A WOMAN who is determined to be the first to coach in the AFL has been awarded this year's Football Woman of the Year Award.
Michelle Cowan, the first female in the country to coach men's football at a state level, was announced as the winner at the Grand Final Comedy Debate at Crown Palladium on Thursday.
She won the award from Dr Sonja Hood (general manager of 'The Huddle'), Annette Ellis (president of ACT club Tuggeranong), Chyloe Kurdas (AFL Victoria female football development manager) and Scharlaine Cairns (committed member of the Western Bulldogs).
Cowan is an assistant coach for WAFL club South Fremantle and also the head coach of the under 18's youth girls team after being involved in football for 17 years.
Recently, she coached the Melbourne women's team in the AFL exhibition game at the MCG, against the Western Bulldogs side led by Port Melbourne assistant Peta Searle – a finalist for the award last year.
In her acceptance speech in front of more than 1000 guests, Cowan thanked her husband, who she "taught how to kick".
She also thanked her four-and-a-half-year-old son and two-and-a-half-year-old daughter for being the "biggest influences in my football career".
She said she hoped her daughter would follow in her footsteps and be involved in the game in years to come.
Cowan has a strong desire to "break down the barriers" within the AFL and become the first woman to earn a coaching role.
"I see myself coaching within the AFL. Most definitely," Cowan said.
Cowan is also a mentor coach for the AFL High Performance Academy for youth girls based in Melbourne.
They will tour New Zealand in October.
The Football Woman of the Year Award recognises and is presented to women who have made a significant contribution to the game, and is overseen by the Essendon Women's Network.
Past winners include Irene Chatfield (1998), Jill Lindsay (1999), Caroline Wilson (2000), Jennie Loughnan (2005), Terry Bracks (2007) and Belinda Duarte (2012).
