Tara Murray
The who’s who of the Spurs Football Club were among those named in the club’s team of the decade earlier this month.
The Spurs had a special celebration to mark 30 years of the club and as part of the celebrations named a team of the decade for 2012-2022.
The club has gone through a number of changes since Debbie Lee formed the Sunshine YCW Spurs, the first female team in Melbourne’s west, back in 1993.
It would later become the St Albans Spurs and before becoming the VU Spurs and they moved to Footscray.
This year the club merged with Parkside Football Club, which has allowed for further growth while keeping the Spurs history.
Spurs head of football Caroline Kilmartin said it was a pretty special night.
“It was great to have all the old players back,” she said.
“Our original founder Debbie Lee was there and it was special to have all these people in the room after all these years.
“We had 90 to 100 past players, staff, volunteers, coaches, presidents and trainers there. The whole 2011 premiership team was there
“Having nights like this makes you realise how much being part of the club means to people.”
Kilmartin said there were many people at the night, who hadn’t been about the club for a number of years. She said hopefully it would encourage them to come back to the club more regularly.
Six current or past AFLW players were named in the team of the decade.
Former Collingwood duo Bree White and Tara Morgan, were named captain and vice-captain of the team respectively. Naomi Ferres, Alyssa Misfud, Sarah Lampard and Ash Guest were also named in the team.
Christina Polatajko was named coach of the side.
The biggest name in the team was Lee, who was the first female to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Kilmartin said Lee set the culture at the club that still exists today.
“When I saw the team on the board, I thought it would rival any team in the AFLW these days,” she said.
“That speaks for the culture of the club.”
Kilmartin, who joined the club 11 years ago and has held a number of roles including coach and president, was named president of the team of the decade.
It was an honour that she wasn’t expecting.
“I was shocked, I didn’t know that was going to happen,” she said.
“I’m very stoked and humbled. I’ve seen the club through a whole lot of change,
“We won two premierships in 2019 and then everything was shut down in 2020. To be able to come through the other end and still have a club, I’m proud of that.”
