The Melbourne Football Club congratulates the Club's Community Manager, Debbie Lee, for winning the ‘Football Woman of the Year Award’ today at Crown Palladium. Debbie joined the Melbourne Football Club staff in January of this year.
The Award, presented by the ‘Essendon Women’s Network’, offers recognition to women who have made a significant contribution to the game of football.
Debbie Lee has made a profound contribution to women’s football as a player and administrator.
She started her football career at the East Brunswick Scorpions in 1991, aged just 17. Debbie’s early determination saw the creation of the Sunshine YCW Spurs in 1993. She captained the Spurs from 1993 to 2004, when the side won the premiership, and is also a multiple Best and Fairest winner at that club. She was named Lisa Hardeman Medallist (Best on Ground in the Grand Final – Division One) in 2004, and holds the honour of being recognised as Helen Lambert Medallist (Best and Fairest – Div One/Premier Div) on five occasions.
Debbie has represented Victoria fifteen times, including five as state captain, and is a five time All Australian. She was named captain of the VWFL silver jubilee 25th anniversary team in 2005, and was also assistant coach of the Australian Rules team competing in Ireland in 2006.
Her passion also extends to the other side of the boundary line. Debbie has served on the VWFL Executive in a voluntary/honorary capacity since 1993, and was made President in 2004. She has overseen substantial growth and development in women’s football, and is currently a member of the Women’s Football advisory board.
Her importance to women’s football has been recognised fittingly with the medal named in her honour – the Debbie Lee Medal for the best player in the AFL’s women’s National Championships.
As an administrator, Debbie has played an important role. While working at the Western Bulldogs, she successfully established their ‘Bulldog Friendly School’ program, which involved a variety of stakeholders, ranging from AFL Victoria, to the Western Jets, all partnering with the Western Bulldogs.
Similar is now being achieved at Melbourne, with programs such as ‘Read like a Demon’ playing an integral role in forming the Club’s community alliance with the City of Casey. Debbie has also overseen the formation of a partnership between the VWFL and the Melbourne Football Club.
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