Do you know an amazing community club volunteer?

Nominate them for the 2025 National Volunteer Awards and recognise them for their incredible contribution and dedication each season.

Category prizes include a money-can’t-buy 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final experience and keys to a brand new Toyota.

Winners will receive amazing prizes, including a money-can’t-buy 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final experience and for a second year in a row, Toyota will be giving away two brand new cars.

NOMINATE HERE

The Real MVP – Marathon Foods Volunteer Program recognises and rewards the unsung heroes who make community football and netball possible.

This initiative honours the volunteers who represent the heart and soul of their clubs — the ones who go above and beyond to keep things running behind the scenes.

Club Nominations

Each club is invited to nominate one standout volunteer who embodies commitment, community spirit, and passion.

Clubs must submit a short video showcasing the volunteer’s impact, dedication, and contributions, as well as any creative elements that help tell their unique story. Each Nomination must be submitted on Instagram or TikTok by tagging AFL Barwon & Marathon Foods.

Social Media Sharing

All video submissions will be featured across Marathon Foods and AFL Barwon’s social media platforms, amplifying the inspiring stories of volunteers and highlighting their role in local sport.

Judging Criteria

A judging panel made up of representatives from Marathon Foods and AFL Barwon will assess each nomination based on:

• Impact on the club and broader community
• Dedication and level of service
• Creativity and originality of the video
• Social media engagement (likes, shares, and comments)

Prizes

1st Place: $10,000 for the club

All other nominees will recieve 6 cartons of Marathon Classic Dim Sims.

Competition closes 5pm July 31st, 2025.

For any further questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

AFL Barwon is proud to announce a new three-year partnership with HITIQ, a leading provider of concussion management technology, naming HITIQ as the Official Concussion Technology Partner of AFL Barwon.

This partnership will see HITIQ’s innovative PROTEQT smart mouthguard showcased across the AFL Barwon region, enhancing player safety and wellbeing for more than 25,000 participants. This important initiative will support our continued focus on player welfare and strengthen concussion education and management across all levels of community sport.

As part of the partnership, AFL Barwon registered players will have exclusive access to the PROTEQT smart mouthguard at a discounted rate, making advanced concussion management technology more accessible to our community.

HITIQ PROTEQT’s advanced smart mouthguard system is designed for grassroots footballers and netballers and monitors head impacts in real-time, flagging players at risk of head injury and potential concussion. At-risk players are then guided through a symptom assessment workflow and, if further care is required, can gain instant access to a telehealth service staffed by emergency physicians and concussion specialists for additional advice.

Should the club or player’s preferred medical professional subsequently determine that the player has suffered a concussion, they will be guided back to play via their club’s medical staff and the AFL’s official community concussion protocols.

Lisa Patterson, AFL Barwon Region General Manager, said:

“We’re excited to partner with HITIQ as we continue to prioritise player safety and wellbeing across our region. This partnership provides access to innovative technology that strengthens our approach to concussion management and education. It reflects our ongoing commitment to embracing innovation and evidence-based practices that support the long-term health of our community.”

Earl Eddings, Executive Chairman of HITIQ, said:

“Our partnership with AFL Barwon, alongside VAFA and Westfield Sports High, creates a powerful network to deliver PROTEQT to thousands of athletes. We’ve established scalable sales and marketing channels, positioning PROTEQT as the leading concussion management solution in community sports. With more partnerships in the pipeline, HITIQ is set for significant growth and shareholder value.”

AFL Barwon is committed to innovation, safety, and the long-term wellbeing of all players in our region. Our partnership with HITIQ and the integration of the PROTEQT smart mouthguard system marks a significant step forward in strengthening concussion management across community football and netball. This partnership represents another step forward in AFL Barwon’s commitment to innovation, safety, and the long-term wellbeing of every player in the region.