‘We must be better’: Footy furore as male players rate, trip female team

A football club has made a public apology after reports of disgusting behaviour towards a women’s team as they ran onto a field.

The Knox Football Cub has made a public apology following reports of disgusting behaviour from male players towards an opposing women’s team.

A report emerged on Monday players from the Melbourne suburban football club rated and attempted to trip over players from the Donvale women’s team as they ran out onto the ground on the weekend.

As 3AW’s Jacqui Felgate revealed, male Knox players were involved in the incident as the Donvale players returned to the field for the second half of their match.

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“As the women ran out at half time, male players from Knox lined up on either side of the race, and yelled at ratings for each player,” she said.

“They held out their legs to trip the women over and used the phrases yes, no, mediocre, rating each female player. The players were rightly upset but they played out the rest of the game.

“We’re talking about adult men here who choose to threaten and intimidate female players who are out on a weekend playing a game that they love - football. This is suburban footy. Women play footy. Now get over it.

Jacqui Felgate was the first to report the incident. Photo: Facebook and Knox Football Club.

“I hope the men that did this, that subjected women to more foul aggressive behaviour, are held to account. I don’t know exactly how many were involved ... I’ve been told more than 20 other players watched it happen and didn’t speak up.”

The incident happened one week after AFL clubs held a minute of silence before matches in Round 8, with players standing arm in arm to take a united stance on violence against women.

Felgate said the eastern Melbourne football competition was also staging its own domestic violence awareness round during the weekend’s matches.

“A minute’s silence was held at this very ground as a mark of respect. And at the same game women are rated yes, no, mediocre,” she said.

“How utterly awful and how utterly exhausting that we’re still at the point where women can’t play sport without being objectified.”

She said the Donvale club was unwilling to comment while an investigation continues.

“Knox Football Club has told us in a statement that this kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable,” she said.

“They’re deeply concerned by the incident and that they do not tolerate this kind of behaviour towards women. An investigation is now underway and they’ve extended their deepest apologies to the Donvale footy club.”

Port Adelaide star Travis Boak was one of many football commentators to denounce the behaviour.

“We have to be better than this,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Surely has to be more than just an apology.”

Former Hockeyroos star turned Channel 7 AFL presenter Georgie Parker wrote: “This is such f***ing loser behaviour”.

Knox released a statement on Monday with a letter sent by Knox Football and Netball Club president Paul Blair.

“To Knox Football Netball Club community, you may be aware of an incident that occurred at half time in the women’s game where KFNC Players made antisocial behaviour or behaviour that is disrespectful towards the Donvale Women’s Players,” Blair said.

“Behaviour of this kind is completely unacceptable at our club, and we are deeply concerned by the incident.

“As soon as we were made aware of the incident we immediately launched an investigation.

“We are committed to take firm action to ensure that our community are aware that we condemn this type of behaviour.

The AFL Sherrin. Pictures: Supplied.

“We have extended our deepest apologies to the Donvale Football club, and will continue to work closely with them and the EFNL to keep them informed on the outcome and actions we will take as a result of our investigation.

“The safety of all players is paramount and we do not tolerate antisocial behaviour or behaviour that is disrespectful to women.

“As a Club we take this matter seriously and will be taking a strong stance on this, as this is not what we stand for as a Club and we do not condone these actions.”

The incident comes after Melbourne’s eastern suburbs were shocked by revelations students from an elite school in Croydon Hills circulated a list ranking their female classmates.

The list, which ranked female students at Yarra Valley Grammar school from “wifey” to “unrapeable”, created uproar last week, with more than 100 former students signing a petition calling for serious consequences.

Principal Mark Merry sent a letter to parents last week advising them that two of the students have been expelled from the school, while two others faced disciplinary action.

Originally published as ‘We must be better’: Footy furore as male players rate, trip female team