie Clifton (Willunga FC)

Julie Clifton has worked tirelessly at the Willunga Football Club as a trainer and committee person for many years, culminating in her role as the first female president three years ago. In two of the past three years under Julie’s leadership, the A grade men and women have played in grand finals. One of her most significant achievements was her major role in getting the WFC women’s inaugural club off the ground, which has grown into a force in the Great Southern FL, culminating in a number of premierships, including the past three A Grade and under-17 flags.
‍This year, Julie has continued her remarkable contribution with the honour of planning the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations. ‍In addition, she helps in the bar when needed, assembles milestone banners, assists as a trainer on gameday, coordinates official functions, advocates for the combined WFC, and even goal umpires when required. ‍In recognition for her contribution to girls and women’s local football, Julie was named the 2022 AFLW Community Ambassador in SA. Julie was also invited to participate in the Marjorie Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport.

Leigh Thredgold (Kangarilla FC)

Leigh has been a steadfast pillar of the Kangarilla Football Club since his early days as a junior player in 2000. In addition to his playing record of over 200 senior games and receiving Player Life Membership in 2018, Leigh has made significant contributions off the field throughout his tenure.
‍Leigh has served in almost every key leadership position, including president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. In 2016, he pioneered the role of female football director, paving the way for the club’s inaugural senior women’s team.
‍As treasurer, Leigh steered the football club through the turbulent and uncertain financial times of COVID, ensuring the club not only survived but also emerged from those times with a strong balance sheet.
‍Leigh has played a crucial role in developing the club’s governance documentation, securing multiple grants for items such as goalposts and solar panels, and implementing a robust POS (point of sale) system to ensure financial integrity.
‍As he steps away from an official role for the first time in 18 years, Leigh has actively mentored and supported new committee members, helping to maintain the structure and sustainability of a club reliant on a small team of dedicated volunteers. His dedication to the club is testament to his determination and passion to support Hills football.

Louise Trapp (Hahndorf FC)

Louise is an outstanding advocate for the game and has been dedicated to growing it across the Hills for over a decade, including women’s and girls’ footy since its infancy. Louise has held various official and unofficial roles at Hahndorf Football Club, on and off the field. Louise has been the Auskick coordinator for several years, managing the administration and delivery of the program whilst also executing the role of ‘Moddies’ coordinator. After successfully managing these roles, Louise is now the Junior Director, also still coordinating Auskick.
‍In addition to these responsibilities, Louise dedicates most weeknights and every weekend to attending development workshops, delivering promotional visits at local schools, seeking grant and funding opportunities, organising club and community events, assisting behind the bar and in the canteen, selling merchandise, and engaging past club players now at SANFL level to promote the talent pathway and highlight the success in these players’ careers.
‍Louise sees the value of a football club in connecting families to a community and making clubs a part of people’s identities.

Shane Ploenges (Nangwarry FC)

Shane moved from the now-defunct Tarpeena Football Club to Nangwarry, taking over as president in 1998. Remarkably, he has held this position ever since, with an unbroken period of 26 years. During this time he has also take on additional roles as recruiter, coach, club umpire, managed the bar, and much more. Despite a period of very challenging times for the club with declining numbers, Shane has worked tirelessly to ensure the club could come through at the other end and be sustainable. He also was responsible for guiding it through the complete rebuild of its clubrooms several years ago after they were destroyed by fire in 2019. ‍In more recent times, Shane also has been instrumental in developing female football at the club and starting Nangwarry’s first women’s team.

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