From Supporting Her Family to Pulling on the Boots: Tash Sergi’s Football Journey
11 Aug, 2026
For almost a decade, football has been at the heart of Tash Sergi’s family.
She helped coach her two sons from Auskick through to Under 14s, supported her football-mad husband and spent countless weekends immersed in community football. While she’d often watch the women’s teams train and wonder “what if?”, it wasn’t until this season that she finally decided it was her turn to pull on the boots.
“I’ve helped my husband coach our boys for the last nine years, from Auskick through to Under 14s,” Sergi said.
“We’ve always been around football, but every year I’d watch the girls training and get massive FOMO because I just love sport.”
That all changed before the 2026 season.
After arriving early one afternoon with her boys for a kick, Sergi struck up a conversation with a Scarborough coach. Before she knew it, she’d been invited to play in one of the club’s pre-season scratch matches.
“I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, Tash, what are you getting yourself into?'” she laughed.
“The average age of the team is probably in their early 20s and I turn 40 next year.”
Despite the nerves, she gave it a crack.
A few scratch matches later, she’d earned herself a place in Scarborough’s League Women’s side – and hasn’t looked back.
“I’m absolutely frothing it.
“I’m so glad I joined.”
While it’s Sergi’s first season of Australian football, she’s no stranger to elite sport.
Sergi’s sporting journey has been one of resilience. At just 17 years old, she was selected to represent Australia in touch football before being forced to withdraw after being diagnosed with cancer. Years later, she’s earned another opportunity to wear the green and gold after being selected in the Australian Women’s 35s Touch Football team for October’s Pacific Cup in Japan.
She’s also competed on Australian Ninja Warrior four times, represented Australia internationally in ninja competitions and represented Western Australia in women’s gridiron, making her first season of community football just another chapter in an already remarkable sporting journey.
Unfortunately, representing Australia comes at a cost.
Like many athletes competing at a national level, Sergi is required to self-fund the trip, with travel, accommodation, uniforms and training camps expected to total around $10,000. She’s currently fundraising to help get herself to Japan, with Scarborough Football Club President Russell saying the club will support her fundraising efforts wherever possible.
Despite an impressive sporting resume, it’s community football that has captured her heart.
“Now my boys get to come and watch Mum play.”
“It makes it even more special because we’ve always been a football family.”
Adding to the story, Sergi’s husband previously won a premiership wearing number 14. When Scarborough handed her the exact same guernsey number before Round 1, she couldn’t help but feel it was meant to be.
“I said, ‘This is an omen.'”
Her debut season has been one to remember.
With nine goals already to her name, Sergi has helped Scarborough establish itself as one of the competition’s benchmark sides while balancing family life, personal training and preparations for international competition with Australia.
For Sergi, though, the biggest achievement isn’t the goals or the wins.
It’s finally taking the leap.
After years of supporting her family from the sidelines, she’s discovered a new passion of her own and become an important part of Scarborough’s women’s program.
For those who would like to support Tash’s journey to the Pacific Cup in Japan, a link to her athlete fundraising page can be found below.
Her advice to anyone who’s been thinking about giving football a go?
“My biggest advice would be not to wait until you feel ‘good enough’ to start. AFL teaches you so much more than just football. It builds resilience, confidence, friendships, and pushes you outside your comfort zone. If you’re willing to work hard and embrace the learning process, you’ll surprise yourself with how much you can improve
