By Kirstie Fitzgerald
Renowned American writer William Arthur Ward once said that “A mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teachers inspire.”
This was certainly the case at last night’s Australian Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Western Region Coach of the Year Awards with a number of WRFL coaches nominated for their ability to inspire their players this season.
Over 150 guests filled the room including AFL assistant coaches Steven King and Lindsay Gilbee, star female footballer Steph Chiocci, and football media personality Tony Scibeci who were on hand to help celebrate the region’s best coaches in 2014.
The Coach of the Year Awards recognise the significant role coaches play in the development of clubs, individual players and teams across six main categories- Auskick, Junior, Female, Youth, Senior and the new Ross Faulkner ‘Coach of the Month’ award.
Of the 26 coaches nominated across the six categories, 15 of them hail from nine different clubs in the WRFL including multiple nominees from Point Cook, Deer Park, Werribee Districts, Wyndhamvale and the newly formed Wyndham Suns Football Club.
While Deer Park’s Deon Knight, Werribee Districts’ Colin Pretty and Glen Orden’s Scott Tuxworth were nominated for the Western Bulldogs Junior Coach of the Year category, it was Point Cook’s Peter Gardner who took home top prize for his work teaching the Under 10s team this season.
Despite missing out on a grand final berth in the Division Two competition earlier this month, Wyndhamvale’s Luke Dennerley efforts didn’t go unrecognized winning the Werribee Football Club Senior Coach of the Year ahead of other WRFL nominees Marcus Barclay (St.Albans), Wade Chapman (Werribee Districts) and Colin Clohesy (Deer Park).
The night also gave the opportunity to acknowledge the four Ross Faulkner ‘Coach of the Month’ award recipients with Caroline Springs’ Kayne Taylor (April), Point Cook’s Peter Gardner (May) and Wyndham Suns’ Michael Andrew (July) taking home top honours for the WRFL.
While not all coaches could walk with a win, the WRFL would like to congratulate Lee Gilmore (Wyndhamvale FC), Michael Andrew (Wyndham Suns FC) and Travis Wheeler (Spotswood FC) for their nomination for the Youth Coach of the Year Award as well as Point Cook’s Belinda McErvale for her nomination for the Female Coach of the Year Award.
In addition to their awards received last night, all Coach of the Year winners are now nominated for the State Coach of the Year Award, to be held at the MCG on Friday November 14th.
For more information and images from the event, please visit the following links:
• https://twitter.com/WesternAFCA
• www.facebook.com/WesternAFCA
Last Modified on 19/09/2014 12:55