Deb: The First Cult Figure
- Feb 8, 2017
- 3 min read
If there’s one quality that every AFL Women’s player shares, it’s self-belief. However, few have backed themselves in as much as Deb, who has become one of the first cult figures of AFL Women’s by single-handedly promoting herself via social media. Or, more specifically, promoting her dream to be selected at Number One in the 2018 AFL Women’s National Draft just three short seasons after debuting for the Lilydale Leeches.
“My coach says he doesn’t know where to put me,” reveals the 27-year old. “I think that’s because I’m so good.”
AFLW’s fans are no strangers to code-hoppers but even the most experienced stalwart would raise their eyebrows over Deb’s sporting origins.
“I was at water aerobics class,” she recalls. “I took this massive specky over a seven-year old and my teacher said, ‘You should play footy.’ And I said yep. So then I answered an ad in the paper, went down to the Lilydale Leeches and the rest is history.”
Deb decided to submit her name for last October’s inaugural AFLW’s draft after overcoming severely jarred fingers to reach her 15th career game for the Leeches last season. “The big one-five was a big milestone,” she reflects.
Tragically, she was blighted by administrative errors that she says led all AFL clubs to misplace or misdial her number. That disappointment only spurred her to what has been her most important footballing decision yet: the production of her viral video summarising her skills and dreams of playing for an AFL club. First aired on January 18, the two-minute video has racked up nearly 17,000 views.
In such a competitive social media landscape, this only helps Deb’s chances of getting drafted. Or, perhaps – given that media work has been such a high criteria for superstars Mo Hope, Darcy Vescio, Katie Brennan and Daisy Pearce – to be anointed as a marquee selection?
“The current marquee players are everywhere. They’re hosting television shows, they’re on the radio, they’re everywhere. So if I go Number One, I’m going to have to be ready.”
Certainly, Deb is becoming somewhat of a prototype for the modern AFLW’s player with her club selection preceded by sponsorship offers already a-knockin’ on the door.
“I never really thought that many people would see the video,” she admits. “I’ve been contacted by Tony’s Dim-Sims and they said they would offer me twelve months of dim-sims. I like to hoe into those so I’ll probably take that up.”
Deb is the ideal face of Tony’s Dim-Sims: taking pride of place in a trophy collection that includes three Participation Awards and a Best on Ground McDonalds Voucher are the two Dim-Sim Eating Contest blue ribbons she has claimed at the Leeches.
In her most recent title bout, Deb consumed 17 dim-sims in as many minutes. When measured against her Leech teammates for a relative handicap – yes, dear reader, the regulations for a dim-sim eating contest are far more bureaucratic than the uninitiated might imagine – little Deb’s performance was judged best afield.
“I had to take a break,” confesses Deb. “Because it was a half-time event, so I had to go back out on field halfway through.”
To map her footballing future, Deb has looked to the past for inspiration in how to fully unlock her potential. Her developing skills are moulded around that of Gold Coast legend Gary Ablett jr, although the additional influence of AFL Women’s has seen her broaden her sphere of role models.
“Pepa Randall’s hair is something to be desired,” she says with clear admiration for the Melbourne winger. “If I could have Gary’s ball skills, Pepa’s mulé and guns, that would be alright.”
Deb has gone from strength to strength over her three years as a defender at the Leeches. Her kicking, handballing, speed and agility are all improving but there’s no doubting that she’s “the Queen of Goal Celebrations”.
“I don’t have a goal as yet, but that’s on the cards.”
As a footballer, Deb’s finest hour was unquestionably her run-down of Daisy Pearce in the Leeches’ clash with Darebin last season. (The legendary captain’s interpretation of the incident varies greatly to Deb’s, but Deb explains that any inconsistencies in interpretation can be marked down to the now-Melbourne captain being on the wrong end of a ‘Deb Dab’. “Short, sharp shock across the temples,” she nods. “Left-right-goodnight and you don’t remember anything for about five minutes.”)
“My best is yet to come,” declares Deb in a vow that will doubtless tantalise her ever-growing fan base. “I’ve been doing a few additional things, as my videos have demonstrated.
“Draft day will be the biggest day and until then I’ll just sit on the phone waiting for clubs to call. Because they will. They. Will. Call.”
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