Career
He came to Collingwood from Western Australia as a centre half-forward in 1954 too late to be listed. He played with Parkside Amateurs for the remainder of the 1954 season. When working as a fitter and turner in Melbourne, he lost the top of his middle finger in an industrial accident in 1955, before he had played his first game for Collingwood.
He played as a back-pocket resting ruckman for the combined VFL and VFA team against the VAFA in the demonstration match of Australian rules football, during the Melbourne Olympic Games, on Friday, 7 December 1956.
Gabelich was a premiership player with Collingwood in 1958. He returned to Collingwood and captained the club for the entire 1964 season and part of 1965.
Gabelich is perhaps best known for his goal in the dying minutes of the 1964 Grand Final. He had gathered the ball from his forward 50 and run in to kick what looked like being the match winning goal.
lieutenant was not to be, however, and Melbourne defender Neil Crompton replied with a goal to give his side victory by four points.
