2018 Football Woman of the Year Award recipient Breeanna Brock says she was “totally shocked” to receive the prestigious award on Thursday.

The Brisbane Lions AFLW CEO has overseen significant success in recent years, and said she was “immensely proud” of the work she has put in towards growing the game in Queensland.

“I’m very, very flattered. I was certainly not expecting that today,” Brock said on Thursday.

“It’s a huge honour, some of the women who’ve gone before me in this award have done huge things for football, so to be even associated with those women is amazing.

“When I look back on it and reflect, you forget how much work has gone into it and how far we’ve come. I think that’s a great body of work that’s there.

“I think the next stage is just being so excited about where we’re going and what our future holds and what we’re going to be able to do, not just for the sport in Queensland, but for women in Queensland.”

Two other awards were presented at the event, with ACT AFL Development Officer Amy Dwyer winning the Emerging Leader Award and East Fremantle women’s head coach Nikki Harwood winning the Community Award.

Harwood has been a crucial part of the industry in WA for two decades, and she said she was thrilled to be recognised for her contribution to the game.

“It’s something that you do just because you love it, but to be recognised her in front of all these great contributors to football and also great supporters, it’s fantastic,” Harwood said.

She said the impressive growth of women’s football is having a significant impact off the field in the community and she is excited about what lies ahead for women in the industry.

“Everybody does the work, male and female – they both do equal amounts of work. But to get more females into the roles is fantastic.

“Football is such a male-dominated industry and always has been, but we love the game as well and hopefully the girls that are in there can take the sport to the next level and we’ll see it grow even further.”

Dwyer’s efforts and passion for developing Australian Football in the ACT is well beyond her years, and her enthusiasm for the game and the future of women’s football was certainly infectious throughout the Palladium on Thursday.

“I’ve coached some under-12s girls and they’ve been playing for as long as me and they’re quite a lot younger than me,” Dwyer said.

“It’s so awesome to see their talents and this game is just really taking off, girls footy is flying.”

Essendon VFLW star Courtney Ugle was among the three finalists for the Emerging Leader Award, and she said she is passionate about giving back to the Indigenous community through football after the sport helped push her through the hard times in her life.

“With the work that I do, I do it because I love it and I’m passionate about that space, so to be recognised on such a platform is an honour,” Ugle said.

“Footy has helped me in so many ways and I’m very passionate about it. It’s brought so much joy and happiness to me, so I’m very excited about being a part of football.

“The growth is exciting and it’s an honour to be a part of that.

“I know how important it is to have a positive role model in your life, so with me and what I do now with football and work I hope to be a positive role model to the youth.”

Ugle’s day was topped off with a second-place finish in the inaugural VFLW Best and Fairest awards on Thursday night.