Gabe Smith on 'the best club ever'

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The Nugget
January 23, 2026

★ Gabe Smith on ‘the best club ever’ ★

Gabe Smith

It’s been a tough time for our community, and a lot of people are carrying more than usual.

Footy doesn’t fix everything, but it can help. It brings people together, creates a bit of routine, and reminds us we’re not on our own.

And if you’re ready to ease into movement, connection and team sport, the Falcons are a no-pressure, no-expectations crew – just a welcoming group and a shared purpose.

Gabe Smith has been with the mighty Falcons right from the get go.

She went from having absolutely no interest in football to being right in her element on the field, and now she’s putting the call out for the 2026 season and filling us in on what makes “the best club ever.”

“There is something beautiful about football,” Gabe says.

“I think because the spirit of the game harks back to the Aboriginal game of Marngrook. It’s open and flowing and you get to be creative.

“It looks disorganised, but figuring out how to be a part of that is really joyful.”

Gabe had been living with her young family in Castlemaine when a new mate, Alana Werne, invited her to join a small group of passionate friends campaigning to start a local women’s football club – one that welcomed women and gender-diverse players.

Despite having zero interest in football, Gabe gave a resounding yes to its purpose and says it’s been one of her best decisions.

The Falcons’ fighting spirit was born when their proposal to establish the club in 2021 was rejected with no right to appeal. It was “a fight to be heard,” and the Falcs did not go down easily, launching a follow-up media campaign.

Those who questioned the club’s viability are quiet now. The Falcs have just wrapped up their third – and most successful – season, with a spot in the finals.

“To look back, having made finals, had a string of wins, upset wins, and holding the reigning premiers to the tightest margin of the whole year is amazing,” Gabe says.

It’s been a mammoth leap from practice matches in 2022.

Gabe credits a legacy of effort and support from coaches Lil, Cheez, Bonnie and many more, alongside players, volunteers and the executive. The momentum, she says, makes her incredibly proud and excited for 2026.

At the heart of the Falcs is a commitment to inclusion of different gender identities and this flows to other identities we hold as well. The invitation is to be your full self, have fun and learn football in a safe space.

As a “white, straight, CIS, able-bodied person, it’s my obligation to try to open it up for people who don’t walk an easy path as I do,” Gabe says.

Joining the Falcs introduced her to “a whole new vocabulary and learning curve around gender diversity which has been such a gift.”

“These are identities that have existed forever. Our culture is now very late carving out space for gender-diverse people, where others have accepted them forever.”

The life-changing power of being encouraged back into sport after growing up excluded is captured in Equal the Contest, a film by Mitch Nilavis documenting the Falcons’ early beginnings, available on ABC iview.

“Sport is political. To deny that is to serve the already privileged and to keep out those who aren’t already welcome,” Gabe says.

Gabe brings a calm strength to the club and is always welcoming others into new territory. She still doesn’t enjoy watching football, but did a complete 180 on playing the game itself. Like most girls, she wasn’t encouraged to explore contact sports as a kid.

“I remember in one of the practice matches when it twigged that I could bump a player. I knew the theory, but when it clicked in play – ‘oh I can do that, I’m allowed to throw my body around, respectfully and with care at another person’ – it was so enjoyable and unlocked this learning journey for me.”

So why join the Falcs?

“It’s a place to find a love of football, or enjoy moving your body, in whatever way you want to do it, with a group of people who come from different places and backgrounds, but in this sporting club are like minds in how they want to show up and move and be physical,” Gabe says.

“It’s a great bunch of people. You can just train. Be a volunteer. Sling sausages. Sell merch. Help out behind the scenes or be a supporter. There’s always space for new ideas and ways to be involved.”

The support at the club allows you “to learn a new sport, learn by making mistakes, and just enjoy sport for the sake of sport. It’s very special.”

This season, the club has secured funding to offer childcare to help parents train and play, and will continue its advocacy work around the prevention of gendered violence and trans inclusion in sport.

“This work is ongoing and so the Falcs will keep going,” Gabe says.

Pre-season training began on Monday 19 January, with returning players and new faces welcome.

  • The Falcs run pre-season training on Mondays at Wesley Hill Reserve at 6:15 PM

  • If you want to dip a toe in, you can rock up to Group Strength Training on Wednesdays at the Sunken Oval at 5:30 PM, run by personal trainer Steph Silvagni 

—By Tess O’Brien

❀ Half-price, bebe ❀

Friends, we quite literally donated our pants off.

Our local op shops are bursting. This Friday and Saturday all clothing will be half-price at MAAW.

Have a look and see if you can’t save some treasures from the landfill. xx

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