Debbie Lee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Debbie Lee |
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Lee in February 2017
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Deborah Lee | ||
| Date of birth | 1974 (age 50–51) | ||
Deborah "Debbie" Lee (born 1974) is a famous former Australian rules football player and coach. She is known for her amazing skills on the field and for helping women's football grow in Australia.
Debbie Lee even gave up a career in the WNBL (a top basketball league) to focus on developing Australian rules football for women. She wanted to make sure girls and women had the chance to play the sport they loved.
Debbie Lee's Football Journey
Debbie Lee started playing football in 1990 with the East Brunswick Scorpions. She was a natural talent. In 1992, she decided to create her own club, the St Albans Spurs. She played for the Spurs for many years, becoming a true legend of the game.
During her playing career, Debbie won the Helen Lambert Medal five times. This award goes to the best and fairest player in the Victorian women's competition. She was also named an All-Australian player six times, which means she was one of the best players in the country.
Leading the Way for Women's AFL
Debbie Lee didn't just play football; she also worked hard behind the scenes. She became the president of the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL). This league was very important for women's football in Victoria.
Later, she played a huge role in creating the AFLW, which is the top women's Australian rules football league today. In 2017, she worked for the Melbourne Football Club to help set up their AFLW team.
Then, in 2018, she moved to the AFL Women's clubs to do the same job. She also coached their VFLW team. One of her big ideas was to have special exhibition matches between the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs women's teams. These games showed everyone how exciting women's football could be. They helped pave the way for the AFLW to become a real league.
A Hall of Fame Legend
In 2021, Debbie Lee made history again. She became the first-ever woman to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor! She was recognized for her incredible playing skills and for being a driving force behind women's AFL. Her dedication helped create opportunities for countless girls and women to play Australian rules football at the highest level.
