COUNTRY coaches have scooped the pool at this year's Victorian Australian Football Coaches Association awards.
Leaders from regional Victoria picked up three of the five awards on offer at the function, held at the MCG recently.
Horsham Demons coach Stuart Farr took home the award for senior coach of the year.
Farr has coached Horsham for the past four years, for four premierships.
Judges said Farr had an excellent work ethic and commended him for identifying the fitness needs, game requirements and skill development of each individual player.
Kevin Hernan, from Warrnambool-based Russell's Creek Junior Football Club, was named junior coach of the year.
Judges commended Hernan for encouraging parents to assist with training, and for ensuring training sessions maximised participation.
Swifts Creek's Ray Gallagher was awarded NAB AFL Auskick coach of the year.
Gallagher set up Swifts Creek's Auskick centre in 1995 and remains the driving force in its success.
He assists with football clinics and AFL player visits and involves his Auskickers in games at half-time of the local senior league.
The youth coach of the year award went to Darren Boulton from Montmorency Junior Football Club, while Alyshia Souter from Rosebud Junior Football Club/Olympic Park Auskick took out female coach of the year.
AFL Victoria coaching development manager Steve Teakel said more than 60 Victorian coaches had been recognised by their regional AFCA branch for excellence in coaching, with 15 state finalists then chosen across the five award categories.
"The Victorian AFCA awards night provides an opportunity to celebrate football at all levels and to acknowledge the significant role coaches play in the development of individual players and teams,'' Mr Teakel said.
