2021 SANFL Community Volunteers Awards Night

By ZAC MILBANK

Successfully negotiating Covid restrictions was a common theme at SANFL’s annual Community Volunteers Awards dinner as more than 90 tireless contributors had their admirable efforts recognised at Adelaide Oval.

The past two seasons have been exceptionally challenging for all dedicating their time at Community Football level, ensuring administrators, ambassadors, umpires and coaches nominated were fittingly feted on Friday night.

Administrator of the Year winners Peter Mitchell (2021) and Mary-Lou Griffiths (2020) have thrived under the exceptional circumstances in the past two seasons, ensuring football continued to run smoothly in their regions.

Peter, from the Mid South-Eastern Football League, displayed outstanding leadership in handling fixture alterations due to border restrictions as a result of Covid-19.

A passionate advocate for Interleague and Zone football, Peter has acted as Murray South East’s Team Manager since 2008 whilst remaining as an active voice in the Limestone Coast football review.

Mary-Lou, who was unable to be presented her award last year due to Covid, was an exceptional communicator for all River Murray Football League clubs as restrictions continued to change during 2020.

A significant amount of player transfers were administered by Mary-Lou, as she also kept clubs updated on SANFL’s Return to Play protocols.

Three SANFL Service Awards were presented, including one to Linda Branson, who has worked as an Auskick volunteer at half-time of AFL matches in Adelaide for 25 years.

For the first time, Umpiring Zone Awards were included to recognise the important role they play across South Australia while Geoff Osborn was recognised for his AFL National Community Umpiring Service Award.

Auskick Coordinators, Primary and Secondary School Ambassadors were rewarded for their effort in introducing and promoting the game of Australian Football to youth across all regions of the state.

Katy Javor (Diversity) and Gary Sutherland (Disability) played pioneering roles in promoting inclusion in Australian Football while the three coach awards were won by Leith Dawes (Junior), Wayne Knowles (Senior) and Adam Morgan (Club Coach Coordinator of the Year).

Peter Mitchell
Mid South-Eastern Football League

Wayne Graham​
Great Southern Football League​

Donald Spratt​
Lameroo Football Club​

Martin Lifshack​
Norwood Football Club​

Kelvin Farnham​
River Murray Football League​

Margaret Gordon​
Spencer Gulf Football League

Mary-Lou Griffiths​
River Murray Football League

Zenon Okunieff​
Barossa, Light & Gawler Football Association​

Herman Lucas​
Great Southern Football League​

Brian Parker​
Hills Football League

Naomi Mitchell​
Mid South-Eastern Football League​

Phil Brand​
Yorke Peninsula Football League​

25 Years Service

Linda Branson​
Mini League, AFL Half Time

20 Years Service

Martin Lifshack​
Norwood Football Club

15 Years Service

Adrian Reddy​
Raymond Hicks​
Central District Football Club

Bob Woodfull​
Central, North-Eastern FL​

Michael Taylor​
Eastern, Hills FL​

Matt Giles​
Northern, Spencer Gulf FL​

Kerry Franks​
Western, GFFL Umpires Coordinator

Neil Webber​
South-East, Mid South-East FL​

Paul Lindner​
Southern, Combined Southern Football Umpires Panel​

Ray Roberts​
Adelaide Footy League​

Geoff Osborn – SANFL Juniors​
Umpires Coach / Mentor

Matt Bradley – Central District​
Angaston Primary School

Metropolitan​

Central District – George Gregory​

Glenelg – Dylan Evans​

North Adelaide – Jon Trovas​

Norwood – Daniel Gehling​

South Adelaide – Yvette Finae​

Sturt – Tim Baccanello​

Woodville West Torrens – Nathaniel Eldridge​

Country​

Central District – Matthew Bradley​

North Adelaide – Simon Robinson​

Norwood – Kristy Newton​

South Adelaide – Danny Robinson​

Sturt – Adam Curran​

West Adelaide – Bec Keynes​

Woodville West Torrens – Jordyn Algar​

Amanda Millar – Central District​
Salisbury High School

Metropolitan​

Central District – Amanda Millar​

Norwood – Shane WIllsmore​

Sturt – Dan Searle​

West Adelaide – Rosie Petrilli​

Country​

Central District – Mark Leslie​

North Adelaide – Andrew Congdon​

Sturt – Nadia Honner​

West Adelaide – Troy Cowland​

Woodville West Torrens – Nick Prokopec​

Jenna Tiller – North Adelaide​
Crystal Brook FC Auskick Centre​

Metropolitan​

Central District – Cam Murdoch​

Glenelg – David East & Nate Saxty​

North Adelaide – Brenton Elliot​

Norwood – Craig Stirna​

South Adelaide – Rebecca Burnett​

Sturt – Bianca Harms​

West Adelaide – Tom Haegi​

Woodville West Torrens – Karen McCloy​

Country​

Central District – John Wilksch​

Glenelg – Fiona Young​

North Adelaide – Jenna Tiller​

Norwood – Lachlan Turner​

South Adelaide – Travis Crawford​

Sturt – Louise Trapp​

West Adelaide – Aleck Zadow​

Woodville West Torrens – Damien Ziersch​

Gary Sutherland​
Goodwood Saints Football Club

Katy Javor – West Adelaide​
Australian Islamic College

Metropolitan​

Central District – Michael Triantafilakis​

West Adelaide – Katy Javor

Leith Dawes – Sturt
Mt Lofty Football Club

Metropolitan​

Central District – Cory Best ​

Glenelg – Blake Derer​

North Adelaide – Michael Fernholz​

Norwood – Michael Johnson​

South Adelaide – Marty Clifton​

Sturt – Brenton Dalby​

West Adelaide – Alan Williams ​

Woodville West Torrens – Jaycob Ryan​

Country​

Central District – Jamie Sibbick​

Glenelg – Tim Little​

North Adelaide – Trevor Sims​

Norwood – Roy Dunn​

South Adelaide – Richard Wheatley​

Sturt – Leith Dawes​

West Adelaide – Brandon Williss​

Woodville West Torrens – Graham Rigney​

Wayne Knowles – Sturt​
Mannum Football Club

Metropolitan​

Central District – Eric Kells​

Glenelg – Steve Nolis​

North Adelaide – Ryan Madden​

Norwood – Craig Pitt​

South Adelaide – Braden Bayly​

Sturt – James Harrison​

West Adelaide – Matthew Carberry​

Country​

Central District – Gavin Chaplin​

Glenelg – Clint Gallio​

North Adelaide – Jarrad Starkey​

Norwood – Boyd West​

South Adelaide – James Sellar​

Sturt – Wayne Knowles​

West Adelaide – Matthew Dent​

Adam Morgan – Glenelg​
Lockleys Football Club