Daisy Pearce has today been named the 2016 Football Woman of the Year at the annual Liptember Grand Final Comedy Debate at Crown Palladium.

Pearce has become the face of women’s football across the nation as she currently holds the position of the AFL’s Female Football Ambassador, works as an AFL Talent Coordinator and is a Graduate Intern at the Melbourne Football Club.

Pearce constantly sets an example as a public advocate for women at the highest level of the AFL and in her role to impact on the future of female players, coaches and administrators across the industry.

The Football Woman of the Year Award recognises women in the industry who have made a significant contribution to the game of Australian Football.

Presented by the Essendon Women’s Network (EWN), this prestigious award is open to any woman involved in football regardless of club or profession.

Karen Cusack, Committee Member of the Essendon Women’s Network, said the event now in its 18^th year, is an important acknowledgement of the women who have made significant contributions to the Australian Rules Football industry in a wide range of professional and voluntary capacities.

“Daisy is an exceptional example of the influential role women can play in football,” Cusack said.

 “In a field of outstanding nominees, Daisy was selected this year for her leadership and commitment to the game both on and off field.

“Not only is Daisy an outstanding player of our game, she is an articulate and passionate natural leader and role model for young women.

“The Football Woman of the Year Award is an important date on the calendar and in particular this year following the formal launch of the Women’s League.

“We are really proud to be playing a significant role in driving the female agenda in the industry and cannot wait when it is truly everyone’s game.”

Essendon CEO, Xavier Campbell, said the annual event is a great opportunity to formally celebrate women in football during Grand Final Week.

“We are proud of our endorsement of the Football Woman of the Year Award and are committed to ongoing cultural change to engage more women in the game.

“We are committed to strengthening the football community by encouraging young women to choose the AFL as their sport of choice and unearthing role models within women’s sport more broadly in Australia.”

Pearce was the winner of the Professional Category as well as the overall Football Woman of the Year. Janet Seth – WA Football Commission was named the winner of the Honorary Category.

Seth works tirelessly as a team manager across youth through to senior women’s competition as well as maintaining her role as a member of the WA Women’s Football League Board, WA Football Commission Female Advisory Committee and the recently formed Fremantle Football Club National Women’s League Bid Advisory Committee.

This year, the Emerging Leader Award was presented to Lisa Kennedy – Community Development Coordinator at Port Adelaide Football Club.

A love of football and a passion for community outreach saw Kennedy honoured for her commitment to embracing cultural diversity within sport and providing pathways for young women to participate in female football from Auskick through to senior level.   

Winners were selected by an independent panel including AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, Major General Simone Wilkie AM as well as Emma Quayle, Senior Journalist at The Age.

Past winners of the Football Woman of the Year Award include; Irene Chatfield (1998), Jill Lindsay (1999), Caroline Wilson (2000), Katrina Pressley (2001), Beverly Knight (2002 – joint winner), Bev O’Connor (2002 – joint winner), Jenny Williams (2003), Edna Daniher (2004), Jennie Loughnan (2005), Barb Cullen (2006), Terry Bracks (2007), Susan Alberti (2008), Debbie Lee (2009), Anna Durante (2010), Lesley McGrath (2011), Belinda Duarte (2012), Michelle Cowan (2013). Peta Searle (2014) and Jan Cooper (2015).