The president of the Saratoga Hawks has taken the opportunity of Grassroots Appreciation Round to praise the “great volunteer culture” at his club.

The Sydney Swans and AFL are this week acknowledging everyone involved in community football: the many players, coaches, umpires, parents and volunteers who are the lifeblood of local clubs.

President Stephen Burke enjoys the privileged role of overseeing the Hawks, a junior club based on the Central Coast of NSW, where he says a commitment to volunteering runs deep.

“We require a large number of parents to help at each and every home game,” Burke told Swans Media.

“That can be any job from putting out cones to being the ground manager and much, much more. We just have such a great volunteer culture that everyone chips in and helps, and without them we can’t run the day." 

A host of dedicated volunteers and future stars of the AFL will form a guard of honour as Sydney meets the Gold Coast Suns at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.

The AFL is calling for nominations for the 2019 AFL National Volunteer of the Year awards. The AFL National Volunteer of the Year Program recognises the valuable contribution volunteers make to Australian rules football. Click HERE to nominate someone from your local club today.