AFL Sydney celebrates Volunteers Week

This weekend marks AFL Sydney Volunteers Week, a time to celebrate the hardworking individuals who make our league what it is.

From coaches, grounds staff and canteen managers, to club presidents and club photographers, volunteers remain the backbone of the AFL Sydney competition.

Now we would like to take the time to highlight some of the thousands of incredible individuals who make AFL Sydney the thriving competition it is.

 

Greg Goodieson – UNSW Eastern Suburbs

Greg is said to be a man that ‘typifies volunteerism’. Supporting his community, his club and his family all in one, Greg has been the lifeblood of UNSW Eastern Suburbs footy for 17 years.

Following the footsteps of his son Andrew’s football career, Greg begun his own AFL volunteer career in the juniors in 2000. Seventeen years later, Greg has been the Club Treasurer, Canteen Manager, and now fulfills the sponsorship and brand commitments for one of the largest sponsorship portfolios in AFL Sydney.

With so much experience, Greg is a Bulldog elder, guiding current administrators to good outcomes by avoiding the hard lessons of the past, assisting his club in growing into the well-oiled machine it has become.

 

Cathy Moylan – Macquarie University Football Club

Currently completing her seventh year of service to the Macquarie University Football Club, Cathy is said to be a large contributor to the successful club Mac Uni is.

Setting up the canteen and various facilities every Saturday – working from 8am to 6pm – Cathy has worked in a number of club roles over the years.

Thursday night dinners are a specialty for Cathy, who cooks up the club feast for four full teams each week, as the club gathers to socialise as one.

No matter what, Cathy gives her club her all, epitomising the story of an AFL Sydney Volunteer.

 

Daniel Bourke – Balmain Tigers

Daniel has brought significant improvement to Balmain’s community engagement and leadership in 2017.

From creating relationships with junior clubs and organising an Inner West ‘Auskick Extravaganza’ to bringing in local major sponsors, Daniel has created a sense of community around the community club.

Notably, Daniel was also instrumental in organising the club’s inaugural ‘Pemulwuy Shield Day’ to help celebration the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round. Introducing the Pemulwuy Shield, bringing in junior clubs to help celebrate, and engaging the local Indigneous community, Daniel’s efforts with Balmain in acknowledging the round were outstanding.

 

Malcolm Stanton – Wollongong Saints Women’s

Starting at the club as a ‘behind the scenes’ assistant coach, Malcolm has worked throughout the club as much more than that.

Along with David Kennedy, Malcolm is the Head Coach of Senior Women’s team, the Youth Girls Clinic and Development Coach, a ground facilitator, and even a club sponsor.

In Malcolm’s ‘spare time’, he also offers one-on-one skills sessions to players within the club, to ensure they reach their potential in their AFL careers.

 

These are just some of the incredible volunteers within AFL Sydney, with hundreds more putting their time and energy toward the league every week.

Make sure your club acknowledges its dedicated individuals this weekend during AFL Sydney Volunteers Week.

AFL NSW/ACT Volunteer of the Year and Merit Awards will be announced later in the year at club presentation nights.