AFL Victoria was proud to host the 2026 Celebration of Disability Inclusion in Football at Marvel Stadium earlier this month.
The celebration was held to recognise the contribution and achievements of footballers across an array of disability inclusion football formats throughout 2026.
Awards were presented to participants in the Victorian Wheelchair Football League (including Wheelchair NAB AFL Auskick and Superkick), the Victorian Blind Football League, and to the Victorians selected to represent the state at last week’s Toyota AFL Open.
2026 marked the first year of the NAB AFL Superkick Wheelchair program, introduced as a transitional pathway between Wheelchair Auskick and the Victorian Wheelchair Football League.
AFL Victoria continued its partnership with the Freedom Sports Foundation, who facilitated both Auskick and Superkick programs throughout the season.
Victorian Wheelchair NAB AFL Auskick and Superkick participants.
The Victorian Wheelchair Football League – Community Division celebrated another exciting and competitive season, with 413 goals scored across 23 matches. In an exciting finish, the final ladder placings weren’t decided until the final match of the season, with Richmond claiming their fifth consecutive minor premiership with only one loss in the home and away season.
In the end, Essendon claimed premiership glory, with first-year player Luke Cameron named best on ground.
2026 marked the eighth season of the Victorian Wheelchair Football League – Championship Division, with 24 matches played across the home and away season and finals. This season was high scoring with an average team score of 79 points, and 573 total goals scored.
Richmond entered 2026 keen to atone for their disappointing end to 2025, having become the first minor premiers to fall short in the season decider. They finished the 2026 season with a third consecutive minor premiership, ahead of Essendon in second place.
With just 1 win in 2025, Hawthorn’s Championship side were always tipped to improve, but few saw the enormity with which they would do so. After six rounds they were undefeated, and Yassin Hill had 47 goals to his name – including a league-high 16 in Round 6 against St Kilda.
It was fitting that a tight home-and-away season should culminate in a riveting and unpredictable finals series.
The Grand Final was played between Essendon and Hawthorn and was decided by the barest of margins. It was a remarkable turnaround for the Hawks, after winning just one match over the preceding two seasons, the Hawks claimed their second premiership in club history.
The Victorian Blind Football League season was a battle between Port Melbourne and St Kilda Football Clubs, with marquee matches including Spud’s Round in Round Five to unite the competition for an important cause.
St Kilda claimed the 2026 Victorian Blind Football League premiership, with forward Shannon Jones claiming the league top goal scorer honours.
2026 Victorian Blind Football League Award Winners
Best and Fairest: Jasper Steeds (St Kilda Football Club)
Leading Goal Scorer: Shannon Jones (St Kilda Football Club)
AFL Victoria Values Award: Seb Arblaster (Port Melbourne Football Club)
Victorian Blind Football League Team of the Year
FWD: Caleb Neyenhuis (St Kilda), Shannon Jones (St Kilda)
CENTRE: Wes Jefferey (Port Melbourne), Jasper Steeds (St Kilda)
BACK: Bridget Jolley (Port Melbourne), Phoenix Romanis (St Kilda)
INT: Beau Jones (St Kilda). David Gauci (Port Melbourne), Ingrid Mckenna (St Kilda)
Some of the Victorian Blind Football League Team of the Year.
2026 Wheelchair Football League – Community Division Award Winners
Best and Fairest: Bryant Parsons (Richmond Football Club)
Leading Goal Scorer: Bryant Parsons (Richmond Football Club), 52 goals
AFL Victoria Values Award: Bianca Meo (Richmond Football Club)
Community Division Team of the Year
FWD: Bryant Parsons (Richmond), Jack Elliott (Collingwood)
CENTRE: Luke Cameron (Essendon)
DEF: Will Taylor (Essendon), Tim O’Connor (Collingwood)
INT: Ben Milton (Essendon), Bianca Meo (Richmond), Kaleb Powell (Essendon)
The 2026 Victorian Wheelchair Football League – Community Division Team of the Year.
2026 Wheelchair Football League – Championship Division Award Winners
Best and Fairest: James Weinert (Richmond Football Club)
Leading Goal Scorer: Yassin Hill (Hawthorn Football Club), 60 goals
AFL Victoria Values Award: Ben Jankovski (Collingwood Football Club)
Championship Division Team of the Year
FWD: Yassin Hill (Hawthorn), James Weinert (Richmond)
CENTRE: Nathan Graetz (Richmond)
DEF: Hayden Farley (Essendon), Hayden Auber (Hawthorn)
INT: Ryan Smith (St Kilda), Chris Kotsanas (Richmond)
The Victorian Wheelchair Football League – Championship Division Team of the Year.