Community Footy

2024 SANFL Community Volunteers Awards

Young Community Volunteer of the Year award winner Liam Henderson of Houghton Districts FC with SA Football Commission The Hon. Rob Kerin at Friday night's awards dinner. Picture - James Elsby.

Dedicated administrators, coaches, umpires and ambassadors have been congratulated for their unwavering commitment at the 2024 SANFL Community Volunteers Awards ceremony.

The prestigious annual event was held in the William Magarey Room at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, with more than 300 attendees entertained by special guest Australian football writer and presenter Titus O’Reily.

A record number of  volunteers were nominated this year for various awards from across South Australia.

SANFL Executive General Manager Football Matt Duldig said this was a tremendous recognition for the thousands of volunteers who go above and beyond with their contribution to football.

“Volunteers are truly the lifeblood of our leagues and clubs and they go well beyond getting footy teams on the field,” Duldig said.

“They are also vital in helping us ensure we continue to grow participation in our game and can provide opportunities for everyone to be involved, whether it be through clubs, schools or football programs right across the State.

“The Community Volunteer Awards are a great opportunity to highlight the outstanding contribution of our volunteers.”

Below are the full list of 2024 award winners and finalists in various categories.

More than 300 guests attended the annual SANFL Community Volunteers Awards Dinner at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

2024 Community Football Administrator of the Year

Andrew Batten
Great Southern Football League

GSFL president Grant Levy, left, accepting the award on behalf of Andrew Batten with Community Football Committee Chair and SA Football Commission member Peter Lindner.

2024 Community Football Merit Award Winners

Hugh Barker
Imperial Football Club

David Pink
Kingston Football Club

Vaughn Harvey
Adelaide Plains Football League

Paul Daly
Southern Football League

Joanne Walsh
Aldinga Football Club

2024 AFL Merit Award Winners

Heather Sandford
Blackfriars Old Scholars FC/Ovingham FC

Bradley Haylock
Yorke Peninsula Football League/Moonta FC

2024 Young Community Volunteer of the Year

Liam Henderson
Houghton Districts Football Club

2024 AFLW Community Ambassador of the Year

Cecilia Moretti
Goodwood Saints Football Club

Cecilia Moretti and Community Football Committee Chair and SA Football Commission member Peter Lindner.

2024 SANFL Community Football Media Award

Jeff Pistola
Mount Barker Courier

Jeff Pistola and Peter Lindner.

2024 Community Football Photography Award

Noel Black
Kybybolite Football Club

Noel Black and Peter Lindner.

2024 Tackle Your Feelings State Ambassador

Elle Griffiths
Broadview Football Club

Elle Griffiths and Peter Lindner.

2024 SANFL Service Award - 30 Years

Linda Branson
AFL half-time and mini league convenor

Linda Branson and SA Football Commission Chair The Hon. Rob Kerin.

2024 Community Umpire Service Award

Mark Jensen
Combined Southern League Umpires & Southern Junior Umpires

Mark Jensen, right, presented by Community Football Committee Chair Peter Lindner.

2024 AFL National and State School Teacher of the Year

Winner

Adam Curran
Stirling East PS

Finalists

Metro zones

Central District | Nicole John
Glenelg | Nathan Bald
North Adelaide | Karly Bartlett
Norwood | Mel Scalzi
South Adelaide | Matthew Hehner
Sturt | Zac Mills & Sarah Anderson
West Adelaide | Charlie Zammit
Woodville West Torrens | Chad Comitogianni

Country zones
Central District | Jake Asher
Glenelg | Tina Opperman
North Adelaide | Shane Arbon
Norwood | Jack Burton
South Adelaide | Alex Laver
Sturt | Adam Curran
West Adelaide | Peter Safralids
Woodville West Torrens | Nick Hewett

 

Adam Curran, right, and SA Football Commission member Luke Powell.

2024 NAB AFL Auskick Coordinator of the Year

Winner

Leigh O’Malley
Flagstaff Hill Football Club

Finalists

Metro zone
Central District | Matt Ashford
Glenelg | Darren Holyoak & Michael Chahhoud
North Adelaide | Conner Reid
Norwood | Michael Johnson
South Adelaide | Henry Spurling
Sturt | Aimee & Chris Wiltshire
West Adelaide | Leigh O’Malley
Woodville West Torrens | Simon Tyler

Country zone
Central District | Leigh Underwood
North Adelaide | Jake Collins
Norwood | Danny Collins
South Adelaide | Jodie Allsop
Sturt | Andrea Fillmore
West Adelaide | Sam Sever
Woodville West Torrens | Brett White

Leigh O’Malley, right, and Luke Powell.

