Debbie Spillane

Deborah Elizabeth Spillane (born 25 December 1955) is an Australian sports journalist and commentator.

Early life and education Spillane was born in Sydney, and was educated at Bethlehem College, Ashfield and received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney.

Media career In 1984, she joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a sports commentator and reporter, and was the first full-time female broadcaster hired by ABC Sport. In the same year was sent as a reporter to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and two years later to the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. She was a sideline reporter for ABC's rugby league coverage, and was the first woman to commentate cricket on ABC Radio. In 1987 she was a judge on ABC's Theatre Sports.

From 1990 to 1995, Spillane co-hosted the drive time program Hard Coffee with Ian Rogerson for Triple J. Around the same time, she was a regular panelist on Andrew Denton's Live and Sweaty program from 1991 to 1994.

On 12 December 2021, Spillane was inducted to the Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Honour, alongside 11 others added to the inaugural 15 media personalities who were celebrated in 2014.