As the home and away AFL men’s season has ended and we head into the finals, I’m getting excited. Particularly being in Perth where Fremantle flags are making an appearance all over the place. But for many of us, our enthusiasm has been dampened by the recent shameful behaviours of players and the AFL’s poor leadership when it comes to preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
As I’m sure most people are aware, five Sydney Swans players were suspended after their alleged involvement in a sexual assault currently being investigated by Victoria Police. In the wake of the incident there has been much criticism of the passive language used by the Swans administration and others, including Swans Chief Executive saying at a press conference, “we’re extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place, and that the players have found themselves in this situation”. But this is not an isolated incident; it is part of a pattern of unacceptable behaviour by AFL players and there is little evidence of change.
This time last year, Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine was suspended for four games for using a homophobic slur. While former Eagles player Mitch Brown described the culture of homophobia in the AFL that kept him from coming out publicly as bisexual for many years, former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou rejected concerns that the AFL was unsafe for LGBTQIA+ players, stating, “I think they will be embraced, welcomed, and I don’t think there is an unsafe space in the AFL industry.”
In late April, the appeals board reduced St Kilda player Lance Collard’s ban for use of a homophobic slur from seven weeks to two. In the decision they wrote, “We observe that football is a hard game. It is highly competitive, particularly at its higher levels. It is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field”. In response, former AFLW star and current commentator Kate McCarthy said on Instagram: “What the hell? I have no way to describe this, it’s actually baffling. So much for every policy in the AFL saying there’s zero tolerance. No, not according to the appeals board. This goes against everything the AFL has claimed to stand for. This is disgusting.” Amidst much community backlash to the appeals board’s decision, the AFL sacked Chair Will Houghton but did not overturn Lance Collard’s reduced suspension. Collard will not face any real accountability for his actions, despite this being his second suspension for using homophobic slurs.
It’s not a coincidence that men in the AFL continue to engage in harmful behaviours. It is the result of the way that we elevate these men because of their toughness, fitness, aggression and dominance. Because of their ability to embody the epitome of what it means to fit into the Man Box. Along with all of that comes entitlement, and often a belief that you should be able to whatever you want to whoever you want and that anyone that doesn’t live up to your example is lesser than you.
While AFL leadership continues to minimise the systemic and cultural issues within the league that are leading to this pattern of poor behaviour by male players, community expectations are shifting. The majority of the public response to the suspension of the Swans players has been supportive of the suspension. I’ve seen comments reminding people that the real harm is not to the Swan’s chances in the finals, but to the victim of the assault. I don’t think we would have seen this kind of reaction ten years ago. It’s evidence that sustained advocacy by individuals and organisations over many years is working.
As a Canadian, love for sport is something I understand. While I didn’t play hockey growing up, it was inescapable and paramount. In my hometown there are two major roadways named after hockey stars, and in Vancouver they rioted over a bad call from a ref. Since coming to Australia, I’ve really embraced footy. Getting into it has made me feel like I’m part of a community and I look forward to watching every week.
It is widely recognised that participating in sport has many benefits, including social inclusion, building character and teaching life skills. But unfortunately, sporting communities aren’t safe for everyone, particularly women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and LGBTQIA+ folk. At the highest levels, we still regularly see instances of sexism, racism and homophobia, often with little or no accountability for the harm caused. When the AFL lets this behaviour slide time and again it sends a real message about who is important and valuable and who isn’t. Tolerating these behaviours is a key reason that the behaviours persist. Players know they likely won’t face significant consequences. Fans know that if they report poor behaviour in the stands, it likely won’t be taken seriously.
The effects ripple outward and reinforce that this behaviour is generally acceptable. It reinforces the idea that the worst thing a man can be is gay or feminine, and pushes men to constantly prove their manliness. It makes men think they’re more important than women and entitled to their bodies. Sexism, homophobia and sexual violence within the AFL is part of the broader picture of men’s violence against women in Australia. It’s crucial that the league and the players are stepping up and taking the issue seriously.
Most of us don’t think this kind of behaviour has any place in the game we love. We know it’s bad for the game, bad for us, bad for our kids, and most importantly bad for the people who are directly harmed. We want footy to be a community where we can all have fun and cheer for our teams. We want real cultural change, and here are some places to start:
- Clear and consistently applied disciplinary policies for players who demonstrate sexist, racist and homophobic behaviours
- Education on anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia and anti-racism for players, coaches and sports administrators to prevent the behaviour happening in the first place
- Demonstrate the value of women’s sport by ensuring game fixtures equally share access to prime timeslots and sports facilities between men’s and women’s teams
- Host a Pride round to celebrate LGBTQIA+ players and community members
- Upskill coaches to drive a respectful and inclusive club culture, and avoid using or tolerating gendered insults like, “you’re playing like a girl”.
For men in particular, it’s crucial that we talk about this more. We can’t just be passive bystanders, we’ve got to be the loudest voices demanding change. That starts by having conversations at home, at work and with our peers.
Ryan Corbould – Prevention Sector Development Officer, Preventing Violence Together
Further Resources
- PVT has created an activity called “What does being a man mean to you?” that can be done with groups of men and boys to unpack the Man Box and commit to some simple actions
- Starick’s Respectful Relationships Sport & Recreation Program can help sporting clubs implement the recommendations above
- Mike Dyson from Good Blokes Co. has written a series of LinkedIn posts offering conversation starters for men who follow the AFL to have conversations about gendered violence at work, at school and with their sons
- This Is Manly’s Accidental Role Model Playbook supports men to role model good behaviours to other men