AFLW 2022: GWS Giants forward Haneen Zreika breaks her silence after refusing to wear club’s pride jumper

Coach Alan McConnell insists GWS remains proud of Haneen Zreika despite her refusal to wear the club’s pride jumper and ‘nothing would break the bond that we have with one another.’

Giants forward Haneen Zreika has broken her silence following her refusal to play in the club’s pride jumper on Friday night.

Zreika, 22, made the unprecedented call to sit out Friday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs after deciding that she could not wear the team’s pride jumper.

She said an overwhelming “responsibility” to both her Islamic faith and her community had helped her reach the decision, which was grappled with over recent weeks.

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Haneen Zreika in action against the Dockers earlier this season. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“As the first Australian Muslim woman in the AFLW, I have a responsibility to represent my faith and my community,” she wrote in a statement.

“I respect people regardless of their sexual orientation.

“This decision was extremely difficult and I appreciate the support of the AFL, Giants and my teammates.

“Inclusion is about creating a space where people are able to respect their right to choose how they live their life as long as they don’t advocate hate and division.”

Zreika had turned off comments on her Instagram page in the wake of the call.

“My platform is not a place for people to disrespect and harass others so please be kind,” she said.

After his side’s 22-point victory over Western Bulldogs on Friday, Giants coach Alan McConnell said: “We’re proud of Haneen, as we are of all of our girls.

“We empathise with the challenges she faces in this circumstance. But equally we’re really proud of the connection and obligations we have to the LGBTQI community.

“This has been a special round and a special couple of weeks for Pride Round, but I’m actually really proud of the fact that we have really strong values in terms of inclusion every day of the week, every week of the year at our footy club, and in particular to this team. I’m very comfortable with where we sit.”

Alan McConnell addressed Haneen Zreika’s decision not to wear the pride jumper.

He added: “It’s just not simple, and I said to Haneen, we can have similar opinions or different opinions, but they’ll never break the bond that we have with one another and that she has with our team and her teammates,” he said.

“I’m very comfortable that that is all intact.

“The reality is that I know internally this has been consistently underpinned by care and empathy for one another with all of the issues. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we don’t have differences of opinions, but that’s life.”

The AFL worked closely with the Giants and Zreika regarding the situation in recent weeks and lauded the club and playing group’s handling of the issue.

“We believe in the power of our game to bring people together,” the league said.

“It is a critical part of the fabric and values that make our game great and why we have introduced important initiatives such as AFLW Pride Round to celebrate inclusion.

“We also recognise that sometimes there will be challenges between our stance as a code and people’s own beliefs and we respect the way the club and playing group have worked together to understand and support each other.”

Giant withdraws after declining club’s pride jumper

Greater Western Sydney player and practising Muslim Haneen Zreika will not play this weekend after deciding not to wear the team’s pride jumper on religious grounds.

Zreika, who was the first Islamic player to play AFL Women’s after making her debut in 2019, has grappled with the decision in recent weeks before ultimately withdrawing from Friday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs.

It is understood that she addressed her teammates earlier this week regarding her decision in what was an emotional and educational session for all players, which includes a number of LGBTQIA+ community members.

It was not a decision that was reached lightly by the 22-year-old, who has been working with the club and the AFL in the lead-up to the game.

Haneen Zreika will not play this weekend after deciding not to wear the team’s pride jumper on religious grounds. Picture: Getty Images

She played in the 2021 pride round, but the Giants did not wear a pride jumper. Zreika - who supports her teammates and their beliefs - strives to be a leader within the Muslim community and it is understood that wearing the jumper in Friday’s game could compromise her standing within her community.

She is likely to attend the game at Henson Park.

It has been an uncharted situation for the club, which remains firmly committed to its support of AFLW Pride Round, its specially designed jumper and what it stands for.

“It’s so important and such a big step for our club and our supporters,” Zreika’s teammate Rebecca Privitelli said last week when the jumper was launched.

“I know our girls are really excited to pull on the jumper, it’s a big part of all our lives and I hope our fans feel the same way.

“There’s a lot of young boys and girls out there that need role models to look up to and I think the AFLW are doing an incredible thing to give young women and men that opportunity.”

The AFL has declined to make a comment on Zreika’s decision to miss Friday night’s game.

