Harris Andrews honoured with 2025 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award

Brisbane Lions Co-Captain, Harris Andrews has been recognised for his exceptional dedication to community work, receiving the 2025 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award at the 2025 Brownlow Medal.

Andrews is a committed advocate for creating safer and more respectful communities and has been commended for his focus on empowering young people, particularly boys, to develop emotional intelligence and reject violence.

Since 2018, Andrews has been an active ambassador for Beyond DV, engaging directly with vulnerable youth and volunteering at events to support those impacted by domestic and family violence.

Playing a key role in the development and launch of the ‘Ask a Mate’ initiative, which is a prevention program promoting respectful relationships and consent education, his leadership helped to mobilise over 20 public figures and teammates to amplify the campaign’s reach, including the launch of a dedicated app in 2025.

Andrews has devoted countless hours to helping others through his ongoing involvement with Beyond DV, spending time at the organisation’s Recovery Centre, driving fundraising efforts and leading community events to strengthen support for primary prevention efforts across Queensland.

Beyond public advocacy and as a trusted role model, Andrews contributes to grassroots education as a co-facilitator in junior football clubs, embedding values of respect and inclusion in young players’ development.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon congratulated Andrews on his outstanding commitment to driving social change.

“I’d like to congratulate Harris on being awarded this year’s Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award,” Dillon said.

“Harris has shown incredible leadership and humility in using his platform to make a real difference. His work with Beyond DV and the Ask a Mate initiative has had a powerful impact on young people, particularly in teaching respect, consent and the importance of healthy relationships.

“Establishing himself as a trusted role model amongst the community, his character and values exemplify what we stand for as a game and embody the work of the late Jim Stynes.

“I’d like to thank the Jim Stynes Foundation for their continued partnership to formally recognise the community contributions of our players and acknowledge our other finalists in 2025 who have each made an outstanding impact.”

Brisbane Lions CEO Sam Graham said as Co-Captain of the Club, Harris is a great on-field leader, but he is also a powerful role model and community leader off the field.

“Harris has been doing this over a long period of time and is making a significant impact to better the community and help those he works with,” said Graham.

“Harris has approached this work in his typically humble manner, making himself available for a wide range of initiatives with Beyond DV, many of which involve helping vulnerable young people.

“We’re proud of the selfless work he does to help others and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.”

Chair of the Jim Stynes Foundation, Russel Howcroft said, “On behalf of the Jim Stynes Foundation, we would like to congratulate Harris on the remarkable difference he is making in the lives of young Australians,” said Howcroft.

“Empowering young people to build respectful relationships and his commitment to supporting those impacted by domestic and family violence embodies the mission of the Jim Stynes Foundation, which is to harness the power of football to create lasting and positive change.

“I know Jim would have been incredibly proud of the lasting impact Harris and all of our finalists are having in their communities.”

With support from the AFL and Jim Stynes Foundation, Andrews will receive $40,000 which will be donated to the charity or community program of his choice.

Now in its fourteenth year, this prestigious honour represents the very best of the game, built on a legacy of celebrating an AFL player who gives back and best embodies the values of the late Jim Stynes – Melbourne champion and former Demons President.

Greater Western Sydney GIANTS’s Callan Ward and Western Bulldog’s Tom Libertore were both finalists and recognised for their significant contribution to the community and their nominated charities.

Nominations for the award are submitted from AFL Clubs and the AFL Players' Association before the judging panel selects the recipient.

Chaired by Trisha Squires, Head of AFL QLD & International, the 11-person panel is comprised of respected leaders from the AFL, media and community sectors, including representatives from the AFL, AFLPA and the Stynes family.

Previous recipients of the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award
2024 – Reilly O’Brien (Adelaide Crows)
2023 – Sam Docherty (Carlton Blues)
2022 – Joel Selwood (Geelong Cats)
2021 – Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
2020 – Bachar Houli (Richmond Tigers)
2019 – Stephen Coniglio (Greater Western Sydney GIANTS)
2018 – Neville Jetta (Melbourne Demons)
2017 – Jack Hombsch (Port Adelaide Power)
2016 – Jimmy Bartel (Geelong Cats)
2015 – Dennis Armfield (Carlton Blues)
2014 – Beau Waters (West Coast Eagles)
2013 – Zac Smith (Gold Coast SUNS)
2012 – Daniel Jackson (Richmond Tigers)

About the Jim Stynes Foundation
The Jim Stynes Foundation was founded in 2015 and exists to carry on the legacy of Jim Stynes by enhancing the lives of young people and utilising the power of the AFL industry to create positive impacts on the community.

Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award Committee
Andrew Dillon - AFL CEO
Luke Darcy – Western Bulldogs Board Member, media personality and former Western Bulldogs AFL captain
Sarah Fair – AFL Executive General Manager People
Jude Donnelly – AFL Executive Manager Government and Stakeholder Relations
Don McLardy – CEO of McLardy McShane Insurance and Financial Services, and former President of the Melbourne Football Club
Narelle Long –Board Member of Jim Stynes Foundation, and AFL Diversity Talent Programs Manager
Neil Mitchell – Media personality
Ben Smith - AFLPA Interim CEO
Sam Stynes – Co- Founder of Jim Stynes Foundation
Trisha Squires (Chair and non-voting member) – Head of AFL QLD & International
Kim Williams – Chair of the ABC, and former AFL Commissioner