The AFL is pleased to announce Geelong Football Club’s Chief Strategy & Growth Officer and General Counsel, Marcus King, has been awarded the 2023 Graeme Samuel Scholarship.
Presented to a senior manager within the football industry who is working in the areas of business or administration, the Graeme Samuel Scholarship provides the recipient with $20,000 to put towards a study course to further their career development.
In a football administration career spanning almost a decade, King has held numerous positions within the AFL’s legal and broadcasting departments across eight years from 2014 to 2022. These roles included Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Broadcasting & Scheduling. King also led the AFL’s fixturing and broadcasting portfolios during the Covid-impacted seasons.
In 2022 he joined Geelong in his current executive role which includes leading the Club’s strategy, infrastructure, legal, risk and corporate governance areas.
AFL Executive General Manager People, Sarah Fair, congratulated King for his accomplishment.
"On behalf of the AFL I’d like to congratulate Marcus on receiving the 2023 Graeme Samuel Scholarship – it’s an incredible achievement and he should be very proud to take home this prestigious accolade,” Fair said.
“The contribution Marcus has made to the game off the field has been tremendous. The passion he instils within his team and those around him through his values-based leadership makes him a great ambassador for our industry.
“We look forward to seeing Marcus further his career as he continues to challenge himself and develop his skillset.”
King said he was honoured to receive this year’s scholarship.
“It’s a privilege to work in footy and I’m humbled to be awarded the 2023 Graeme Samuel Scholarship, especially given the calibre of colleagues across the industry,” King said.
“I know Graeme has made an enormous contribution to the AFL industry and our game, so it’s an honour to receive this scholarship in his name.
“Since joining the AFL in 2014, I’ve loved the challenges of working in a high-performance, high-pressure industry that is so close to the hearts of people and communities around the country.
“Transitioning into new roles over this time within the AFL and now at Geelong has been really rewarding and has helped me grow as a person and a leader.
“I would like to thank the AFL, the Geelong Football Club and everyone who has supported me in my time in the industry so far. I particularly want to thank the various leaders and colleagues who have invested in me – I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given and I can’t wait to utilise this scholarship to develop my career and leadership further.”
Graeme Samuel
Graeme Samuel was one of the original AFL Commissioners when it was formed in 1984. He resigned from the Commission in 2003 to take up the position of Chairman of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission. Across two decades, Mr Samuel played an invaluable role in the strategic direction of the AFL competition and Australian football more broadly.
The scholarship has been awarded by the AFL Commission since 2004 in recognition of Graeme Samuel’s contribution to the game, with the recipient provided with $20,000 to put towards a study course to further their career development.
Previous Graeme Samuel Scholarship winners:
2022 – Peter Bell, Fremantle
2021 – Sue Clark, Western Bulldogs
2019 – Cain Liddle, Carlton
2018 – Cameron McLeod, North Melbourne
2017 – Kelly Ryan, Western Bulldogs/AFL
2016 – Jennifer Watt, Melbourne
2015 – Ameet Bains, St Kilda
2015 – Rosie King, Geelong Cats
2014 – Steve Rosich, Fremantle
2013 – Andrew Travis, Gold Coast SUNS
2013 – Cam Vale, North Melbourne
2012 – Simon Garlick, Western Bulldogs
2011 – Justin Reeves, Collingwood
2009 – Rob Threlfall, Geelong Cats
2006 – Steven Trigg, Adelaide Crows
2005 – Geoff Walsh, North Melbourne
2004 – Trevor Nisbett, West Coast Eagles
Note: The Graeme Samuel Scholarship was not presented in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2020 with joint winners awarded in 2013 and 2015.
