Yallourn-Yallourn North coach Adam Bailey and Warragul’s Steven Kidd are among the finalists for this year’s Gippsland Senior Coach of the Year Award.
Lindenow’s Kane Ashwood rounds out the list of finalists for the award, which is being awarded by AFL Gippsland and the Gippsland branch of the Australian Football Coaches Association.
The award will be presented at an inaugural gala dinner at Morwell’s Italian Australian Club on Friday, 7 October.
Wonthaggi Power’s Darren Brown, Bairnsdale’s Paul Anderson and Cora Lynn’s Ray Payne are in the mix for the Youth Coach of the Year Award.
In the Junior category Hill End and Grove Ranger’s Mark Wilm, Bairnsdale’s Adrian Frith and Phillip Island’s Andrew Walton have been shortlisted.
Stratford’s Matt Telling, Phillip Island’s Kelly
The winners of each category go into the running for the overall Gippsland Coach of the Year Award.
The Umpire of the Year Award will be contested by Latrobe Valley’s Jared Burns, Sale’s Lachlan Floyd, East Gippsland’s Ash Taylor, Gippsland’s Niall Thompson and South Gippsland’s Brian Lansdown.
There are also 11 finalists for the inaugural Volunteer of the Year Award following an abundance of nominations.
Trophies will be presented for Coach of the Year in each of the region’s seven senior football leagues and for Auskick Coach of the Year and Auskick Coordinator of the Year.
AFL Gippsland region general manager Travis Switzer said the response to the award nominations had been pleasing.
“It’s great to see members of so many clubs, leagues and associations put forward their peers for recognition,” Switzer said.
“Narrowing the lists down was a big challenge for our awards panel but there are some incredible stories among our finalists and I look forward to sharing and celebrating them with the football community.”
The dinner will feature former VFL and AFL premiership player, coach and commentator Robert Walls as a guest speaker.
Cost is $35 a head, including a two-course meal and a welcome drink and can be purchased at www.trybooking.com/mnot or by phoning AFL Gippsland on 5134 8733.
