From kicking a footy against a backyard brick wall to captaining a Team of the Year, Kaitlyn, known to most as Noodle, has always lived and breathed sport. At 23, she’s played, coached, and cheered from the sidelines, and she’s just getting started.
We sat down with her to talk about footy, leadership, and what it really means to Play Like a Girl.
Hi, I’m Kaitlyn, but most people know me as Noodle. I’m 23 years young and I absolutely love lasagna, especially mum’s. Sport has been a huge part of my life. I started with futsal when I was two, and since then I’ve played football (AFL), basketball, netball, you name it. Now I’m back in footy, where my heart really is. Outside of playing, I help out with my sister’s footy team on game days and coach footy in schools too.
I’ve always been that kid who had a ball in her hands, throwing it against the walls and causing chaos. I actually taught myself to kick a footy by booting it into a brick wall in my backyard. That freedom of just running around and kicking a ball, that’s where the love started.
Playing with close friends, winning flags, and now playing alongside my sister... sport has given me memories I’ll carry forever. I’ll never take that passion for granted.
So many. Being able to play footy with my sister, Emilly, is seriously the best. We’ve always missed each other in sport because of age groups, but now we’re both in the seniors team and it’s amazing. We have a laugh mid game, kick to each other all the time 😂, and just genuinely support one another.
Another huge moment was being named captain of the Team of the Year in 2021, even though I wasn’t a captain at my club. It was a big reminder that what I bring to the field matters and that I’m seen as a skilled and impactful player.
It’s true, I haven’t had a formal title, but I do feel like others see me as a leader. I’ve learned that everyone is watching everything. Your attitude at training, how you bounce back from a loss, how you treat your teammates. That awareness helped me mature a lot in how I approach the game and my mindset. I’ve learned when to laugh and when to step up and have the serious conversations.
Honestly, I was in a bit of a slump mentally during the footy season. I started chatting with Holly (aka the PLAG Queen) about how I was feeling, and we both agreed the program was exactly what I needed. Holly was pretty persuasive 😂
I’d never done anything like this before, so I went in with an open mind. And wow, it exceeded everything. The modules were next level. Good crazy. Each one stretched my thinking in new ways.
Yes. Module 2. Who’s on your bus.
I sat on that one for three days, trying to figure out who I wanted in my life. It really made me stop and reflect on who’s adding value and who’s not. It was tough, but it changed how I look at my relationships and support networks.
It’s helped in so many ways. I now go into games and even just daily life with a more open mindset. When self-doubt creeps in, I go back to the course material. It gives me structure and tools to handle challenges and step into leadership more confidently.
I used to finish games thinking about every little thing I did wrong. Missed kicks. Missed tackles. After the course, I started reflecting differently. Instead of focusing on what went badly, I now ask how I can improve. What I can work on at training. It helped me see the bigger picture instead of getting stuck in self-criticism.
So much. I hate seeing women’s teams handed the second-hand gear after the men’s teams get new stuff, or getting shoved into the smaller changerooms. I’ve seen women’s teams stuck with dirty toilets while the men’s team gets priority.
I want to see equal facilities, equal chances to train and improve. And honestly, I’d love to see us all wearing the same gear. Same warm-ups, same jerseys for ANZAC Day, Pride, Heritage. We all deserve that level of respect and visibility.
I’d love to be part of the formal leadership group at one of my footy clubs soon. I’ll keep revisiting the course content, learning from my mistakes, and looking to the leaders around me to keep growing.
Play Like a Girl to me means creating a space where girls and women feel supported, seen, and valued. A space where we’re building leadership pathways and lifting each other up, free of judgment.
To Play Like a Girl means being powerful, confident, and proud. Not something to mock, but something to admire.
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We’re so proud of Kaitlyn (aka Noodle) and everything she brings to our community. Her energy, leadership, and authenticity shine both on and off the field. Watching her grow through the Empowered to Lead program and continue to inspire others is exactly what Play Like a Girl is all about. Keep showing up, kicking goals, and leading with heart. we’re cheering you on every step of the way. 💪💖
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