Newcomb Power stalwart named volunteer of the year

NEWCOMB Power Football Netball Club junior coordinator Scott Smith has received the honour of being named National NAB Auskick Volunteer of the Year in recognition of his contribution to the sport in 2022.

The annual NAB awards recognise volunteers across Australia who have made outstanding contributions to community football.

All NAB AFL Auskick centres, schools, community clubs and leagues in each state and territory were invited to participate, with more than 1000 nominations received nationally.

Smith has been the backbone of the junior program for the last ten years and has long had an affinity with the Newcomb Power having played at the club as a junior.

After heading to the Eastern Colts as a teenager, Smith then made his way back to Newcomb to commence sports training at Grinter Reserve and has stayed ever since, sharing his love for the game with the stars of tomorrow.

Smith said he was thrilled to win the award, however did note that it came as a bit of a surprise.

“It was certainly surprising to win the award, I was a bit embarrassed actually,” Smith said.

“I obviously don’t do the things I do for the accolades, I do it because I love it and want to give kids the opportunity to participate in sport.

“Just getting the kids playing sport is massive and is the most important thing to me, building it all from the bottom to the top in our boys, girls and all-abilities programs.”

Smith mentioned that Newcomb hopes to continue expanding their junior program which currently sits at nine teams, and said the club will also look to evolve pathways for all players at the club from auskick to senior grades.

“We are a couple of years away now from having our first kid who started Auskick at the club play their first senior games,” Smith said.

“That’s certainly going to be a very proud moment and something that really shows what football clubs are all about.

“As we increase our offering across boys, girls and all-abilities sport, we really look forward to having a key pathway so that all our athletes can thrive.”

Currently the Newcomb Power have mixed teams up to U/12 and from then onwards it separates and becomes girls and boys’ teams at U/15’s.

Smith said he will continue to work hard into the future to make sure the club is well-placed to raise Geelong’s next sporting stars.

As part of winning the award, Smith received tickets to the Grand Final and watched his beloved Cats take home a commanding premiership victory.

To learn more about the Newcomb Power Football Netball Club, go to https://www.facebook.com/NewcombFNC/