The medal is awarded to a member of the AFL Victoria Female Umpiring Academy and is decided upon by peers. In its second year of existence it was awarded to 19-year-old Lopes at a function hosted by AFL Victoria.
Lopes has umpired since the age of 10 and was this year named the All Australian Umpire at the AFL National Under 18 Youth Girls Championships in Adelaide.
In September she also received the Most Promising Senior Umpire award at the NFL senior presentation night.
AFL Victoria Umpiring Development Manager Neville Nash explained the significance of the award – an honour in remembrance of Joanne Cox, an Academy member who sadly passed away after a year-long battle with cancer.
“This award recognises Joanne for what she was doing for the Academy and also outside the Academy,” Nash said.
“She was a very enthusiastic member of the Academy and a very enthusiastic umpire of the Victorian Amateur Football Association as well as being heavily involved in the Victorian Women’s Football League.
“The criteria of the award was decided upon by members of the Academy and based on the traits they thought Joanne epitomised.
“These measures included a commitment to excellence, dedication to umpiring and helping others, being supportive and encouraging with a positive attitude as well as being a team player.”
AFL Victoria General Manager Grant Williams believes that the Academy is a key ingredient in the aim of increasing female participation in all aspects of the sport.
“The more and more girls and women that we can get involved in the game, not only playing but also umpiring, officiating and involvement at a board or committee level, then the better the game will be.”
Williams highlighted how influential the event’s two special guests, AFL goal umpire Chelsea Roffey and Western Bulldogs board member Susan Alberti, were as role models for up and coming females in the industry.
“I hope that your trail blazing efforts open the flood gates for females being involved in the game, particularly umpiring,” Williams said.
“The sooner the AFL has female field and boundary umpires and more goal umpires, the better off we will be in my view.”
