Post-Season Award Winners Recognised

The VAFA congratulates all award winners who were presented with awards at Monday Night’s 2022 VAFA AGM.

In total, five awards were presented on the night which included the Men’s and Women’s Coaches MVP awards, Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

The Coaches MVP awards were won by Harry Hill (William Buck Premier Men’s) and Dakota Villiva (William Buck Premier Women’s). MVP votes are submitted by both senior coaches after each match during the home & away season.

Harry Hill had an outstanding season with Old Brighton after he also won the Woodrow Medal in a tie alongside Fergus Borthwick (Old Melburnians).

Hill played much of his season in the midfield where he led the William Buck Premier Men’s competition for total disposals (588). Hill led the Tonners to the Grand Final this year where they fell short against St Kevin’s.

From an individual perspective, Hill played every game of the season (21) and was also announced in the in the best on 17 occasions along with his 16 goals.

Dakota Villiva also claimed the William Buck Premier Women’s league best and fairest as well as the coaches MVP award.

In her debut season with Kew, Villiva played a total of 17 games, being named in the best on 14 occasions.

Villiva was instrumental for Kew during the finals series and Kew went on to play off in the Grand Final against eventual premiers St Kevin’s.

Meanwhile, the Coach of the Year awards were presented to Anthony Lynch of St Kevin’s and Jess Burger of Kew.

Lynch led St Kevin’s to a premiership in his first year as senior coach with the club. St Kevin’s finished minor premiers with 15 home and away wins, before defeating Old Brighton in the season-decider.

Burger led Kew to the Grand Final in William Buck Premier Women’s and they finished the home and away season second on the ladder with 14 wins.

The final award to be presented was the VAFA Volunteer of the Year, with Trevor Evans of Prahran Assumption claiming the award.

Evans has been a volunteer with the club for 15 years and has been instrumental in assisting the club.

Speaking to VAFA media, Evans said he was incredibly honoured to be presented with the award and was proud to be recognised.

“I’m extremely humbled and proud to receive this award. However, I want to stress that I’m not a one-man band. I’m just one cog in a machine of many, many cogs that help get our men and women out on the paddock each week, and without all these cogs right across the VAFA we wouldn’t have the association that we do,” he said.

The VAFA once again congratulates all award winners who were presented with their awards on Monday night.