News edition for 27 July 2026. Added to Nungya on 22 October 2026 as part of our retrospective news archive. Reporting reflects information available by the edition date.

Who gets to guide the team from the coaches’ box? The AFL is opening another route for First Nations people who want to develop that side of the game.

Announced on 24 July, the 2026–27 First Nations Coaching Scholarship Program will offer four scholarships valued at $15,000 each. The AFL and AFL Coaches Association are working together on the initiative, with coaching knowledge, capability and practical experience at its centre.

Clubs have been asked to nominate applicants from across football, including people outside their own organisations. Applications close on 12 August, and participants are expected to be confirmed in late August.

The program draws support from the First Nations Impact Fund, which reinvests royalties from Sir Doug Nicholls Round merchandise into initiatives supporting First Nations involvement in football. Coaching development sits alongside the wider challenge of attracting, retaining and valuing First Nations talent across the industry.

For community coaches considering the next step, the announcement is worth reading in full. Playing experience and coaching ambition are different parts of a football career; structured support can help people build the skills and relationships needed to move between levels.

See the AFL’s program announcement for the nomination details.