FREMANTLE'S Bailey Banfield is the recipient of the 2026 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, recognised by the league and Jim Stynes Foundation for his exceptional leadership at the Brownlow Medal this evening.
Building long-standing partnerships with Starlight's Children Foundation, Worthy Australia and the Purple Hands Foundation, Banfield's positive community impact transcended the Dockers this year when he established the player-driven program, Freo Cares.
Through Freo Cares, Banfield has mobilised players, coaches, staff and led the club to support key community causes, including delivering meals to people experiencing homelessness, building safe havens for women and children escaping domestic violence, supporting disengaged youth and spending time with seriously ill children.
A Starlight ambassador for eight years with Fremantle and a national ambassador since 2024, Banfield has driven funding for Fremantle's annual Purple Haze game, which raised more than $300,000 in 2026, while his advocacy and volunteer work with Worthy Australia helped grow community support for families rebuilding their lives after domestic violence.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said:
"The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award represents the very best of our game and I'd like to congratulate Bailey as the 2026 recipient," Dillon said.
"Bailey has recognised his influence beyond the football field and embraced the responsibility to use it as a force for good, reflecting the same strong character and deep commitment to helping others as the late Jim Stynes.
"I'd like to thank the Jim Stynes Foundation for their ongoing partnership as well as congratulate fellow finalists Tom and Kysaiah for their outstanding contributions."
Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick said:
"The Fremantle Football Club is immensely proud of Bailey Banfield, who has been recognised for his dedication and commitment to the community with this year's Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award," Garlick said.
"We are thrilled Bailey's commitment to Fremantle's community partnerships - and his own personal community partnerships - have been recognised. Bailey has worked tirelessly with the Freo Cares program he established and continues to drive, which is built on genuine relationships, sustained effort and a real desire to leave things better than he found them.
"He leads by example, brings teammates and our staff along with him, and does the vast majority of this work without any expectation of recognition.
"On behalf of everyone at the Fremantle Football Club, we congratulate Bailey on this award and recognition of the calibre of person this award was created to celebrate.
"We are immensely proud to see his quiet, tireless work for others acknowledged on the public stage it deserves."
Chair of the Jim Stynes Foundation Russel Howcroft said:
"On behalf of the Jim Stynes Foundation, we would like to congratulate Bailey on his outstanding commitment to improving the lives of others over a sustained period," Howcroft said.
"Bailey has embodied the values of the Jim Stynes Community Leadership award, using the power of football as a platform to create positive change. His work has impacted so many people.
"The Foundation is incredibly proud to see so many players going beyond their jobs as footballers to contribute to their communities."
With support from the AFL and Jim Stynes Foundation, Banfield will receive $40,000 to donate to an eligible charity or community organisation of his choice.
Now in its fifteenth year, nominations are submitted from AFL Clubs and the AFL Players' Association before the judging panel selects the finalists.
Western Bulldog's Tom Liberatore and Melbourne's Kysaiah Pickett were both finalists and recognised for their significant community contributions.
Chaired by Trisha Squires, Head of AFLW Operations, the nine-person panel is comprised of respected leaders from the AFL, media and community sectors, including representatives from the AFL, AFLPA and the Stynes family.
