NATIONAL ACCOLADE FOR TIGERS MENTOR

A HOBART volunteer has been recognised for his huge contribution to women’s footy in the south of the state after being announced as one of the AFL’s National Volunteer Awards winners.

Kingborough’s Brad Willis has been recognised in the AFL’s Junior Coach category for his role in the growth of female participation in Aussie rules footy in Tasmania’s south.

Willis was one of eight Tasmanians to receive a state award for their contribution to footy but was the sole Tasmanian winner of a national award.

The dedicated volunteer was formerly the senior women’s coach of the Kingborough Tigers and is now the female coach co-ordinator at the club across both junior and senior programs.

Willis’ current role started with the primary aim of developing female coaches across six teams at the club but evolved to see Willis acting as assistant coach for all six of those teams in a very handson role that sees him mentor female players of all ages.

Willis’ initiatives have seen three new females coaching at the Tigers and has been a big part of the club’s huge growth in female participants. As a national award winner, Willis will attend Saturday’s grand final at Optus Stadium.