Ebony Abbott-McCormack’s footy accomplishments recognised with AFLW Indigenous Round honour

The AFLW has recognised the accomplishments of a Territory footballer and advocate by naming her the AFLW Indigenous Round Honouree.

The AFLW has recognised the contributions of NT footballer and advocate Ebony Abbott-McCormack over the past two decades by naming her the 2023 AFLW Indigenous Round Honouree.

Growing up the Centralian didn’t have access to football in her home Alice Springs, so got her first taste of competitive sport playing for the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL when she moved to Darwin.

She took her game back to Alice Springs when the women’s competition there was formed and founded the Pioneer women’s team, and has since been part of six CAFL premierships.

Ebony Abbott-McCormack, 2023 AFLW Indigenous Round Honoree and former Darwin Buffaloes teammate Ashanti Bush, now of the Suns. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Abbott-McCormack’s talents have seen her claim a host of accolades include two CAFL best and fairest medals, two NTFL premierships and the NTFL leading goal kicker award.

“I grew up watching footy, it’s a big part of my family, and as a little girl I wanted to play but at the time there was no avenue to play women’s footy,” she said.

“When I first moved to Darwin I found football and got to play, so when I first heard it was in Alice I was stoked and got girls involved for my family club.

“Even while it was a modified version of the game, it was just about being able to actually play the game and pull on the jerseys we had watched our family pull on.

“To be involved in every season since its inception, and to see its growth with these young girls who have these pathways now, is amazing.

“For me football is way to get through the good and bad times in life, and it builds relationships, some of my lifelong friends were teammates and I wouldn’t have met them without football.”

Abbott-McCormack is the fourth honouree for the dedicated round, following in the footsteps of Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, Alicia Janz and Aunty Pam Pedersen.

When she isn’t playing she umpires across the grade while also being the assistant coach and team managers for the junior sides at her clubs.

Beyond footy she works as the regional health cultural lead at NT Primary Health Network, chairs the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and is a member of the NT Liquor Commission.

Ebony Abbott-McCormack (pictured with her family) has been named the 2023 AFLW Indigenous Round Honouree. Picture: Supplied

She is completing a graduate diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion at the University of Sydney and is a mother to five children, with a sixth on the way.

“At first I was taken aback (to receive this honour), I was speechless, I didn’t know what to say,” Abbott-McCormack said.

“I felt really honoured and humbled, and just thought out of all the people across Australia who contribute to women’s footy what a great honour to be selected.

“The Indigenous Round is a great platform to share positive stories about Indigenous people and what they can achieve.

“It’s about changing the narrative, there’s a lot of negative social media, particularly in Alice Springs, and I think if we highlight the positives of Indigenous people shining in AFLW.”