Awards

AFLW Senior Coach of the Year

Recognition of the best performed AFLW Senior Coach throughout the home and away season up and including the Preliminary Finals, having regard for current season's performance, available resources, player talent and team management.

Current holder
2022  Craig Starcevich (Brisbane Lions)

Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year

Recognition of the best performed Senior Coach throughout the home and away season, having regard for current season's performance, available resources, player talent and team management.

Current holder
2023  Adam Kingsley (GWS Giants)

Gary Ayres Award (Best Finals Player)

The Gary Ayres Award is presented in recognition of the player who has been adjudged as the best player throughout the AFL Finals series, as voted by the Coaches on a weekly basis throughout the duration of the AFL Finals Series. Votes for the Gary Ayres Award are issued after every game of the AFL Finals series by the competing coaches, with each coach providing their 5-4-3-2-1 for the match.

Current holder
2022  Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats)

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year

The AFL Coaches Association’s AFL Champion Player Award is an award voted by the 18 coaching panels on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort by an individual player in a season.

Current holder
2023  Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)

AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year

Awarded based on input from the Players and Coaches, on a 50-50 basis.

Current holder
2023  James Rahilly (Adelaide Crows)
Awards

AFLCA Coaching Legend

This award is in recognition of the significant achievement and excellence over time of a former VFL/AFL coach.

Current holder
2018  Denis Pagan (North Melbourne)

Neale Daniher Lifetime Achievement Award

Recognition of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the game over a 'footy' lifetime.

Current holder
2023  Neil Craig

Development Coach of the Year

The Development Coach of the Year has been reintroduced in 2022 for the first time since 2013. It is awarded based on input from both players and coaches, on a 50-50 basis. Coaches are asked to rate development coaches at their club, based on their overall performance this year, allocating each a score out of 10 (10 being the highest) and then obtaining an average. This is matched by an average score out of 10 from their playing group to determine an overall score. 

Current holders
2023  Michael Godden (Adelaide Crows) & Mark Williams (Melbourne)

Career & Education

The award goes to a coach who has shown exceptional commitment to their professional development as judged by AFLCA Management.

Current holder
2023  Adrian Hickmott (Hawthorn)

AFL Coaches Association Best Young Player

Recognition of the player who, based on his performance in his first two seasons of AFL Football deserves to be acknowledged as the Best Young Player.

Current holder
2023  Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

AFLCA Media Award

Presented in conjunction with Atlantic Group this award is in recognition of respected and insightful coverage of AFL football at the professional level.

All coaches can nominate.

Current holder
2023  Gerard Whateley (FOX, SEN)

AFLW Champion Player of the Year

The AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year is an award voted by the AFLW senior coaches on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort to an individual player in a season.

Current holder
2022  Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne)