2022 AFL Victoria Media Awards: Winners announced
AFL Victoria is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 AFL Victoria Community Football Media Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding coverage and contributions from across Victorian community football media this year and the significant role local media has played in promoting the game.
Winners have been named as well as ‘highly commended’ submissions.
Head of AFL Victoria, Ben Kavenagh, said: “On behalf of AFL Victoria, congratulations to the winners and everyone recognised as part of the 2022 AFL Victoria Media Awards.
“Media across Victoria continue to play a vitally important role in covering the game, connecting communities and telling stories that help to make our game great and take it to vast audiences. Football is the heartbeat of so many towns and communities and local media is often a big part of that.
“Bringing the awards back in 2022 aimed to give media another platform to showcase their great work and highlight the important role the media plays in community footy. The extent of outstanding media coverage was apparent with the number of nominations coming in far exceeding our expectations. I thank everyone who took the time to take part.”
2022 AFL Victoria Media Awards winners:
1a. PHOTOGRAPHIC - Outstanding Community Football Photograph – Action
Winner: Lachie Chugg – ‘Josiah Kyle speccie’ from the Southern Football Netball League
Highly commended: Riley Lockett – ‘Courage’ from the VFL
1b. PHOTOGRAPHIC – ‘VRGF Love The Game’ Outstanding Community Football Photograph – The Essence of the Game
Winner: Nathan McNeill – ‘Grand Final Time’ from the Northern Football Netball League
Highly commended: Luke Hemer – ‘Singing the song’ from the Central Highlands Football League / Ballarat Courier
2a. WRITTEN COVERAGE - Outstanding feature story – print or online
Winner: Matt Taylor, Sunraysia Daily - 'Star’s inspiring journey after jail time low'
Highly commended: David Nagel, Pakenham Gazette – ‘Seagulls’ glorious spirit’
2b. WRITTEN COVERAGE - Outstanding news story – print or online
Winner: Chad Van Estrop, Geelong Advertiser – ‘Umpiring still my passion’
Highly commended: Brayden May, Shane Jones and David Johnston, Leader / The Albury Wodonga News – ‘Greta’s Ben Duffield still in hospital’
2c. WRITTEN COVERAGE - Outstanding column – print or online
Winner: Max Blake, Colac & District FNL Live Footy Record – ‘One on One’ column
Highly commended: Pakenham Gazette – Volunteer of the Week column
2d. WRITTEN COVERAGE - Outstanding newspaper or news website coverage
Winner: Bendigo Advertiser
Highly commended: Leader Local Footy
2e. WRITTEN COVERAGE - Outstanding community football-focused publication – print or online
Winner: Pakenham Gazette - Football Liftout
Highly commended: countryfootyscores.com
3a. TV & VIDEO - Best use of TV – TV show, news or feature story
Winner: Grace Aicken, WIN News Bendigo – 'Pat Cronin Round'
3b. TV & VIDEO - Best use of online video
Winner: Gippsland League
Highly commended: Northern Football Netball League
4a. RADIO & PODCASTS - Outstanding Radio Match Day coverage
Winner: 3YB FM's Hampden League Live
Highly commended: K-Rock Football 95.5, Geelong
4b. RADIO & PODCASTS - Outstanding Football Radio Show or Podcast
Winner: The Players Take with KA & J Podcast - Western Region Football League
Highly commended: EDFL Tonight Podcast
5a. GENERAL - Outstanding contribution to community football media
Winner: David Johnston, The Weekly Times
Highly commended: Glenn McMahon - countryfootyscores.com
5b. GENERAL - Outstanding coverage – Diversity and Inclusion
Winner: Shannon Gill, CODE Sports – ‘Collingwood’s Wheelchair Football League team fighting for another premiership’
Highly commended: Tara Murray, Star Weekly – ‘Akok making his mark’
5d. GENERAL - Rising Star
Winner: Brent Sternberg, Casey Radio 97.7 FM
Highly commended: Grace Aicken, WIN News Bendigo
AFL Victoria will make contact with all the winners, with an event to be held in early 2023 for winners to be acknowledged in person.
Winning of the Outstanding Community Football Photograph – Action category, taken by Lachie Chugg. The photo is of Doveton's Josiah Kyle taking a screamer in the Southern Football Netball League Division Two Semi Final against Chelsea Heights.
Winner of the ‘VRGF Love The Game’ Outstanding Community Football Photograph – The Essence of the Game category, taken by Nathan McNeill. he photo is of Research Football Club breaking through the banner ahead of their Under 16 Grand Final in the Northern Football Netball League:
