Football Victoria is proud to confirm the top goalscorer in this year’s Nike FC Cup competition, will be awarded the Hazel Donovan Medal, in honour of one of Victoria’s pioneering stars who passed away last month, aged 76.
An exceptional forward with Green Gully as well as a permanent fixture in Victoria’s state representative team throughout the 1970s, Hazel Donovan scored all three goals in Gully’s Association Cup triumph over Melton in 1974, the inaugural Cup played under the auspice of the Victorian Women’s Soccer Association.
Hazel Green was born in London in 1949 and met Robert Donovan in her early twenties, an Australian on a working holiday at the time. They were married in September 1970 before making the move to Victoria on Melbourne Cup Day of the same year.
By the time the Victorian Women’s Soccer Association (VWSA) was formed three years later, Donovan had already established herself as a player to watch in practice matches for Green Gully, who would field a strong team in no large part due to her skill and athleticism.
Donovan’s impact in the inaugural VWSA season was well documented, and it was in the Association Cup competition where she genuinely shone. She scored both goals against Werribee in a quarter-final replay, adding another in a 5-0 demolition of Doveton in the semi-finals. However, her performance in the final against Melton sets her apart from her peers. Trailing by a goal early in the second half, a brilliant solo effort by Donovan saw her level the scores before Gully were awarded a penalty only seconds before the final whistle. Donovan’s penalty was saved by Trudy Reissman, forcing the match into extra-time and with the scores level at the conclusion, the Final was forced into a replay at Churchill Reserve the following week.
In rain-affected conditions, Donovan’s class was again on show, but there was no mistaking the outcome this time. A goal in each half sealed the inaugural Association Cup trophy for Green Gully, cementing her place in history as the first player to score the winning goals in a Women’s Cup Final.
While this achievement alone is reason enough to cast a medal in her honour, Hazel Donovan continued to excel as a pioneer in Victorian football, earning representative honours at four National Championships in five years, only missing in 1975 owing to the birth of her first son Matthew. She helped guide Victoria to the Final as Championship hosts in 1976 and was honoured with the vice-captaincy in 1977.
Retirement would come by the age of 31 with the birth of her two youngest sons, Donovan embarking on the next phase of her life’s journey into motherhood, rearing three boys: Matthew, Steve and Mark. However, her passion for sport remained, becoming an avid golfer in her retirement years while passionately following the Western Bulldogs and Matildas.
The awarding of the Hazel Donovan Medal is a fitting tribute to a champion of the game, fondly remembered by her peers as one of the game’s shining examples of athleticism and skill on the pitch.
Tributes from Hazel Donovan's peers
"She was a much loved and respected person, player, teammate and friend."
Andy Delves, Victorian Representative
"A pioneer of the women’s game in Victoria. She was a lovely person as well as an exceptional player."
Monika Beer, Hall of Famer, Australian and Victorian Representative
"Hazel Donovan was always so thoughtful and considerate - on and off the pitch. She played with real style."
Shona Bass, Hall of Famer, Matilda #2
"I feel privileged to have been on the park with her, both as teammate and opposition. She was a legend!"
Andy Martin, Hall of Famer, Matilda #37
The Hazel Donovan Medal will be presented to the top goalscorer of the competition at the Nike FC Cup Final on Sunday 2 August.
The full leaderboard at the conclusion of Round 4 will be published on Thursday 21 May.