The AFL New Zealand High Performance Awards recognise, acknowledge and celebrate the very best in athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers and what they offer to the development of AFL in Aotearoa.
The scheduling of the awards for its eighth year was due to take place on April 4th. Due to COVID-19, this will now take place electronically and we encourage you to support those involved and their efforts.
The winner’s will be announced via the AFL New Zealand website and social media platforms in the coming weeks.
AFL New Zealand would like to congratulate the following nominees for the 2020 AFL New Zealand Coach of the Year.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke has been doing great things down in Christchurch over the past 18 months.
Clarke has been in charge of coaching the AFLNZ Academy in the region and was due to coach the Level 1 Academy side for the second year running for this years Mornington tour of NZ.
He has been involved in coaching in the Youth competition along with involvement in the local Canterbury League and helped kick start the Women’s game.
Adam is also nominated for Volunteer of the year.
Callum Hill
Callum Hill has been the assistant coach of the U18 side for the past 2 years and is starting to flourish into an all round coach.
Based in Brisbane, Callum is the Women’s head coach at the Redcliffe Tigers Football Club.
Chris Mundell
Aucklander Chris Mundell is the current Head Coach of the New Zealand Falcons after spending 3 years in an assistant role under Rob Malone.
In his first game in charge, Mundell oversaw the side that played against the AFL Academy on Marvel Stadium during ANZAC weekend.
In 2019, Chris led the Western Crows to their second AFL New Zealand Premiership and guided the University Blues to back to back Premiership’s in the Auckland AFL.
Izaak Williams
Izaak Williams claimed the 2019 Coach of the year award after a strong season and has been nominated again for 2020.
From Canterbury, Williams is the head coach of the Central Giants in the AFL New Zealand Premiership and is also in charge of the New Zealand U18 side who produced another strong showing in Melbourne in April last year.
Williams has a focus on setting up a good culture within the teams he coaches which he says sets up a solid foundation.
Mick Coultard
Mick Coultard has a long history with development of AFL in New Zealand.
The inaugural head coach of the New Zealand Kahu Youth Girls led them to their third consecutive series victory over the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League in April last year and extended their winning streak to 7 games.
In January, Mick was announced as the New Zealand Kahu head coach for the AFL International Cup which will now take place in 2021.