Last week West Coast was criticised for being the only AFLW team not to wear a Pride jumper.

West Coast general manager of community and game development Richard O’Connell said the club was conscious of not rushing the process for designing a pride jumper and was focusing this season on releasing its AFLW Indigenous jumper.

The club’s AFLW coach Michael Prior then came under fire for refusing to comment on the issue, saying: “I talk about footy, not what we’re wearing. I think we’ve done the pride stuff to death, to be honest.”

He later apologised to anyone “who was offended by the report”.

WA border forces chaotic AFLW fixture shift

- Lauren Wood

The AFL will stage an AFLW double header next Tuesday night as it continues to fixture on the run to combat the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Two games originally set for Round 6 and Round 10 — Collingwood v West Coast and Western Bulldogs v Fremantle — have been brought forward to Tuesday, February 1.

Collingwood’s Round 4 clash with Fremantle — which was slated for this Sunday — has been brought forward to Thursday night at Victoria Park.

As well as having to deal with playing squads being struck down by the virus — the Western Bulldogs being one of the teams hardest hit — the league is also working overtime in the wake of Western Australia’s hard line border closure,

The Eagles and the Dockers, who have been based in Victoria for a month of matches, were expecting to fly home in early February.

But WA premier Mark McGowan announced last week he would not be opening the state as expected on February 5.

WA teams have been forced to stay in Victoria for over a month. Picture: Getty Images

Banking games for the WA teams has become a priority.

The Bulldogs have played just one of three possible games and two matches – Bulldogs v Suns and Bulldogs v Lions — are still to be scheduled.

The shifting fixture has been proving a major challenge for the semi-professional women’s players and as a result clubs have been providing letters to workplaces for leave requirements, care for children and, in some cases, juggling medical treatments.

“The decision to schedule additional matches to the fixture for Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles was made in close consultation and with strong support from each club following updates to border restrictions relating to Western Australia,” AFL competition boss Laura Kane said.

“We remain cognisant of the outside-football commitments of many players and staff from WA who are currently on the road in Victoria, and we thank them for their commitment and understanding.

Banking games for the WA teams has become a priority. Picture: Getty Images

“The league will continue to work closely with each club and the AFLPA, and will remain led by the advice of respective state governments and relevant health authorities as we work through arrangements for the coming rounds. I want to thank the AFLPA for working with us to provide the flexibility required to progress the season.”

The Western Bulldogs have been cleared to play in Round 4 after being decimated by covid isolation protocols in recent weeks.

“For the time being, the fixture remains a week-to-week proposition, and as such, we want to thank every AFLW Club, players and the AFLPA, umpires, venues, governments, ticketing agents and all supporters for their understanding,” Kane said.

AFLW fixture chaos continues with more games under threat

The AFL Women’s fixture continues to be a moving feast with at least one game potentially on the move this weekend.

The Herald Sun understands that plans are underway for Friday night’s clash between Gold Coast and Richmond to be moved to Sunday.

The league also has to consider the imminent future of Fremantle and West Coast who remain in Victoria for this weekend’s games, but could have difficulty going home because the WA border is closed.

Richmond star Monique Conti in action against the Dockers on Saturday. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

It comes as two delayed games still remain without times slot - both the Western Bulldogs-Brisbane clash and the Bulldogs-Gold Coast clash have to be rescheduled.

The Lions’ meeting with Gold Coast and the Bulldogs’ clash with Carlton were called off in Round 3.

As part of fixturing on the run, Brisbane will play Carlton on Tuesday night in a rescheduled Round 3 game.

The league has maintained that the fixture remains a week-to-week proposition as it navigates clubs being hit by covid isolation protocols and also border rules.

It says it will be led by the advice of respective state governments and health officials.

With travel plans to consider, it is endeavouring to make decisions as quickly as possible in order to allow clubs and players - many of whom work and study - adequate planning time.

The Dogs have played just one game this season after weeks of being affected by isolation rules that decimated its playing stocks.

“Disappointed not to play again this weekend but absolutely the right decision for our team’s health and safety,” skipper Ellie Blackburn posted on Instagram on Sunday.

“We’re even more disappointed to not play with it being Pride Round, something our club takes great pride in being a part of.”

Originally published as AFLW 2022: GWS Giants forward Haneen Zreika breaks her silence after refusing to wear club’s pride jumper