Cats star Georgie Prespakis is looking forward to "giving back to footy" as one of five inaugural First Nations Coaching Scholarship recipients, elite players and club development staff amongst them.
The AFL and AFL Coaches Association (AFLCA) partnership program comes under the league's First Nations Impact Fund announced earlier this year, and is described as an effort to bolster the Indigenous coaching pathway.
In July it was announced four scholarships worth $15,000 will be offered for the 2026 and 2027 program aided with coaching development efforts from knowledge to partial experience.
Earlier this week, seven current AFL and AFLW players were announced as the first recipients of First Nations Player Leadership Scholarships, aimed at supporting playing to plan for life after hanging up the boots.
Prespakis, alongside Collingwood Indigenous player development manager and AFLW assistant coach Brady Grey, Hawks men's development coach Jason Williams, North Melbourne Indigenous player development manager and development coach Jarrod Lienert, and WA country league coach Samuel Stubbs are the first coaching program recipients.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon highlighted each "demonstrated a significant body of work in coaching through their applications".
"The recipients make a significant contribution each and every day to their respective clubs and communities, and the opportunity to further expand their knowledge and skillset will only strengthen their capabilities and future opportunities across the industry," Dillon said.
Grey played at AFL level with Fremantle before moving into non-playing roles, with Lienert being a former Saint and Port Adelaide player and was an assistant coach with the Indigenous All Stars in 2025.
Stubbs previously played senior WAFL football, and leads Mines Rovers is WA's Goldfields League.
For current top level star Prespakis, the program is an honour to be a part of, alongside "the opportunities it offers me to develop not only as a coach but also as a person and player".
"I'm extremely passionate about giving back to footy and through this opportunity, I'm looking forward to supporting and inspiring players at all levels to help create positive experiences for the next generation," the Geelong best-and-fairest-winner said.
In July, AFL general manager of First Nations engagement and inclusion Taryn Lee said: "After engagement across the industry, it's clear there is work to be done in improving the coaching talent pipeline for First Nations people at the elite level."
With the announcement of recipients on Friday, Lee said the work needed for "improving the coaching talent pipeline for First Nations people at the elite level" is recognised by the league and Coaches Association.
"This program reflects our commitment under the AFL's First Nations Strategy to retain and grow First Nations leadership in the game and the work the AFL First Nations Impact Fund is doing in attracting, retaining and valuing First Nations talent," Lee said.
In more than a century of VFL/AFL football, the number of First Nations coaches to have held senior and assistant jobs at the top level is a small group.
AFLCA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said the association were committed to bolstering the pathways and opportunities available, adding the program "is a wonderful way to recognise and support those individuals who have shown their desire to coach".
"We will continue to work with the AFL and the rest of the football industry to attract and identify the best people and support them in elite coaching environments," Nicholson said.
