Tributes for talented Falcon
GEELONG is mourning the loss of a promising young football star after the 18-year-old died in a car crash at Gheringhap.
Amy Gorell was this year selected for the first Geelong Falcons female TAC Cup team and its leadership group after only a few years of playing football.
Her devastated brother, Ben, described Amy as the family’s “shining star”.
THE greater Geelong community is mourning the loss of a promising young football star after the 18-year-old was killed in a car crash at Gheringhap.
Amy Gorell (pictured) was a prominent and popular member of the Geelong Falcons’ first ever female TAC Cup team this year and was so well regarded she was sworn into the leadership group despite only taking up the sport in recent years.
Geelong Falcons players will wear black arm bands as a mark of respect in Sunday’s male TAC Cup grand final at Etihad Stadium. Players and staff from the male and female teams have been rocked by the news.
It is understood Gorell was on her way to work when her car left the Midland Highway and collided with trees at Gheringhap, about 11.30am Wednesday.
Geelong Falcons girls coach Jason Armistead remembered Gorell as a great team player who had “a genuine care for her teammates”.
“She was just a great competitor but also a really great person off the field. Every photo I looked at this morning where she didn’t have the footy she was always shepherding and protecting her teammates,” Armistead said.
“She might bowl (an opponent) over in a tackle because she didn’t know her own strength, then go back over to them to make sure they’re OK.”
A TAC Cup cover girl, the Bannockburn teen had previously played as captain of Modewarre and taken out this year’s Geelong Junior Football under-19 Girls Division 1 medal.
She polled 30 votes to win — nine ahead of any of her oppo- nents. Armistead said it was likely Gorell would have played for the Geelong Cats’ VFLW side next year.
“She was a super player as well and it’s really sad that we don’t get to see what she could have produced down the track,” he said.
Investigations are under way to determine the cause of the single-vehicle crash.
Paramedics and an off-duty medic worked to save the P-plater’s life, performing CPR for almost an hour, but she died at the crash scene.
Gorell was the youngest of six children and yesterday her brother Ben took to social media to pay his respects to his “little bro”.
“As you can imagine this is a hard time for the family but we hope for those who knew her, that you remember her as the happy, loving girl that she was,” he wrote. “R. I. P little bro, love you always.”
Matthew Flinders Girls’ Secondary College assistant principal Jeremy Dyson said the former student was a valued and well-respected member of the school community.
“She will not only be remembered as a terrific young football talent but as a leader, a mentor and a wonderful, caring person who will be greatly missed,” Mr Dyson said.
The fatality has reignited calls for the urgent upgrade of the Midland Highway between Geelong and Bannockburn as Vic Roads works on a planning study.
A Go Fund Me page has also been set up to help cover the cost of Gorell’s funeral.
Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
“Shee was just a greatt competitor but also a really greatt person off the field.” GEELONGELONG FALCONS GIRLSLS COACH JASON ARMISTEAD