A host of members from Hawthorn's Inclusion teams, as well as The Inclusion Project, have taken home both club and league awards to end their 2025 seasons.
Hawthorn's AFL Blind team finished as runners-up following another successful campaign, while the club's AFL Wheelchair teams continued to develop and show promising signs ahead of 2026.
The club's highly renowned inclusion arm, The Inclusion Project, delivered multiple sensory spaces among a number of different events and played a pivotal role in making sport a safe space for everyone.
At Hawthorn's Inclusion Awards, the winners were:
- Michael Cadd - 2025 VWFL (Victorian Wheelchair Football League) Best First Year Player
- Adam Smark - 2025 VWFL Gold Standards Award
- Yassin Hill - 2025 HFC Wheelchair Football Leading Goal Scorer
- David Ralph - 2025 CWFL (Community Wheelchair Football League) Best and Fairest
- Hayden Auber - 2025 VWFL Best and Fairest
- Ollie Oglethorpe - 2025 VBFL (Victorian Blind Football League) Most Improved Player
- Andrew Close - 2025 VBFL Leading Goal Scorer
- Steve Obeid - 2025 VBFL Gold Standards Award
- Ned Brewer Maiga - 2025 VBFL Best and Fairest (7th win)
Five Inclusion Project officers were also recognised on the night.
Inclusion Project Officers are people who have a lived experience of disability who can welcome people into sensory spaces, should they need it. These officers can often be found wearing Sunflower Lanyards, representing a safe face for those with a hidden disability.
The Inclusion Project Officers recognised were:
- Catherine Dimou-Teagle - 50 shifts completed
- Anton Howard - 50 shifts completed
- Sam Hubeek - Respect Award
- Matthew Lim - Teamwork Award
- Humble Award - Danny Freak
To end the night at Hawthorn's Inclusion Awards, a truly special honour was bestowed upon AFL Blind Captain Ned Brewer Maiga.
Not only did he win the new Variety Heart of Community Award, but it was also announced that this award will be named after him for future years, called the Ned Brewer Maiga Medal.
At the AFL Victoria Awards, Andrew Close and Steve Obeid again took home silverware, being named the VBFL's leading goal scorer and best and fairest, respectively.
Both players, alongside Ned Brewer Maiga, were also named in the VBFL Team of the Year.
Hayden Auber added to his collection with the VWFL Championship Division Values Award, while also making the VWFL Championship Division Team of the Year.
