The AFL has today announced the 2021 NAB AFLW Premiership Cup Ambassador, along with seven NAB AFLW Community Cup Ambassadors at the official 2021 NAB AFLW Season launch.
Yeronga South Brisbane Devils Football Club player, Jamie Howell has been selected to be the 2021 NAB AFLW Premiership Cup Ambassador.
Jamie, who is profoundly deaf, captured the hearts of many people last year when her teammates surprised her by performing a rendition of their club theme song in Auslan, following a win in the QAFLW league.
As part of her role, Jamie will be involved in the 2021 NAB AFLW Grand Final and present the NAB AFLW Premiership Cup to the winning team.
Head of Women’s Football, Nicole Livingstone said Jamie represents the true spirit of the AFLW community.
“It’s fair to say 2020 served up some pretty ordinary moments for all of us, but the moment when the Yeronga South Brisbane Football Club surprised Jamie with a rousing rendition of their club song in Auslan certainly captured the hearts and minds of all,” Ms Livingstone said.
“The football community is known for embracing each other regardless of a person’s background or ability, and the Yeronga Devils have demonstrated above all else they respect and value one another. Jamie is an amazing athlete in her own right and is a role model for other women and people in the Deaf community that you can achieve anything you put your mind to.
“Jamie and her team represent the true spirit of the AFLW community – inclusiveness and passion, so we’re delighted to have Jamie involved in the AFLW season in her role as 2021 NAB AFLW Premiership Cup Ambassador.”
Jamie, who plays football wearing a cochlear implant, said she was thrilled to be selected as the 2021 NAB AFLW Premiership Cup Ambassador.
“I’m so excited to be selected as the 2021 NAB AFLW Premiership Cup Ambassador, it’s such an incredible opportunity and I’m stoked to be part of it,” Ms Howell said.
“It means so much to me because it’s recognition for my amazing club, teammates and staff who have gone above and beyond to make sure I felt included, supported and part of the team, so to be able to represent them on the biggest day on the AFLW calendar means a lot.”
For the first time, seven representatives from each state and territory will also be involved in the NAB AFLW Finals after being selected as NAB AFLW Community Cup Ambassadors.
Jo Butland, from the North Cairns Tigers, has been selected as the inaugural NAB AFLW Community Cup Ambassador in Queensland for her outstanding contribution to female football.
Jo has dedicated over 25 years of service to female football. On the field, Jo’s football accolades include four league Best & Fairest medals, All-Australian selection on four separate occasions and eight premierships with North Cairns. Jo has also contributed heavily off the field and was a catalyst towards the growth of women’s Australian football in the Cairns region. Jo was named the 2012 AFL Cairns Female Coach of the Year and was honoured with the namesake for the Best Player award for the Queensland open-age Sunfire team with the Jo Butland Medal.
The inaugural NAB AFLW Community Cup Ambassador program was established to recognise members of the female football community who have been instrumental in facilitating and nurturing the remarkable growth of women’s football.
Each NAB AFLW Community Cup Ambassador receives $1,000 grant from the Women’s Football Fund to donate to the club of their choice and the opportunity to be involved in the 2021 NAB AFLW Finals Series.
The other 2021 NAB AFLW Community Cup Ambassadors are; Charmaine Rogers (WA), Yvette Andrews (NSW/ACT), Lateesha Jeffrey (NT), Shona MacInnes (VIC), Jodie Mather (TAS) and Paul Modra (SA).
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