As the NRL once again celebrates Women in League Round, the Sydney Roosters have celebrated a special milestone for Commercial Accountant Deanne Michailidis.
A passionate Roosters supporter since childhood, the Bondi local has become a well-respected figure for both staff members and players alike - and in 2022 has celebrated her 20th anniversary of service.
Humble Beginnings
Deanne initially carved out her career as a leagues club trainee in Bondi Junction, with her work ethic and enthusiasm propelling her to a job at the football Club in just twelve months.
Alongside her on the 20-year journey at Bondi has been fellow Club matriarch Cathy King, who coincidentally hired Deanne in her first role.
“Dee’s contribution to the Roosters has been enormous over the years,” King said.
“There was a Club operations program where she went through, and she found that she enjoyed the finance part and after that twelve-month traineeship she came on as an employee.
“She stayed in that role pretty much for the duration, she’s been in finance administration for the best part of 20 years.
“I don’t think I can actually do her contributions justice for what she has done over the 20 years. It’s an incredible amount of time to be working in one place and giving so much as she does day-in-day-out.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s been 20 years. Every day with her has flown past here and all the other stuff we have, she just makes life easy for so many people.”
Building a Home in Bondi
The generosity and dedication of Deanne and her family have shone throughout her tenure at the Club.
The Michailidis household has been a mainstay in moulding the next generation of Rugby League stars not only as players but as people as well.
Boyd Cordner and Dylan Napa are just two names who spent the formative months of their fledgling careers under the family’s roof – but there have been dozens of stars who first found their feet in the big time at Bondi.
“Originally we used to take in players who would come down from the country,” King explained.
“We had a house at Lamrock Avenue in Bondi, but we had other players who didn’t go into the house that we would assign to different families.
“Dee and her family had a spare room, so they would take players on from there. Guys like Dylan Napa and Boyd Cordner for a short time, and there were a number of other younger players who would stay for around twelve months or so.
“She’s been one of the reasons why we have been able to build a home here at the Club. She is a very important part of who we are as a Club.”
From a playing point of view, she’s the sort of person you want to play for – that’s your Club. You run out onto the field knowing that you’re playing for someone like Dee.
Mitchell Aubusson Sydney Rooster #1067
While he wasn’t one of those players who was housed under the same roof, Mitchell Aubusson – who considers Dee as his own family – says that her contribution to the Roosters is a major reason for the Club’s recent successes.
In fact, Deanne’s selfless and giving nature is exactly what epitomises the Club.
“She’s family to me,” Aubusson said.
“I had a traineeship with the Club and she and Cath were the first two people I met in the office and I’ve been with them ever since.
“It’s hard to explain, she’s done so much - all of it. Any question I needed to be answered, particularly in finance, I’d go through her. She’s my handyman as well – she’s handier than I am!
“Her whole family love the Roosters and what they’ve done for our Club is a big reason why we’ve been so successful. You just have those people like Dee who put everything aside for the Club.
“She even organises events for us, both staff and players. From a playing point of view, she’s the sort of person you want to play for – that’s your Club.
“You run out onto the field knowing that you’re playing for someone like Dee.”
She has a massive impact on the playing squad. All these girls have been through different teams and had different team managers, and the comments I’ve gotten from them after last season are that she was the best manager they’ve ever had.
John Strange NRLW Head Coach
A Leader in the Women’s Game
With numerous roles already at the Club including finance, events and admin, Deanne displayed her selflessness and love for the Club even further this year by taking up the role of NRLW Team Manager for the 2021 season.
With her attention to detail, selflessness and organisational skills, Deanne’s contributions throughout were no doubt a major factor in the Roosters’ recent success according to Head Coach John Strange.
“From a Head Coach’s point of view, Dee is the best manager that you could ever have. She allows me to do my job and just coach,” Strange beamed.
“For me as the Coach, to have an actual manager to organise everything like training times, change of venue, you don’t have to worry about that.
“It comes down to their playing kit being fitted out, organising catering, hotel bookings – when we go away, we need all of that and not only does she organise that, if something isn’t right she jumps in and has it fixed.
“The girls love her. Deanne cares and looks after them as well and makes their job easier on focussing their preparation to play. They don’t have to worry about all those smaller things because she has it covered.
“She has a massive impact on the playing squad. All these girls have been through different teams and had different team managers, and the comments I’ve gotten from them after last season are that she was the best manager they’ve ever had.
“Dee is always thinking about them. She is always thinking about the other staff and how she can make their jobs easier. They can approach her if there’s anything they need.
"Her contribution has been imperative to our success.”
