Coach-of-the-Year

The Regional Coach-of-the-Year Awards serve to recognize the efforts and achievements of those within our Region that take on the task of Coaching. Regardless of the level at which one Coaches, from the Under 9's through to the Under 17's, the commitment is not only to best prepare the players for the rigours of Australian Rules Football but also a responsibility to participate in their development as an individual. The Awards are presented in four categories, Auskick, Junior (Aussie), Youth and Senior. Coaching details of the recipients of our local Award are then submitted to State AFCA for consideration at its Coach-of-the-Year Presentation.

The 2002 Coach-of-the-Year Award presentation was held in association with Oakleigh Region. The venue was the Presidents Room at Jock McHale Stadium, that provided the necessary Football atmosphere. The Master of Ceremonies was Phil Pantano, himself a Coach within the Oakleigh Region and also a nominee in the Youth category. The Guest Speaker was Ray Shaw who spoke on his experiences in football. These included as a Coach, a player as well as an umpire. It was most refreshing to hear Ray talk about how his own philosophy and appreciation of these roles has changed.

The guest presenters were Trevor Robertson (Auskick), Anton Grbac (Junior), John Lamont (Youth) and Keith Burns (Senior). As most were aware Keith Burns had recently announced his retirement from the position as Senior Coach of the Northern Knights Football Club. This ended a 38-year association as a Coach of Australian Rules Football as he has taken up a project role within Football Victoria. As a token of our thanks he was presented with a gift for his efforts towards Football in general and specifically for Football development in the Northern Region.

Please find below a record of the Coach-of-the-Year as it pertains to the Northern Region. As you will no doubt agree, it does make for some interesting reading. Many thanks go to Roger Fyfe in preparing this and for maintaining the momentum of the local Award presentation.

NORTHERN REGION COACH-OF-THE-YEAR - A BRIEF HISTORY

Recognition of Coaching Excellence has been an objective of the Australian Football Coaches Association (AFCA) since its formation. The first award for Coach-of-the-Year was made at a Victorian State Final in 1988. Initially, only the Senior Coach-of-the-Year was awarded. Recognition of Coaching Excellence at Youth and Aussie levels began with the 1989 State Awards, with a separate Primary age award for Auskick Coaches not being made until 1996.

Coach-of-the-Year Awards have been conducted at State level since that first award in 1988. While individuals from what is now the Northern Region have been successful - Renato Serafini (St Johns Heidelberg Vickick) at Aussie level and Ken Carmichael (West Lalor Football Club) Youth, both in 1989 - there were, initially, no Northern Region Awards.

Regional Branches of AFCA were progressively established in Victoria in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Their role was to promote Coach education and conduct Regional Coaching Seminars, with a view to building up an active membership. From this active membership base, it was then possible to identify individual Coaches worthy of the nomination as State Coach-of-the-Year.

A Branch of AFCA was established in the Northern Region in November 1993. The Interim Committee comprised Roger Fyfe (President), Terry Palmer (Vice-President), John Huf (Secretary, November 1993 to March 1994), Rob Lewis (Treasurer) and Liaison Officers, John Laoumtzis (Diamond Valley Football League), Rod Yin (Doncaster and District Junior Football League) and Mark Bennett (Preston District Junior Football Association/North Metropolitan Football League). The Committee was supported by Ross Monaghan of the Victorian Football Development Foundation, who held the position of Executive Officer. In 1994, Ross was succeeded by John Batty.

The Northern Region Committee actively promoted the COTY Awards and sought nominees at all levels to represent the Region at the 1994 State Final. At this time, there were three categories recognised: Aussie (Vickick and Junior to Under 12), Youth (Under 13 - Under 18), and Senior (Open Age).

Northern Region nominees for COTY in the Aussie, Youth and Senior categories were Tim Robinson (Ivanhoe Junior Football Club), Mr John Laoumtzis (Hurstbridge Football Club) and Peter Nicholson (Greensborough Football Club) respectively. These were forwarded for consideration in the State Final. There was not sufficient support for a Regional Dinner to be held.