2024 Disability and Inclusion Ambassador of the Year

Winner

Matthew Ween
Port District Football Club

Finalists

Central District Country | Karen Underwood
Central District Metro | Matthew Clarke
Glenelg Metro | Jessica Ireland
North Adelaide Metro | Nick Warne
Norwood Metro | Zac Del Medico
West Adelaide Metro | Jordan Plumb
Woodville West Torrens Metro | Matthew Ween

Matthew Ween, right, and Luke Powell.

2024 Diversity Ambassador of the Year

Winner

Subhinor Abdulwali
Bachar Houli Foundation

Finalists

Central District Metro | Chris Caruana
Glenelg Metro | Ros Mazurek
Bachar Houli Foundation | Subhinor Abdulwali
North Adelaide Metro | Katy Javor
Norwood Metro | Zoe Duffy
West Adelaide Metro | Mase Van Weenan
Woodville West Torrens Metro | Amanda Nelson

Subhinor Abdulwali and Luke Powell.

2024 AFL and State Community Football Coach of the Year - Female

Winner

Fiona Young
North Gambier Football Club

Finalists

Metro zone
Central District | Alicia Shelley
Glenelg | Shae Gunn
North Adelaide | Brooke Faulds
Norwood | Olivia Young
South Adelaide | Monique Hepden
Sturt | Talia Radan
West Adelaide | Sally Miller
Woodville West Torrens | Caroline Cowen

Country zone

Central District | Nicola Biagi
Glenelg | Fiona Young
South Adelaide | Jamie Millard
Sturt | Dani Barolo & Tayler Horsnell
West Adelaide | Natasha Kohler
Woodville West Torrens | Katie Leibelt

SANFL CEO Darren Chandler and Fiona Young.

Community Football Coach of the Year - Male

Winner

Ross Nicholson
Goodwood Saints Football Club

Finalists

Metro zone
Central District | Shane Slater
Glenelg | Dan Jarrad
North Adelaide | Gary Cock
Norwood | Nathan Maunder
South Adelaide | Brendan McKeough
Sturt | Adam Treloar
West Adelaide | Ross Nicholson
Woodville West Torrens | Troy Topp

Country zone
Central District | Aaron King
Glenelg | Jack Kelly
Norwood | Craig Irvine
South Adelaide | Damian Cross
Sturt | Mark Weaver
West Adelaide | Fraser Sampson
Woodville West Torrens | Matthew Ward

SANFL CEO Darren Chandler and Ross Nicholson.

2024 Club Coach Coordinator of the Year

Winner

Daniel Isaac
Athelstone Football Club

Finalists

Central District Metro | Damien McBride
Glenelg Metro | Darryl Smith
North Adelaide Metro | Kane Sommerville
Norwood Metro | Daniel Isaac
Sturt Country | Mark Williams
West Adelaide Metro | Kim Laube
Woodville West Torrens Metro | Ash Phillips

Daniel Isaac and SANFL CEO Darren Chandler.

Community Football Facility of the Year Award

Tanunda Recreation Park (Tanunda Football Club and The Barossa Council)

The Barossa Council Mayor Bim Lange, left, Tanunda FC President Kym Underwood and Community Football Committee Chair Peter Lindner.

Hostplus SANFL Volunteer of the Year

Winner

Shane Ploenges
Nangwarry Football Club

Finalists

Jamie Morgan | Plympton Football Club
Eloise Griffiths | Broadview Football Club
Louise Trapp | Hahndorf Football Club
Julie Clifton | Willunga Football Club
Dominic Denton | Thevenard Football Club
Shane Ploenges | Nangwarry Football Club
Leigh Thredgold | Kangarilla Football Club

Shane Ploenges, centre, with Hostplus State Manager Mark Elding, left, and Community Football Ambassador David Shipway AM.

Sign up to receive the latest SANFL news straight to your inbox.