Jan Cooper has today been named the 2015 Football Woman of the Year at the Liptember Grand Final Comedy Debate at Crown Palladium.

Jan currently holds the position of the AFL’s National Manager of Female Football (WA) and has been synonymous with female Football development across the nation for a number of years as well as a public advocate for women from highest level of the AFL through to the local Auskick Centre.

Cooper spoke of her role to create an impact on the future of female players, coaches and adminstrators, “This has taken hundreds of people a hundred years to get to this point where females are accepted and can aspire to be in any role they want to be in our code.”

Cooper has been instrumental in changing female football from a few small leagues across the nation to being on the verge of having an elite competition and sees this as unfinished business that she is determined to achieve. “I can’t wait for the implementation of a national women’s league – when it is truly everyone’s game.”

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 Chemist Warehouse, supporting charity partner Liptember, this prestigious award is open to any woman involved in football regardless of club or profession.

AFL CEO, Gillon McLachlan has confirmed that for the first time the AFL will formally acknowledge the Football Woman of the Year as part of the Grand Final motorcade and at the AFL official function on Grand Final Day. 

“The Football Woman of the Year Award is an important recognition of the role women play in our industry and 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.

“The award represents a progression of our game in the right direction to strengthen the football community as we look to appoint more women to positions of influence in the league, as well as bring forward the introduction of the women's national league."

Cooper was the winner of the Professional Category as well as the overall Football Woman of the Year. Rebecca Goddard – NEAFL Assistant Coach at Ainslie Football Club was named the winner of the Honourary Category.

Arguably no single person has been more involved with the ACT Women’s AFL or volunteered more time to women’s football in Canberra than Rebecca Goddard.

As a distinguished umpire of women’s and men’s football, Goddard has always felt welcome in the industry to make her mark.

“I promote diversity by just being involved in football I think in the first place. I believe that whether you’re male or female, large or small, no matter what your size or your shape anybody can be involved in football. 

“This award is fantastic recognition for something that I already love doing.” 

This year, the Emerging Leader Award was presented to Bridget Barker – Sport and Recreation Coordinator at North Melbourne Football Club.

A love of football and a passion for community outreach saw the 25 year-old 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.   

In addition to Bridget’s role as Sport and Recreation Coordinator at Arden Street’s “Huddle” she also works a coach at Melbourne University Women’s Football Club and spoke of the importance for more women in AFL.

“As a coach of girls in football, my favourite thing is to watch these young women make the realisation that they can use their bodies in a strong and courageous way to protect their teammates or to win the ball and that they will be applauded for it.”

Winners were selected by an independent panel including AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, Major General Simone Wilkie AM as well as Sam Lane and Emma Quayle, Senior Journalists 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) and Peta Searle (2014).