MELBOURNE is saddened to hear the passing of the AFL’s longest ever serving staff member - Jill Lindsay.

Lindsay passed away early on Monday after she was diagnosed with cancer more than 12 months ago.

She became a trailblazer for women in football - and became one of the most respected administrators in the game.

Lindsay is the only woman to receive AFL life membership.

Last year, the AFL established the annual Jill Lindsay Scholarship to recognise her four decades at the VFL/AFL. The scholarship is a $20,000 award, given to a young woman graduating from the AFL Sportsready program to undertake further study to pursue a career in sports administration.

Lindsay, the AFL’s Ground Operations Manager, was involved in her 42nd grand final as an VFL/AFL official last year, taking into account the drawn grand finals: Collingwood and St Kilda (2010) and North Melbourne and Collingwood (1977).
Her career began at the then-VFL in 1970 as an office clerk.

Lindsay’s various roles in the last four decades have included VFL Park Match Day Supervisor, VFL Park Super Box Co-ordinator, VFL Permit and Clearance Secretary, VFL Park Membership Manager and VFL Park Final Series Co-ordinator.

She took over as VFL Membership Manager from 1986 and then began the role of AFL Ground Operations Manager from 1991, which she filled until her passing.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said it was a privilege to know and work with Lindsay.

“She was a source of valuable advice and wisdom to me in both of my roles and I will miss terribly her friendship, wise counsel and laughter,” he said.

“I am sure that is a sentiment shared by many of our staff within the AFL and staff throughout our AFL clubs, venue managers, broadcasters and state bodies with whom Jill has worked during her 41 years with us.

“Jill was respected at every level of our business; her values, integrity, work ethic, and commitment to growth - personal and for the organization, and for individuals who work with her, in business and in her sporting life - were second to none.”

She was active in her role as our Ground Operations Manager until the Christmas break just over a month ago and continued to work throughout 2010 while undergoing treatment.

Apart from her working career with the AFL, Lindsay also gave a lifetime of service to softball as a player, coach and administrator.

She represented New South Wales as a junior and New South Wales and Victoria at senior level she coached the Victorian women’s team from 1998 to 2001 and the Victorian under 19 women’s team from 1979 to 1987.

She also coached the Rebels and Melbourne Majestics in the National League and played a leading role in the establishment of the Brentwood Rebels Softball Club in 1981, which played in the Waverley Softball Association.

Lindsay became a Life Member of Brentwood Rebels in 1991 and received the Australian Sport Medal in 2000 for her service to softball.