AFL slammed after blocking trans player from women’s competition
Image: Photo: Twitter / Hannah Mouncey.
Trans footballer has been blocked from the draft for this year鈥檚 AFLW competition.
The eleventh-hour decision by the league ahead of today鈥檚 draft was based on Mouncey鈥檚 鈥渟trength, stamina [and] physique鈥�, according to .
The decision does not affect Mouncey鈥檚 current participation in the ACT women鈥檚 AFL competition.
She said she hoped to be able to play in future AFLW competitions.
鈥淲hile I am extremely disappointed with the AFL’s decision regarding my participation in [Wednesday’s] AFLW draft, I thank them for the genuine way in which they approached my situation,” she said.
“Despite not being able to take part in the draft, the AFL has given me the all clear to play for Ainslie next year in the AFL Canberra competition for which I am very grateful and look forward to doing in 2018, before hopefully being able to nominate for next year’s draft.鈥�
The AFL released a statement explaining its reasons for the decision.
鈥淭he subcommittee carefully considered all of the information provided by Hannah, as well as the available data on transgender strength, stamina, physique along with the specific nature of the AFLW competition,鈥� it said.
The AFL Players Association has criticised the last-minute decision.
鈥淣o athlete should face such confusion around their eligibility for an elite competition just days out from a draft,鈥� said Brett Murphy, general manager of player relations.
LGBTI advocacy groups Proud 2 Play and Parents of Gender Diverse Children issued a statement condemning the league鈥檚 decision.
鈥淭he AFL鈥檚 decision is not in line with international best practice,鈥� they said.
鈥淚n recent years, the AFL has made great strides in demonstrating acceptance and inclusion of diverse sexualities鈥� We urge the AFL to show the same acceptance and respect for trans and gender diverse people.
鈥淎s with other high profile cases involving female athletes鈥攕uch as Caster Semenya鈥攚hether the athlete is trans or has an intersex variation, we encourage organisations to consider both the legal and human rights implications.鈥�
Social media responses have been divided, with many calling the decision transphobic, and the hashtag #LetHannahPlay being used to draw attention to the matter.
鈥淲ill the AFLW be blocking cisgender women of a similar size?鈥� tweeted one person.
鈥淭he only reason why you think a trans woman shouldn鈥檛 be allowed to play women鈥檚 sport is because you think she鈥檚 a man, it鈥檚 that simple,鈥� posted another.
The AFL said its decision only applies to this year, and Mouncey will be allowed to nominate for future drafts.
So under this latest aflw decision to block Hannah Mouncey, will the AFLW be blocking cisgender women of a similar size?
— Austin Fabkins (@AustinFabejenko)
The 's decision to block Hannah Mouncey from AFLW is based on nothing more than fear, ignorance and lack of internal readiness.
— Jason Ball (@jasonballau)
https://twitter.com/SarahRubyWrites/status/920232192462032896
https://twitter.com/allisongallaghr/status/920187843057610752
There’s a hundred articles about Hannah in the mainstream media and with only one exception from my reading none of them are asking the obvious: does her physique give her a significant advantage on the field? From what I’m reading Hannah has some footy skills but her opponents are not worried that she’s outperforming them in an unfair way. Sure she’s a big lass but she’s not the fastest from what I’m reading, she’s part of the game but she can be beaten around the ball by more highly skilled women.
Like most of her critics, I’ve never seen her play but unlike her critics I’m at least prepared to admit this.
What a disgraceful decision made by the AFL. So much for their wanting to promote acceptance and diversity. They dropped the ball at the first opportunity. What a hypocritical sham the AFL’s lgb…T acceptance policy is. First they fold and take down that yes for marriage equality sign on their HQ after a bomb hoax. Now this. You had better not have any lgb…t diversity round this season after this crap.