This week, Essendon Football Club and the AFL will celebrate the role women play at all levels of Australian Rules Football – from participation to administration, volunteering and supporting.
Women make up over 22% of Essendon’s full-time employees at Windy Hill and positions across the company include Human Relations, Membership, Events, Merchandise, Community Relations, Media, Commercial, Sports Science.
Nominees for the 2013 Football Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual Women’s Industry Luncheon on Thursday at the Peninsula in Melbourne.
The Football Woman of the Year Award recognises women who have made a significant contribution to the game of Australian Football. The award is presented by the Essendon Women’s Network and is open to all women associated in any way within the AFL industry. Previous winners include Sue Alberti, Irene Chatfield, Debbie Lee, Jill Lindsay and the 2012 Winner Belinda Duarte.
Selection criteria for The Football Woman of the Year Award include:
- Commitment to the support and advancement of Australian Football
- A passion for the game
- The ability to make a different on the football scene
- A keen knowledge of the game, including its history and future
- Have a current year football club membership
- A willingness to publicly advocate diversity and the important role that women play in football
- A sense of humour and fair play
The winner will be announced at The Grand Final Comedy Debate on September 26 – the premier AFL endorsed event for women during Grand Final week. Click here to purchase your tickets to The Grand Final Comedy Debate.
Key Women in Football Stats
- 136,133 female participants – including NAB AFL Auskick, club and AFL 9s
- 12,019 female NAB AFL Auskick participants
- 35 per cent of club members are female
- 5500 coaches
- 2000 umpires
- 35 per cent of Australian football volunteers are women
