McNamara and Jones honoured at AFL Victoria Community Football Awards

The annual AFL Victoria Community Football Awards were held on Friday night at IKON Park, to celebrate the end of another season of local footy across the state.

Australian Rules Football is driven by volunteers, coaches, umpires and administrators who are the heartbeat of the local game. Tens of thousands of people in Victoria dedicate significant time and effort towards ensuring the success of their clubs and communities.

Chris Jones and Luke McNamara were amongst the award winners for their contributions to Umpiring and Participation within the AFL Barwon region.

AFL Victoria Male Development Umpire Coach of the Year

Christopher Jones (AFL Barwon)

Christopher Jones was honoured with the prestigious title of AFL Victoria Development Field Umpire Coach of the Year.

As the AFL Barwon Field Development Coach based in Geelong, Chris has been a driving force in developing community umpiring through his inclusive leadership and commitment to innovation.

Chris has played a pivotal role in creating a positive, supportive environment, particularly for younger umpires. His engaging, game-based training sessions are designed to build skills, confidence, and team cohesion, while promoting the inclusion of umpires of all genders.

Chris mentors umpires on match days across the region and continues to perform at a high level in senior-grade umpiring himself. He also facilitates the AFL Barwon Drysdale Satellite venue, ensuring wider access to quality development opportunities. By guiding emerging assistant coaches and fostering leadership within the group, Chris has built a strong, connected umpiring culture. His dedication, vision, and influence mark him as a standout community leader.

AFL Victoria NAB AFL Superkick Volunteer of the Year Award

Luke McNamara (Armstrong Creek, AFL Barwon)

Luke has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving the success of the Armstrong Creek Superkick program.

Starting with just five participants in 2024, his dedication and initiative have grown the program to 37 in 2025, including one of only two all-girls Superkick groups in Victoria. Luke played a pivotal role in the Centre of the Future program and was instrumental in his centre winning the Superkick Blitz for the highest number of registrations in the North West region.

In addition to running a thriving Auskick program with over 200 participants, Luke expertly manages two Superkick fields on a single oval - widely regarded as one of the best setups in the area. His strong organisational skills, commitment to inclusion, and ability to inspire and engage volunteers have all contributed to his success.

In recognition of these achievements, Luke was awarded the AFL Victoria NAB AFL Superkick Volunteer of the Year Award.