AFL - Australian Football League

Last week we came together for our End of Year Speccy Awards to celebrate our collective efforts and another extraordinary year at the AFL. It also provided an opportunity to recognise and honour the ‘best of the best’ from across our team – team members who have made an outstanding contribution, consistently role modelled our AFL Values and have helped deliver on our vision – for everyone to love and connect with Australia’s game. Along with our four peer-nominated AFL Values Awards, we also announced three new awards. Our Speccy – New Starter Award recognising an exceptional individual in their first year at the AFL, our All-Team Football Award for someone who has gone above beyond to bring our new vision to life and our inaugural AFL All Stars – acknowledging our top performing team members who have delivered a premiership-winning year. A special shout-out also to our amazing MC Lauren Cranstoun 2024 winners Play to Win: Sam Confait Play as one Team: Matthew Whitaker Nioka Tyson  Play with Passion: Melissa De Corrado Play Fair: Leesa Monaghan New Starter: Conor Duffy All-Team Football: Lloyd Perris All Stars:  Amy Blake Matthew Whitaker Zaita Anderson Nerolee Daniher Max Nolan Will Gherardin Trisha Squires  Congratulations to all our well-deserved winners!

The AFL is pleased to announce Sam Graham, Brisbane Lions Football Club’s Chief Operating Officer, has been awarded the 2024 Graeme Samuel Scholarship.    Sam has made a significant contribution to our game over the last two decades, from the grassroots to the elite level. Sam’s unwavering passion, commitment, leadership and drive makes him a great ambassador for our industry. The scholarship honours long-serving AFL Commissioner Graeme Samuel and is awarded to a highly talented senior AFL Club administrator, providing them with $20,000 to further their education and career aspirations within the AFL industry.  On behalf of all the AFL, congratulations Sam! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gaXwrNwp

The AFL is pleased to announce that Josh Bowler, newly promoted Head of Strategy and Scheduling, has been awarded the 2024 Ray Gunston Scholarship. Josh is a truly deserving recipient – someone who personifies all the traits synonymous with Ray. A respected colleague, a people-focused leader and mentor, and a role model of our AFL Values. All while delivering significant impact and having a clear focus on getting the best outcomes for our game, valued partners and industry as a whole 2024 marks the third year the annual Ray Gunston Scholarship has been awarded in honour of much-loved AFL executive, friend and mentor, Ray Gunston who sadly passed away in 2022.  Josh received the honour from Ray's wife Mandy Gunston and son Jack Gunston, along with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon. Congratulations Josh! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gRE_xRG7

Last week we celebrated the first cohort of our inaugural AFL Grad Program – closing out an amazing year one. 12 grads joined the AFL in 2024 across various business functions, immersing themselves in industry wide experiences, and tailored professional development aimed at supporting them both personally and professionally. We’re truly proud of this industry-leading program, developed in direct support of our Gender Equity Action Plan and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy which aims to invest in, and develop the next generation of AFL leaders. Our 2024 AFL grads, their leaders and teammates came together to reflect on their many achievements and learnings from across the year. Certificates and hats aside, our talented class of 2024 each received their own personalised Sherrin. We wish all our grads the very best for 2025 – they’ve all left a huge imprint on our team and industry, and we’re excited to see what lies ahead for them all. 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ AFL Grad Program loading… stay tuned.

Japan and Thailand have emerged with the spoils in the men's and women's competitions at the inaugural AFL Asia Cup, held in Ho Chi Minh City - a three-day event with 300 participants from 10 nations. It marked another milestone for Australian Football globally, following the Transatlantic Cup (August) and Pacific Cup (November) Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gCcZtehc #AFL #Global #australianfootball

This week, we held our annual AFL Women’s Summit with women from across the AFL industry coming together to connect, network and be inspired. Hosted by Jacqui Felgate, the event featured engaging speakers and women from all walks of life, including four-time Olympic Gold Medallist, World Champion, Commonwealth Champion and World Record Holder Ariarne Titmus, AFL Commissioner Gabrielle Trainor AO, AFL Executive General Manager People Sarah Fair, AFL Executive General Manager Football Laura Kane, AFL Executive General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch, Social Policy and Inclusion Manager Elizabeth Campbell, Executive Director of Tasmania Football Club Kathryn McCann and more. A highlight of the summit was the presentation of the 2024 Jill Lindsay Scholarship.  The scholarship aims to support the development and career aspirations of talented women who are regarded as rising stars within the AFL industry – in honour of Jill Lindsay, whose significant contributions to the AFL and her unwavering commitment to our game have inspired many. This year, Nadia Okraglik, Strategy Manager at the AFL and Annelie Smith General Manager of Football - Box Hill Hawks from Hawthorn Football Club were announced as joint recipients. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gPtPcKzi #womeninsport #leadership #AFL

More than 500 participants came together for 10 days of vibrant colour, rich culture, and thrilling competition at the 2024 Pacific Cup on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.   In a showcase some of the best of international Australian rules football, Papua New Guinea and Nauru proved themselves to be the powerhouse nations, each winning two of the four titles on offer.   The 2024 AFL Pacific Cup was supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland and Events Queensland's Major Event Program, and the Sunshine Coast Council, who partnered with the AFL to support behind the event.   Read a recap including teams of the tournament and division best-and-fairest players: https://lnkd.in/g3-WqQtK

The AFL and BHP congratulate Malcolm Hales from the Arnhem Crows Football Club in the Northern Territory on winning the 2024 BHP Community Coach of the Year award.   As a school principal in the remote Indigenous community of Barunga, Malcolm has worked tirelessly to promote and develop pathways for women and girls involved in Australian Rules Football.    Malcolm was in attendance to receive the honour at the annual W Awards in Melbourne. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g69d_pTD #community AFL Northern Territory

More than 500 participants representing teams from across the Pacific region are putting in place final preparations for the 2024 AFL Pacific Cup, a showcase of international Australian Rules Football which starts next week on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, to be played from 14-23 November.   The AFL Pacific Cup is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland's Major Event Program, and the Sunshine Coast Council.   Head of AFL Queensland and International, Trisha Squires, said "The Pacific has been one of the strongest international regions for Australian Rules Football and the footy on show in Maroochydore is sure to be highly entertaining."   Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ggjPBYWx

The AFL officially launched the 2024 NAB AFLW Finals Series today, marking the beginning of an epic four weekends of finals football across the country, following one of the most even home-and-away seasons to date. In an exciting historic first for the AFLW, the 2024 NAB Grand Final will be played under lights, with the evening Grand Final locked in for the last Saturday in November. General Manager of AFLW Emma Moore shared, "for the first time in the competition’s history, the NAB AFLW Grand Final will be played in the evening in what will be a fitting celebration for an amazing season – it’s shaping up to be an incredible finals series, with a number of close games this year, and Hawthorn and Port Adelaide in their maiden AFLW Finals Series. We look forward to a competitive and unpredictable race for the Premiership." Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ghE5wGZJ #SeeyouattheW #AFLWfinals #AFLW