2025 AFL Barwon Community Award Winners
AFL Barwon celebrated and recognised this year's most influential Football and Netball leaders at the 2025 Community Awards on Wednesday evening.
The Community Awards are a true celebration of coaches, administrators, umpires, trainers and club volunteers who are the lifeblood of local sporting clubs throughout the region.
The nominations for all awards categories were exceptional, with all shortlisted nominees and award winners providing a great reflection of the strength and high-quality people that are within our community.
We would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s AFL Barwon Community Awards.
Ian McTaggart Club of the Year
South Barwon
Social Media & Communications Club of the Year
South Barwon
Leisure Networks Inclusive Club of the Year
St Joseph's
John Edsall Award (Outstanding Service to Administration)
Kevin Dalton (Newtown & Chilwell)
Leon Schram Football Administrator of the Year
Luke McNamara (Armstrong Creek)
Junior Netball Administrator of the Year
Emma Zahl (Portarlington)
Senior Football Administrator of the Year
Jessica Duke (Newcomb)
Senior Netball Administrator of the Year
Kelly McCarthy (Grovedale)
Personality of the Year
Steve Hynes
Peter Burke Award (Senior Football Coach of the Year)
Heath Jamieson (Queenscliff)
Joy Grubb Award (Senior Netball Coach of the Year)
Leah Wilson (Drysdale)
Rookie Me Female Football Coach of the Year
Claire Moody (South Barwon)
Rookie Me Youth Football Coach of the Year
Jason Bonacci (Ocean Grove)
Youth Netball Coach of the Year
Shania Ritchie & Chelsea Dawson (Newcomb)
Inclusive Coach of the Year
Brett Campigli (Bell Park)
Junior Netball Coach of the Year
Scarlett Birrell (Queenscliff)
Junior Football Coach of the Year
Wayne Barrett (Surf Coast Suns)
Auskick Coordinator of the Year
Ebony Storrar (St Albans)
Net Set Go Coach of the Year
Imogen Brooks (Modewarre)
Corio Bay Health Group Trainer of the Year
Matthew Hart (Portarlington)
Football Umpire of the Year
Chris Jones
Football Best First Year Umpire
Jess Heath
Football Rising Star Umpire
Jack Tingiri
Netball Umpire of the Year
Chloe Scott
Netball Best First Year Umpire
Ava Verhagen
Netball Rising Star Umpire
Tylah Paech
Hamlan Hanger of the Year
Hamish Shepheard (Geelong Amateur)
Geelong Homes Goal of the Year
Jack Sarcevic (Bell Park)
