Anna Durante has been announced as the 2010 Football Woman of the Year at the Essendon Women’s Network’s Great Grand Final Comedy Debate at Crown Palladium today.

Durante has been employed at the West Coast Eagles for the past 22 years in a variety of roles, currently in the position of Executive Assistant to Eagles’ CEO Trevor Nisbett. She became the first woman to be afforded Life Membership at West Coast in 2007.

Nisbett described Durante as an outstanding contributor who has been a fantastic mentor across all areas of the West Coast Football Club.

“Anna has been an intrinsic part of the fabric of our football club for the past 22 years and has been something of a trailblazer, not just within our club, but in the football industry in that time,” Nisbett said.

The Football Woman of the Year award is an annual event recognising women who have made a significant contribution to the game of football.

This is the 13th year the prestigious award has been presented by the Essendon Women's Network and it is open to any woman involved in football regardless of club or profession.

The award recognises women who have made a significance difference to football. There are seven criteria the recipient must demonstrate (see criteria below).

The independent panel of judges for the award consists of Andrew Demetriou, Caroline Wilson and Emma Quayle.

The recipient will have demonstrated:

· Commitment to the support and advancement of football

· A passion for the game

· The ability to make a difference on the football scene

· A keen knowledge of the game, including its history and its future

· Club Membership

· Willingness to advocate publicly for women as partners with men in football

· A sense of humour and fair play.