Volunteers are the backbone of community clubs across Australia, with around 100,000 volunteers involved in local footy in Victoria alone.

AFL Victoria and WorkSafe Victoria will continue to recognise nominees throughout Season 2023, with all country club volunteers recognised for the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Volunteer of the Year award also in the running for the Victorian and Australia-wide prize as part of the Toyota AFL National Volunteer Awards, which were launched this week.

The annual national awards recognise volunteers across Australia who have made outstanding contributions to community football. All NAB AFL Auskick centres, schools, community clubs and leagues in each state and territory are invited to participate, with more than 1000 nominations received nationally in 2022.

To nominate your club’s star volunteer, CLICK HERE

HELP get your community footy club off to a flyer this season by raising funds with the 2023 Toyota Good For Footy Raffle.

There's a $250,000 prize pool on offer again this year, with 35 prizes including three Toyota vehicles: a Toyota Kluger Hybrid, Toyota Corolla Cross and Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid. Tickets are just $5

In 2022, the raffle helped 629 clubs raise a combined total of more than $1 million, taking the amount raised for grassroots clubs across the eight years of the Toyota Good For Footy Raffle to more than $9 million.

REGISTER NOW Get involved in the 2023 Toyota Good For Footy Raffle

The launch of the 2023 raffle coincides with the 2023 Toyota Good For Footy Round in round seven of the Toyota AFL Premiership season.

Several AFL stars will visit local clubs to give them a boost for the footy season, including

Brodie Smith and Rory Laird (Henley Sharks FC, SA), Toby Greene (St George Dragons, NSW), Alex Pearce (Kingsley Junior FC, WA) and Jack Sinclair (Kew Comets FC, Vic). These clubs will also receive a $2000 donation from Toyota and 10 tickets to an AFL match during Good for Footy Round. 

The best part? Fundraising is free and easy! 100 per cent of the raffle proceeds go to the clubs. It costs nothing for your club to get involved, and a range of promotional material is available to help boost your ticket sales. 

The 2023 Toyota Good For Footy Raffle will run until September 18 this year, with the raffle drawn on September 22 and the winners notified by September 27.  

Clubs have used funds from the raffle to buy new equipment and guernseys, hire coaching staff and even upgrade their facilities and grounds. 

For more information on the Toyota Good For Footy Raffle and to get your club involved, go to https://toyotagoodforfooty.raffletix.com.au/. 

Tens of thousands of kids are set to take to footy fields across Victoria as NAB AFL Auskick centres get going for the 2023 season.

More than 40,000 boys and girls aged between 5-12 were involved in NAB AFL Auskick in Victoria last year and those numbers are expected to be even bigger in 2023.

With school holidays over and the new school term underway, more than 600 Auskick centres will welcome kids back in Victoria this weekend.

Auskick is the best way to introduce kids to the game of Australian rules football. It’s all about fun, getting hands on the ball and constantly being involved in exciting activities.

No AFL experience? No worries! Auskick offers an inclusive environment for everyone aged 5 – 12 at any skill level to play.

It’s not too late to register! Visit play.afl/auskick to find a centre near you and sign up your child.

The Geelong Cats and AFL Barwon have today announced a new strategic partnership which will see both organisations collaborate to deliver outcomes that respect the past, enhance the present and maximise the future of football in the Barwon region.

The partnership presents immense opportunity for the Cats and AFL Barwon to collaborate strategically to support all levels of football within the region. This partnership will provide a unified approach to assist the development and sustainability of community football in the Barwon region.

AFL Barwon Regional General Manager Ed Wilson said, "The opportunity to partner with an AFL club to collectively support the development and sustainability of community football is a strategic advantage for AFL Barwon, our clubs and all stakeholders - something which is unique to our region.

"We are extremely grateful for the enthusiasm and commitment that the Geelong Cats have shown to AFL Barwon in the development of this partnership, and we’re humbled by the potential this collaboration can deliver to all within our community.”

The Geelong and AFL Barwon partnership provides a unique opportunity for the organisations to work together and maximise the potential of football in the region, particularly in the areas of community engagement, participation, membership growth and regional sustainability.

Geelong Chief Executive Officer, Steve Hocking said, “While Geelong has been working closely behind the scenes in various areas with AFL Barwon for a number of years, we see this phase as an opportunity to elevate the partnership to new levels, bringing significant benefits and memorable impact to both organisations, and in turn its players, coaches, club members, volunteers and participants at all levels of football throughout the region.”

There are 17 Cats AFL players including Tom Stewart, Patrick Dangerfield, Gryan Miers and Tom Atkins plus women’s players Renee Garing and Darcy Moloney who began their football journey at AFL Barwon and are now making an impact at the Cats.