Michelle Gerdtz is proof that sport can be a whole lot more than wins and losses. As General Manager of Read the Play, she’s turning local clubs into safe, supportive spaces — where talking about mental health is just part of the game plan. Michelle and her team are backing nearly 2,000 young people each year to look out for themselves and each other.
And just in case that wasn’t enough, Michelle’s also the first female Chair of AFL Barwon (yep — she’s that cool). Michelle is leading the charge for pathways that take girls from Auskick all the way to AFLW. Her dream? A region where every club has a women’s footy team and every women’s footy team gets the same fixture love as the blokes.
Michelle’s always been about giving back. Her advice for anyone stepping into leadership? You can’t please everyone. But you can make a difference.
And Michelle? She’s making a big one.
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