On of the highlights of the inaugural EWN Grand Final Lunch is the announcement of the Football Woman of the Year Award. Previous winners include Irene Chatfield (1998), Jill Lindsay (1999), Caroline Wilson (2000), and Katrina Pressley (2001). Nominations for this award are based on the following criteria:
1. Commitment to the support and advancement of football
2. A passion for the game
3. The ability to make a difference on the football scene
4. A keen knowledge of the game; including its history and its future
5. Club membership
6. Willingness to advocate publicly for woman as partners with men in football
7. A sense of humour and fair play
This year's nominations include - Anne-Maree Sparkman, Beverly O'Connor, Lynn Ralph, Elaine Canty and Beverly Knight.
1. Anne-Maree Sparkman was the first woman television football reporter and the first female allowed into football dressing rooms for interviews in the early 1980's. She is a multi award winning sports journalist in all sports but particularly AFL. Anne-Maree is a passionate Collingwood member and is in her 23rd year as a football reporter.
2. As a young reporter, Bev O'Connor was one of the few females to cover the VFL/AFL Tribunal, eventually becoming the first woman to be part of a TV footy panel on the ABC's Lateball. She now hosts ABC TV's Saturday afternoon coverage of the VFL competition. Bev O'Connor was the first woman elected to the Board of the Melbourne Football Club and became the first female vice president of the club in mid 2001.
3. Lynn Ralph has been an AFL Commissioner since 1998 and is believed to be the first female appointed to the board of a major governing body. She has been a Swans member since 1982 and is extremely passionate about AFL.
4. Elaine Canty is actively involved in football at a high level. She was the first woman to have a position on the AFL Tribunal and is a passionate Essendon supporter.
5. Beverly Knight was the first woman elected to Essendon Football Club board and was chairman of Membership 1994-1996. Beverly has a successful career in hospitality, the arts, football and property. Well known for allowing time to nurture and encourage Aboriginal sportspeople in isolated communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Beverly was on the organising committee of the Michael Long Testimonial year this season.
