Geelong Amateur’s Danielle Sgarbi reflects on making VFLW debut with Collingwood at age 39

Danielle Sgarbi had done it all in country footy despite coming to the game in her mid-30s. Then, came the call from a former coach which opened the door to test her hand at VFLW.

Collingwood VFLW player Danielle Sgrabi goes up in a ruck contest in 2024. Picture: Taryne Fletcher/Stitch Productions

Danielle Sgarbi never thought she’d be running around in the VFLW – let alone getting her first crack at it at age 39.

A call from her former Geelong Ammos premiership coach Tom Cashin – now Collingwood VFLW coach – last year caught the mum-0f-two off by surprise, but offered a chance too good to pass up after the Pies lost their ruck Lilly Pearce to Geelong’s AFLW program.

“He needed someone towards the end of the season and he knew my playing style and gave me a call and said ‘did I want to give it a crack?’,” Sgarbi said.

Playing four games last year – including a season-best 30-hit out performance against Casey Demons – Sgarbi, now 40, earned herself a VFLW list spot for 2025.

Making her first appearance this season at Victoria Park on Saturday against a Carlton side littered with AFLW talent, Sgarbi finished with 16 hit-outs, four touches (three contested) and three tackles – though the final result spelled heartbreak for the Pies, the Blues snatching a four-point win with an after-the-siren goal from AFLW-listed Keeley Skeeper.

Collingwood's Danielle Sgarbi runs out ahead of Saturday’s VFLW clash against Carlton with daughters Tilly and Mya. Picture: supplied

Though disappointed by the finish, the day remains significant for Sgarbi, who had the chance to run out pre-match with daughters Tilly, 9, and Mya, 6, in a special moment for the footballer.

“The Collingwood girls were so excited I got selected and that was their first question – will your daughters be there and will they run out with us?,” Sgarbi said.

“It was an amazing day and I just really took it all in.

“I felt pretty good (out there).

“I was pretty happy with my first half, I definitely thought I brought my game … maybe died off in the second half but pretty happy with how I went.”

Inside Sgarbi’s rise to VFLW

From junior gymnastics to a long netball career with Geelong Cougars, South Barwon and Geelong Amateur, a sports mad Sgarbi finally turned footballer for the Ammos in her 30s after welcoming her second daughter Mya.

Now a two-time Geelong Amateur division 1 premiership captain and ruck, Sgarbi has done it all in country football in her six years in the game, a league best and fairest also coming in 2023.

Danielle Sgrabi in action for Collingwood VFLW in 2024. Picture: Taryne Fletcher/Stitch Productions

Cashin’s call last year might have caught Sgarbi off guard, but it was an “easy yes” from Sgarbi to join the Pies’ program.

“I’m definitely not a spring chicken … footy has always been an amazing part of my life but I never dreamed really I’d have the opportunity to play at an elite level,” she said.

“That was an amazing experience just playing football (with Ammos) because I’d grown up watching footy and obsessed with footy but never really thought the opportunity would come to play at the higher level.

“It was a no-brainer … to go, I’d regret this for the rest of my life if I don’t give it a crack.”

Though there is a significant physical, mental and time commitments that comes with stepping up to the next level, Sgarbi described it as “one of the most incredible things” she’d done.

“Worth all the effort and pain,” she said.

Joining the program late last season, Sgarbi has embraced the full experience in 2025 – from pre-season training to embedding herself with the team and a strong culture.

“It blows my mind honestly, the sophistication of an elite program, from the data and analytics to the strength and conditioning to the training and video analysis,” she said.

“I think Collingwood is probably one of the most professional clubs out there so to be able to experience it has been a little bit surreal to be honest.

“It’s exciting to see the pace women’s football has gotten to over the last few years and the trajectory for the future – it’s really quite exciting.

“To be a small part of it, and experience some of it has been really satisfying.”

Plenty more years left in the tank

Sgarbi is making sure to take in every moment at Collingwood this year, expecting it to be her one and only season in the VFLW.

But she is confident she has plenty of football still in her back with Geelong Amateur, intent to keep playing “as long as the body lets me”.

“Geelong Amateur have been incredible this year, letting me train up at Collingwood and really push myself in the training but come back and play every other weekend with Ammos,” she said.

“It’s a brilliant club and I really hope to play for a few more years, the body feels alright.”

Danielle Sgarbi is a two-time premiership captain at Geelong Amateur. Picture: Alan Barber

Sgarbi credited both the Ammos’ culture and her competitiveness as a key reasons she continues to play sport – the apple not falling far from the tree when it comes to daughter Tilly’s own white line fever on the basketball and netball courts.

“I just love playing footy, and because I only started playing a few years ago, I’m still learning a lot, I’m still tweaking my game and learning different parts of different positions,” Sgarbi said.

“While I’m still learning, I’m still pushing myself and still physically I feel probably even fitter and stronger than I’ve ever felt, even when I was a lot younger.

“(And) the girls (Tilly and Mya) really love watching footy and being part of that club too, so I hope being part of a sporting club will keep inspiring them to want to keep playing sport and be part of that community too.”

As well as role modelling for her daughters, Sgarbi has that same influence on other young footballers at Queens Park – Ammos’ coach Tash Irvine describing her player as “ an inspiration for so many of our girls.”

Sgarbi said she hoped to show players they can have long careers playing sport.

“You can have a career and a family and still play sport, and you’re body will hold up pretty well … I’m trying to play a bit more a leadership role for some of the younger girls who are just starting off their adult life is also quite rewarding,” she said.

Originally published as Geelong Amateur’s Danielle Sgarbi reflects on making VFLW debut with Collingwood at age 39