Footscray star Kelly caps season of dominance with 2023 Shelley Maher Trophy

Footscray attacker Stephanie Kelly is the winner of the 2023 Shelley Maher Trophy claiming the awarded over a stacked field that included 2021 winner, Woodville Olivia Parker, and Subiaco’s Bailey Eastman.

The Shelley Maher Trophy is Lacrosse Australia’s highest individual honour, awarded to Women’s field lacrosse player who scored the highest number of best player votes during the course of the Australian field lacrosse season, with the votes awarded in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia aggregated to determine a winner.

Kelly’s victory would come as no surprise to anyone who saw Kelly play in 2023, with the Victorian star dominating the 2023 Lacrosse Victoria season, leading her Footscray side to an undefeated title. Having returned from the US, Kelly was simply unstoppable scoring 34 goals against 13 games to lead the potent Bulldog offence all season. Kelly was rarely held out of games and grew in strength over the course of the season with 16 goals coming in her final 3 games, including a bag of 5 goals in the Grand Final.

“It's an honour to win the Shelley Maher Trophy after the season I just had with Footscray” said Kelly, “after returning from five years of college lacrosse, it was fantastic to be part of such an unbelievable season with us being able to go undefeated all year and come out with the Premiership.”

Kelly added that the transition from college back to club lacrosse was a key to her success, “I am just so thankful to the entire Footscray Lacrosse Club and in particular, my team, for welcoming me home and making it feel like I never left, I just can’t wait for 2024!”.

Kelly was also humbled to be able to add her name to the list of Shelley Maher winners, “I am so honoured to be able be placed in the same category as some of the most capable and incredible female athletes in the sport who have won this trophy”.

“Steph returned to FLC after 5 years at college and her impact on the senior playing group was immediate. Steph is not only a player of exceptional skill and talent, but also someone who embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship, “said Footscray Coach Meghan Mollison, “she consistently demonstrates integrity, respect, and fairness both on and off the field”.

Kelly is the second Footscray player to win the Shelley Maher and the second in a row from the western suburbs powerhouses, after Rebecca Lane won the Shelley Maher in 2022. Kelly’s win is also the 6th time a Victorian has won the Shelly Maher since its inception in 2012, nudging Victoria past South Australia for the most winners (6 to 5).

The trophy is named in honour of Shelley Maher and was instituted in 2012 by the Australian lacrosse Association. As the last President of Women’s Lacrosse Australia (2001-2009) Shelley committed to excellence in all areas of administration. In her home State of Victoria Shelley was President of Women’s Lacrosse Victoria (1998-2001), and was elected a Life Member in 2001, and in 2009 of Women’s Lacrosse Australia. She was active as a player with Williamstown Women’s Lacrosse Club and represented Victoria in senior competition (2002, 2005). Shelley was an Australia Lacrosse Association Director (2007-2010),  and the Women’s Director on the Federation of International Lacrosse (2008-2017). In 2017 Shelley was awarded the World Lacrosse Lifetime Achiever Award.

2023 Shelley Maher Trophy winner, Stephanie Kelly (Footscray Lacrosse Club)