Tributes for Sal Rees, the first woman to play 200 VFLW games

Devastated friends have paid tribute to women’s football pioneer Sal Rees whose sudden death at age 58 has sparked an outpouring of emotion.

Leesa Catto (left) and Sal Rees (right) holding the 2024 AFLW Premiership Cup at Ikon Park.

Trailblazing women’s footy figure Sal Rees has been remembered as a “pioneer of the game” and “beautiful person” following her shock death at age 58 on Monday.

The VFLW life member sustained catastrophic brain damage following a brain aneurysm on Saturday, eventually passing away peacefully in hospital on Monday afternoon surrounded by loved ones including beloved wife Barb Tomnay.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and AFLW legend Darcy Vescio have joined the growing chorus of tributes following the titan’s sudden passing, Vescio telling the Herald Sun Rees was a “true pioneer of not just women’s footy, but the game in general.”

Rees cemented herself as an icon of women’s football after she became the first and only female to nominate and be accepted into the 1995 AFL draft, a feat which garnered national attention and created a powerful discussion about the role of women in football.

Sal Rees with North Melbourne Premiership Captain Emma Kearney.

An avid player for the Fairfield Falcons, now the Darebin Falcons Football Club, Rees said she entered the draft after struggling to garner positive publicity surrounding women playing football.

Rees spoke with Vescio about her nomination on ‘Cutting Oranges’ podcast in 2021, highlighting her drive to change the narrative around females in footy.

“Back then women’s football looked totally different to how it does now, we really struggled to get any kind of publicity,” Rees said.

“There were a lot of articles in the media that were quite negative and generally people’s concept was that women shouldn’t be playing football. We loved playing, we worked hard on our skills and fitness, and with the draft coming up I thought I’m going to nominate for this just to put it out there. I sent out the form by post then thought nothing was going to happen from it, until I got a phone call from Channel 7 and then it hit the media and it was crazy.

“The message was that women do play football and we needed to be heard and taken seriously. It started a huge discussion around women and what their role is in football. We were players and saw our place as players just wanting to expand on the game and get that recognition that women can play football, and if they put their mind on something they can get through all those barriers.”

Close friend and fellow VFLW life member Leesa Catto said Rees was not only a warrior, but an Australian Hero for everything she has done for women’s football.

“This is something that needs to be told, she’s been a jack of all trades,” she said.

“Everything she’s done for the local communities she’s done not for the money, but for her love of people and the game.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon offered his condolences to Rees’s family, friends and “the many women whose football pathway was supported by Sal.”

“The AFLW competition today, which now has 540 paid female athletes representing all 18 clubs, would be impossible without the vision, determination and passion of trailblazers in women’s football like Sal Rees,” he said.

Vescio echoed Dillon’s sentiment, telling the Herald Sun Rees wanted to give other women the opportunity to play the game she dearly loved.

“She threw her hat in the ring to prove a point, and ask the question why can’t women play footy,” Vescio said.

“She was an amazing person, she always lit up the room she was in.

“She had a beautiful presence and being around her was really special.”

As the first woman to play 200 games and a VFLW life member, Rees’s involvement in football stemmed nationwide, particularly at her home club of the Darebin Falcons where the Club Person of the Year Award is named in her honour.

The Darebin Falcons Football Club penned a heartfelt tribute on Monday night, writing “Sal was an important pioneer of women’s sport.”

“We have many past and current members who have learnt much from Sal and most importantly who have had many laughs.

“Our thoughts are with her wife Barb and her family at this time.”

Ms Catto said although her beloved friend had gone too soon, she had left behind a tremendous hole and enormous legacy.

“We’ve gained another angel with Sal passing,” she said.

“It’s devastating for the people that are left behind, but the world needs another angel right now.

“There’s a lot of people across a lot of communities whose hearts are broken today.”

Originally published as Tributes for Sal Rees, the first woman to play 200 VFLW games