Footballers and sport fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to retiring Western Bulldogs vice-president, Susan Alberti.
A football lover and pioneer of the women's game, after a Western Bulldogs premiership and with the imminent launch of a national AFL women's competition, 'Alberti said the time was right to step down.
![Susan Alberti celebrates the Bulldogs' premiership with with Jordan Roughead.](/web/20161208111815im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/0/w/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt4ruo.png/1480983148293.jpg)
The businesswoman has spoken of how as a young woman, she was forced to hang up her football boots because there was no league for her to play in.
She had consistently placed pressure on the AFL to give women and girls more opportunities to play the game.
AFLW, the first national women's football competition, begins in February.
Alberti also played an important role in helping lift the Western Bulldogs out of a financial and on-field rut, spending about $4 million of her own money.
Thank you @SusanAlberti1 - for everything you've done & do for footy, for women, for social equity, for medical research & for great hair!
— Tracee Hutchison (@traceehutch) December 5, 2016
Belief, commitment, vision, loyalty, resilience, generosity & decency. Thanks for everything @SusanAlberti1 #GoDogs https://t.co/vaGGa0khmm
— JillHennessyMP🔴⚪️🔵 (@JillHennessyMP) December 5, 2016
What an inspiring woman. Has clearly changed the lives of so many during her tenure. All the best, Susan Alberti! https://t.co/JgfChVXwky
— Ben Brown (@bdbrown50) December 5, 2016
What a woman! 🙌🏽 Congratulations on all you've achieved @SusanAlberti1 and thank you for all that you've done. Forever grateful 😘
— Steph Chiocci (@Steph_Chiocci) December 5, 2016