Seth recognised at Football Woman of the Year Awards

West Australian Football Commission nominee Janet Seth was announced winner of the Honorary Category of the 2016 Football Woman of the Year Awards on Thursday September 29.

Three West Australian women were selected as category finalists for the Awards for their outstanding contribution to Australian Football.

Seth won the Honorary Category for her tireless work as a team manager across youth and senior women’s football, 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.

Seth also managed a number of WA State teams, including the U18 Youth Girls, U23s and Open Women’s teams.

WA State Women’s player and AFL Multicultural Ambassador Sabrina Federick-Traub was a finalist in the Emerging Leader category, while WAFC Talent Manager Alison Moore was named a finalist for the Professional category.

All three finalists were flown to Melbourne for the announcement of the category winners, which was done as part of the annual Liptember Grand Final Comedy Debate at Crown Palladium.

AFL Women’s player Daisy Pearce was named overall 2016 Football Woman of the Year.

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.

The Football Woman of the Year Awards recognise 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 18th 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.

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).