YJFL winners from AFL Victoria Community Awards

On Friday evening it was fantastic to see some members of the YJFL community recognised at the AFL Victoria Community Awards held at Ikon Park.

Geoff Wills was recognised as the inaugural “Golden Legend of the Tongs” - Geoff is one of the longest serving volunteers in junior footy club history and has played many roles for the Bundoora Bulls from running drills, painting lines on the oval, fixing things in the club room and of course cooking up snags for the masses since he first fired up the club BBQ in 1980. As a result, Bundoora received $25,000 in Bunnings products and materials.

Carolyn Walkley from Kew Rovers received the “David Parkin Junior Coach of the Year” – Carolyn has been a trailblazer at Kew Rovers setting up the club’s first Under 9 girls team and passionately coaching them each week, as well as advocating strongly for girls football across the League. It was a lovely moment to see Carolyn receive the award from David Parkin personally, who is also a life member of the Yarra Junior Football League.

Lisa Compton-Robins was recognised as the “AFL Victoria Female Development Umpire Coach Award” – Lisa has done an outstanding job over the past 2 years as one of our Head Training Coaches. Lisa has built a great rapport with the umpires and other umpire coaches and designs and implements excellent training plans that ensure continued development in the YJFL umpires. Lisa is a great role model for our women and girl’s umpires leading by example with her positivity and passion for umpiring.

Congratulations to all the award winners from across Victoria – volunteers are the backbone of community football and it was brilliant to see so many people honoured from across the state.