Hannah Mouncey’s exclusion from AFLW by the AFL is a disgrace, writes Mark Robinson
HANNAH Mouncey was knocked back from the AFLW because she is too big and strong. That’s the AFL’s reason, they just didn’t want to say it, says Mark Robinson.
Mark Robinson
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HANNAH Mouncey was knocked back from the AFLW because she is too big and too strong.
You wouldn’t have read that in Tuesday’s official announcement from the AFL because they didn’t want to say it.
It’s got nothing to do with anything else.
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So, people wondering about a man becoming a woman and all the complications which go with that, just park your curiosity.
Mouncey’s physical attributes precluded her from playing semi-professional sport, which is AFLW.
Her position as a transgender woman allows her to represent Australia at the Olympics because her testosterone levels are way below IOC guidelines and allowed her to play for Ainslie in Canberra in a non-professional capacity.
But it does not allow her to play AFLW.
Mouncey is 190cm and 100kg.
That puts her in the range of Cam Pedersen (193, 99) and Tom McDonald (194, 101), take a few centimetres.
It seems the women currently playing in the competition need protection from Mouncey.
While some of the women playing might voice concerns about her, the majority of women I’ve encountered have the same verve and competitiveness as the men and would treat Mouncey as just another big lump of an opponent.
Remember, there’s not a lot of fear in these women.
But the AFL believe otherwise.
They believe the current bunch of women are too meek, too mild and too soft to handle the might of Mouncey.
It’s rubbish. The women’s game needs more skill and precision, but it doesn’t lack for heart and aggression.
Look at Lily Mithen. She’s 159cm and competes like a demon.
If elite football is open to women, and Mouncey is recognised as a woman, then women of all sizes and shapes should be allowed to play.
It’s the mantra for football from day one.
It’s why we had Tony Lockett and Tony Liberatore on the same field. Big Carl Ditterich and thin Robbie Flower. And last season, Shane Mumford and Caleb Daniel.
Football is partly about confronting fears and confronting — and avoiding — bigger opponents.
The AFL has its arguments, despite them not being clearly revealed.
The league thinks the current competition isn’t ready for Mouncey.
Next year it might be. The AFL banned Mouncey from this year’s draft, but will allow her to apply again next year, when, to use the words of the league, the “maturity of the AFLW competition (and) its current player cohort” presumably will be stronger.
The ruling has given Mouncey hope and you just can’t imagine the AFL slamming the door in her face for the second time.
Inclusion? Try exclusion.
The AFL should be disappointed in itself for ruling on Mouncey a day before the AFLW draft.
It’s believed Mouncey was aware of the outcome late last week, but it once again smacks of policy-making on the run from headquarters.
Surely they knew the transgender issue would become reality in their competition.
In late September, the AFL put up a YES sign at Docklands in support of gay marriage and it wasn’t lost on anyone that the AFLW has a lesbian base, which is separate to the national debate.
The AFL pats itself on the back in its promotion of inclusion and diversity and love, but sadly for Mouncey she doesn’t qualify under those parameters.
Inclusion it seems is not for everyone and frankly that is a disgrace.
It is a confusing and sad situation because Mouncey has basic human rights.
You have to feel for her.
She doesn’t want to be the face for transgender people. All she wants to do is play footy.
Colleague Alistair Paton tweeted: “Can’t imagine how tough it would be to not fit neatly into society’s idea of what gender should be. We shouldn’t make it harder.”
Can’t disagree.
Mouncey is currently a lost soul and the AFL hasn’t helped her, preferring to protect its competition instead.
Originally published as Hannah Mouncey’s exclusion from AFLW by the AFL is a disgrace, writes Mark Robinson