AFL rules transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey can’t play in AFLW
BARRED transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey has vowed to accept the AFL’s verdict and play AFLW in 2019 as the league cops a lashing over its process.
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THE AFL has ignored Olympic guidelines by ruling transgender athlete Hannah Mouncey is too strong play AFLW football.
Just 20 hours before Mouncey, 27, was certain to be selected by a Victorian team at the AFLW draft an AFL panel ruled her ineligible.
Not only has she been allowed to play in the Canberra league, she has testosterone levels at just five per cent of the legal threshold for females.
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Mouncey on Tuesday night vowed to accept the AFL’s verdict and play AFLW in 2019 but it is not clear how she can prove her eligibility. A panel of AFL legal and medical experts considered her background, height and strength.
But the Herald Sun understands that their primary concern was the 190cm, 100kg ruckman was too physically dominant for the competition.
The AFL was more worried about Mouncey using her size and strength to defeat opponents than any concern she might injure rivals.
The AFL’s process was on Wednesday night lashed by transgender advocates, the AFLPA and the first openly transgender AFL footballer Emily Rowe.
“I just don’t understand what the AFL’s justification is. What happens if (WNBA star) Liz Cambage wants to play footy,’’ she said, given she was 15cm taller and heavier than most AFLW players.
Mouncey has told the Herald Sun that while she has always been naturally strong she struggles to carry her weight around the ground.
Collingwood, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs had all considered Mouncey a top 10 selection in today’s draft.
She will not launch an appeal despite legal experts saying she had a case.
“While I am extremely disappointed with the AFL’s decision regarding my participation in the AFLW draft, I thank them for the genuine way in which they approached my situation,’’ she said.
Ryan Storr, a researcher in transgender issues and co-founder of advocacy group Proud2Play, believes the AFL’s policies will be challenged.
“This is a really grey area and the decision can be taken to pieces,” he said.
Despite the decision, Mouncey thanked the AFL for its consideration.
“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,” she said.
Good luck to all the girls who nominated for the AFLW draft tomorrow, especially my mates from Canberra. I can’t wait to see you all at the highest level and to play with and against you back in Canberra next year!
— Hannah Mouncey 🤾â€â™€ï¸ (@hannahmouncey1) October 17, 2017
The timing of the decision means she not only has no time for that appeal, there is no process for her to do so under the AFL’s rules.
The Herald Sun revealed last month Mouncey would nominate for the draft after already trying out for a rookie spot with Melbourne.
The AFL said in a statement that Mouncey would have had an “unreasonable advantage” over other AFLW players.
“In this circumstance, the AFL has made a decision that the physical disparity between Hannah and other AFLW players is significant, in that it would have an effect on the AFLW competition and give rise to an unreasonable advantage.
“The subcommittee’s decision took into account the stage of maturity of the AFLW competition, its current player cohort and Hannah’s individual circumstances.
“This decision solely relates to Hannah’s nomination for the 2018 AFLW draft and participation in the 2018 AFLW competition.”
The AFL Players’ Association expressed it’s disappointment with the decision
AFLPA general manager of player relations Brett Murphy said the AFL needed clearer guidelines for dealing with transgender athletes.
“The AFL Players’ Association has been assisting Hannah Mouncey through the draft nomination process and we will continue to support her from both legal and wellbeing perspectives,” he said in a statement.
The matter of AFLW draft eligibility for transgender athletes is complex and the AFL’s decision has the potential to impact members and prospective members of the AFLPA now and into the future.
“No athlete should face such confusion around their eligibility for an elite competition just days out from a draft.
“We have urged the AFL to prioritise the development of guidelines detailing the process and parameters for entry into the AFLW competition, so that Hannah and any other players have a clear understanding of their eligibility.”
jon.ralph@news.com.au
Originally published as AFL rules transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey can’t play in AFLW