In 1995, nominees for COTY in the Aussie, Junior and Senior categories, respectively, were Shane Christopher (Hurstbridge Football Club), Les Dyson (Whittlesea Football Club) and Ray Shaw (Hurstbridge Football Club). These again were forwarded for consideration in the State Final and unfortunately, despite publicity, there was insufficient support for a Regional Dinner.

There were four Award categories recognised in 1996 and winners were each presented with an engraved plaque at a dinner held at the Preston Club. The Awards went to Rob Lewis (Bundoora Auskick/Darebin District Manager), Robert Zanotto (Junior - Macleod Football Club), Tim Robinson (Youth - Ivanhoe Junior Football Club) and Cameron Doyle (Senior - Whittlesea Football Club). Rob Lewis and Tim Robinson went onto the State Final and the Region was delighted when Tim was announced 1996 State Coach-of-the-Year in his category

The 1997 Regional Award presentation was held at the Preston Knights Football Club. The winners were Ian Cole (Watsonia North Auskick), Maurice Whyley (Junior - St Damians Junior Football Club) and Carlos Gomez (Youth - Mill Park Football Club). Ian and Maurice were also State Finalists.

In 1998, a change in venue saw the Awards presented at the Olympic Hotel, Preston. Matt Schembri (Watsonia South Auskick), Paul Cassell (Junior - Mill Park Football Club), Joe Donato (Youth - Eltham Football Club) and Derek Shaw (Senior - Macleod Football Club) were winners. Matt was a State Finalist. The Region's Guest Speaker was David Parkin who also presented the awards.

The Olympic Hotel hosted the Awards in 1999 with presentations to Russell O'Toole (Ivanhoe Grammar Auskick), Steve Whitling (Junior - Eltham Football Club) and Carlos Gomez (Youth - Mill Park Football Club). We were fortunate to again have finalists at the State level, our representatives being Russell O'Toole and Carlos Gomez. Stan Alves was the Guest Speaker and presented the Senior Award. Anton Grbac, State Director of Coaching presented the Auskick Award and the Youth Award was presented by Les Dyson, AFCA Committee Member.

The 2000 Awards were again held at the Olympic Hotel with Barry Davis as Guest Speaker. Barry presented the Junior and Youth Awards to Ross Bransgrove (Whittlesea Football Club) and Brendan Butler (Ivanhoe Junior Football Club) respectively. Anton Grbac presented the Auskick Award to Troy White (Heidelberg Auskick).

Jeff Gieschen was the Guest Speaker for the 2001 Awards and which went to Teo Torrelli (Reservoir) Auskick, Rob McCabe (Macleod Football Club) in the Youth and Neil Connell (Bundoora Football Club) in the Senior categories. Olympic Hotel was the venue.

The 2002 Awards was held in the Presidents Room at the Collingwood Football Club with over 100 guests in attendance. This was also the first time that a combined presentation was held with the Oakleigh Region joining ours. Keith Burns was also honoured for his services to football which spanned over 40 years.

Oakleigh and Northern again held combined Awards Presentations in 2003 and 2004 with the venue being the Manningham Club in Bulleen. Guest Speakers have been Tony Shaw and Paul Callery.

The Awards Presentation serves to recognise the achievements of Coaches in both Regions. The Dinner provides the atmosphere within which all nominees and guests can savour the evening in a casual and relaxed manner.

After eleven years, the Northern Region has established a successful procedure for conducting Regional Coach-of-the-Year awards. With the professional desire of appropriate qualification of individuals, accreditation is the simple process through which this can occur. AFCA provides this and looks forward to continuing and reinforcing its relationships with each of the Diamond Valley and Yarra Junior Football Leagues in the pursuit of the highest quality of Coaching possible.

               * - State Finalist
               # - State Award Winner