On 19 September 1981, Shellee Gibson was born at Kiama District Hospital. Almost 44 years later, and only a few hundred metres down the road at Bonaira Oval, she ran out for Kiama Power to play her 200th senior AFL game on Saturday, 16 August.

Fifteen years in the making, Shellee has won five premierships, represented both NSW and the South Coast, and kicked 142 career goals.

Although her team couldn’t secure the win to mark the milestone, she still enjoyed the occasion.

“They were just stronger than us. We had our shots, and they just fell short. That’s footy. What can you do?” said Shellee.

“I’ve been around a long time, so it doesn’t affect me that much. I love just getting out there and running around. The girls all have pretty good attitudes. We gave it our all and just weren’t the better team on the day.

“But it was a good day for footy. I think everyone had a good day. We all had a good night, the boys got some wins, so the atmosphere was really good.”

Shellee was the president, treasurer, coach, captain and player of the Wollongong Saints 15 years ago. Photo: Brian Scott

Shellee was the driving force behind the Illawarra’s first women’s AFL team - the Wollongong Saints - where she took on the roles of president, treasurer, coach, captain and player.

She reflected on her very first game, which was against Sydney University, and how it all started after playing only soccer before.

“Game number one, I think we played Sydney Uni or something, and the ball was dribbling along the ground and I walked backwards away from it,” she said.

“I’m like, man, they’re all tackling and jumping on the ground. It’s too crazy. But yeah, eventually I got there. It was very, very different to soccer.”

So what motivated her to start a team in a sport she barely knew?

“I think I’m just determined. I like kicking. I like kicking and catching. I like kicking the ball. I don’t like tackling. So I just practised kicking, running, catching - and I’m still, that’s still all I can do really,” she said.

“I just like playing team sports. I like the whole atmosphere. Kiama is a good family club. Everyone’s up and about, everyone says congratulations, all the guys get around you - we all train together.”

Shellee in action in her 200th game. Photo: Brian Scott

That family spirit, she says, was nowhere to be seen when she first started.

“We weren’t affiliated with anyone when we started in the women’s competition. No one really wanted anything to do with us. We couldn’t join the men’s club. We couldn’t train on their fields. We had nothing. We didn’t even have toilets. It was terrible - we didn’t even have equipment,” she said.

Now, there are 11 teams across two divisions in the South Coast competition - something Shellee says she never imagined.

“I struggled to get eight players for the first three games. That’s all I had. I had to fill my car up - just so I knew I’d definitely have five players to drive to Sydney every week,” she said.

“And like, we had no experience. I’d never played a game before. And I was the coach and the player and the captain and the president. Now we’ve got like 15s and 16s and 17s - some will have played a hundred games before they even hit seniors. And it’s only growing. It’s going to be massive.”

Gibson’s knee collapsed during pre-season this year, and it nearly stopped her from reaching the 200-game milestone.

“My cartilage is gone. I’ve worn it out playing too many games. So I had a couple of weeks just strengthening and rehab and wore a bit of tape and got through it,” she said.

But is 200 the end?

“As long as the girls kick me the ball and I don’t have to tackle, that’d be good. But yeah, I’ll just keep going until I fall apart.”

Her team is out of finals contention this season, but she’ll lace up the boots one last time for Kiama Power’s final match of the year against Northern Districts at home on Saturday (23 August).

To wrap up, Shellee shared the pre-game superstition that might just be the secret to her long and resilient career.

“I like to put my right boot on first, and then I put both boots on, and then I tie them up. I don’t tie one at a time,” she said. “I also like to go for a lap of the field and have some me time. I just need one or two minutes.”