The president of the Heathcoate Hawks has hailed the club’s volunteers as “the backbone of our club” as the Sydney Swans and AFL dedicate this week to grassroots football.

Grassroots Appreciation Round acknowledges everyone involved in community football: the many players, coaches, umpires, parents and volunteers who make the running of junior clubs possible.

President Lisa Coombes has the honourable position of leading the Hawks, a club based in Sydney’s south – and she was full of praise for the work of countless volunteers.

“Without a commitment to volunteering our junior club just wouldn’t exist,” Coombes told Swans Media.

“Volunteers, week in and week out, are the backbone of our club, and without them we just wouldn’t be able to function.”

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.