Women’s star challenges ‘sexism’ ban

Aussie Rules player suspended two games for rough conduct

Astar female Aussie Rules football player banned for two matches for rough conduct is taking her case to the country’s top human rights body, arguing Friday she was being discriminated against due to gender.

Western Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan will miss the Australian Football League Women’s Grand Final on Saturday after being suspended.

Brennan had appealed the punishment, imposed for a second incident this season, over a sling tackle – where a player grabs an opponent and hurls them to the ground – but it was knocked back by the AFL Thursday.

Her club said she would submit a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission against the AFL, as she was determined to “right the injustice and gender discrimination which is inherent to the current AFL Rules.”

“I believe my tackle on [Melbourne’s] Harriet Cordner was reasonable and I strongly disagree with the guilty finding,” Brennan said in a statement.

“It is even more troubling to know that if I was a man playing in the AFL and was reported for the identical tackle, I would not have been suspended and I would be playing in a Grand Final tomorrow.

“The fight for gender equality is as every bit as important to me as the Grand Final and the decisions I have made reflect both of those priorities,” she added.

A male AFL player could be fined for a similar tackle. Local media reported such financial penalties were not part of AFLW rules as the low salaries of women players meant they could not afford to pay.

The minimum wage of a senior-listed AFLW football player is A$10,500 ($8,100), with top players earning up to Aus$20,000 for the sevenweek league. Average AFL salaries were A$352,470 for the men’s 22-week season.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan told Melbourne commercial radio station 3AW the rule will “definitely be looked at,” but did not promise any changes.

“Saying we’re sexist is unfair”, he added, saying the male and female leagues were “two different competitions.”

“They [AFLW players] play over seven weeks, not 22, there is a pay differential and that’s being discussed, that’s relevant here as well,” McLachlan said.

“The finals series is different, there are 16 players and not 18. So the fact that the tribunal system is different is only one of a number of differences because they’re two different competitions.”

The AFLW, launched last year, is seen as a significant step forward in the male-dominated sport and has attracted large crowds.