Marzano ready to roar

Harvey-born Gabe Marzano will write another chapter in a remarkable soccer journey when she plays in her second straight W-League finals series on Monday.

The 23-year-old will line up for Brisbane Roar in a semi-final against Melbourne City, a year after reaching the national competition’s grand final with Perth Glory in her first season at the top level.

Marzano, whose father and two sisters still live in Bunbury along with other family in both Bunbury and Harvey, combines a burgeoning sporting career with her day job in the Australian Army, where she shot to prominence as their first female diver.

After spending six months in Perth due to a flexible work arrangement that allowed her to play for Glory, she moved back to Queensland, the State she has lived for most of her life, for army commitments and another stellar year on the field.

“Being able to play for the top team in your home State is the pinnacle of what you dream about, ” she said.

“It’s been phenomenal for me to play for two clubs close to my heart.”

It began at National Premier League Queensland club The Gap, where she earned the league’s most valuable player and played in a winning grand final.

She scored 16 goals in 20 games for The Gap, including both goals in a 2-0 semi-final win.

Marzano then stepped back up to W-League level, describing her individual highlight as a stunning goal against Adelaide United where she ran around a defender, nutmegged her and curled a shot over the goalkeeper from outside the box.

Her team highlight is overcoming five straight losses to earn a semi-final against Melbourne City – a team who have won all 12 of their matches.

The prospect may seem daunting but Marzano believes “anything can happen in finals football” and said “our form has really peaked and I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a result”.

Marzano has attracted a legion of young fans across the country and thrives on setting an example to them, remembering what it’s like “to be on the other side of the fence”.

Her “dual hatted” careers have created a different, more busy experience in Queensland this year which will change again when she moves to Sydney to take up an instructor’s job at the School of Military Engineering.

Having also been profiled on global governing body FIFA’s website, Marzano has achieved plenty in the last two years, but is eyeing off a possible national team call-up in future.

“I was always that little kid that wanted to overachieve and you really appreciate how little you did have when you start to have joy, ” she said. “I’ve absolutely nailed my childhood dream and it’s good to stop, think and appreciate the great moments.”