The GIANTS are pleased to announce that the club’s AFL Women’s Club Champion award will be named the Gabrielle Trainor Medal.
The award recognises one of the club’s most influential figures and a pioneer for the development of female football in New South Wales.
Ms Trainor was an inaugural GIANTS board member as well as a member of the Team GWS advisory committee before joining the AFL Commission in March last year.
Prior to joining the GIANTS, Ms Trainor also served on the AFL NSW/ACT Commission for 10 years. She worked to support the then-fledgling Sydney Women’s AFL in its development and its relationship with the Commission.
GIANTS Chairman Tony Shepherd said Ms Trainor had been instrumental in the development of the GIANTS and the game more broadly in New South Wales.
“As someone who has worked with Gabrielle for a number of years, I’m immensely proud to have our premier AFL Women’s award called the Gabrielle Trainor Medal,” Mr Shepherd said.
“We’re delighted to recognise Gabrielle’s work within both the GIANTS and the AFL - it’s a natural fit for someone who has contributed so much to the game and the development of women’s football.”
Ms Trainor’s links to Australian Football go well beyond the time she served on the AFL NSW/ACT Commission with both her father and grandfather serving as President of the North Melbourne Football Club and delegates to the governing body, then the VFL.
During her tenure at the GIANTS, Ms Trainor chaired the club’s integrity committee, was a member of the GIANTS Foundation and provided guidance on significant commercial projects including the establishment of the $12 million Training and Administration base at Sydney Olympic Park.
Ms Trainor has been a long-time supporter of women’s sport and was the key-note speaker at the GIANTS’ recent Women in Sport event in Western Sydney.
Ms Trainor said: “I am overwhelmed by this honour. The real recognition should and will go to the extraordinary female athletes of the GIANTS who will be named Club Champion this year and in the years ahead.
“The AFL Women’s competition is a sporting and cultural force whose time has come and I acknowledge all those who have made it a reality.”
The Gabrielle Trainor Medal is voted on by AFLW Coach Tim Schmidt as well as Assistant Coaches Adrian Pavese, Marc Dragicevic and Cameron Bernasconi. Up to 10 votes can be awarded to a player by each coach every round with each player able to receive a maximum of 40 votes per round.
The GIANTS' next AFLW home match is part of a huge double-header with the JLT Community Series on Friday, March 3 at Blacktown International Sportspark from 5pm. GIANTS AFL members (with game access) and AFLW members receive free entry (subject to capacity) or click here to get your tickets.
