Cove women’s captain Dana O’Brien rubbishes claims of sexual harassment which led to eviction by Marion Council
The women’s skipper of a southern suburbs football club has defended it against allegations of sexual harassment which led to the council booting it out of its home.
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The women’s captain of a southern suburbs football club booted from its Hallett Cove home amid sexual harassment allegations has rubbished the claims as “absolutely shocking”.
Marion Council kicked out Cove Cobras Football Club from the Oval Rd complex on Wednesday after a two-month investigation found it had a “culture of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour”.
Two netball clubs, a cricket club, BMX club and a soccer club also share the sports hub.
The council investigation found other clubs had stopped using the clubrooms “because they feel unwelcome or unsafe”.
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But Dana O’Brien, Cobras women’s team skipper, said she had always felt welcomed by all club members and had never experienced sexist behaviour.
O’Brien began playing for Cove in 2018 – its inaugural year in the Southern Football League Women’s competition.
She was part of the 2018 and 2019 flag-winning sides.
“They (the club) have been nothing but completely supportive of our women’s team,” O’Brien said.
“We have an under-14 (girls) team as well that has never felt anything but secure and comfortable at our club.
“I was definitely shocked (by the allegations) and really upset because we’ve come off the back of such a successful season and we’ve been nothing but supported by the club.
“The club took a stand to get women’s football involved and for (there to be allegations) of sexism at our club … is absolutely shocking.
“It’s really upsetting to think people are portraying us in this light.
“Taking away the green space is going to be detrimental to how many females can play football in the southern suburbs.”
The club is fighting the allegations and its eviction.
It will stage an information night for members and supporters on Friday.
Council findings that led to the club’s eviction included inappropriate behaviour, disrespectful language and intimidating conduct, insulting sexist language directed at a female staff member and sexual harassment of female netball players.
Cove Soccer Club chairman David Brain backed the council’s decision.
“As chairman of the soccer club I fully endorse the council’s action,” Brain said.
“They (the council) don’t wake up overnight and go ‘we are going to kick somebody out of our sporting complex’.”
But Cove Cricket Club president Brett Kinnear said the council’s findings shocked him.
“(We’ve had) not one issue at all with the footy club,” Kinnear said.
Brett Baldey, who coached both the women’s and men’s A-grade football teams this year, believed the allegations were unfounded.
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“In terms of the culture and the way that the players handle themselves off the field was something we were pretty proud of,” Baldey said.
“From my point of view the women’s football team has been the heartbeat of the Cove Football Club.”
In a statement on its Facebook page on Thursday night, the club said it was “devastated” by the decision which would have a “far reaching” impact, adding it did not have a fair opportunity to respond to the council.
A SANFL spokeswoman said the league was not made aware of the “specific allegations” but was disappointed “in a decision that will have a far-reaching impact on the 438 registered members and the wider community”.
“More than 70 per cent of the club’s participants are aged between five and 14 and, therefore,
such a decision will have a resounding impact on these families,” the statement said.
Marion Council acting chief executive Fiona Harvey said the football club “should not be surprised by the actions of council nor of the complaints of inappropriate behaviour”.
“We have 1500 members of the Cove Sports and Community Club and we want them to feel welcome and safe in our facility.”
The BMX club and two netball clubs have not responded to calls.
Southern Football League president Craig Warman said the council had not given the league specific information on the allegations and could not respond adequately.
But Warman said the league “does not tolerate bad behaviour or language”.
“We’ve got strict guidelines in regards to that and we've got policies and procedures in place, as do the Cove Football Club.”
Warman said the league had a spare oval for Cove should the council refuse to overturn the decision.
