Darcy Vescio opens up on how she deals with AFLW haters and why she feels a duty to stand up to them

EXCLUSIVE: When AFLW sar Darcy Vescio reads comments like “get back in the kitchen” she feels compelled to make a stand for all women and young girls. Here’s why comments from trolls and haters can be so harmful to the women around you.

Darcy Vescio has drawn a cartoon to help show AFLW haters the impact of what they say on women around them.

After Tayla Harris stood up to people trolling a picture of her online we have re-published this column written by Darcy Vescio in February in which she explains why she feels compelled to make a stand for all women and young girls when it comes to haters.

When the AFLW season is in full swing it inevitably coincides with trolling and I often get asked how I handle reading and hearing demeaning comments.

Mostly, I talk about the importance of staying level — not getting caught up in the highs but also not allowing the negativity to get me down.

It’s easy to say “don’t worry about the haters, there are plenty of people who love what you’re doing”.

But the truth is when I read comments like “get back in the kitchen”, I feel compelled to make a stand for all the women and young girls who don’t have the platform I do.

Darcy Vescio is using her growing AFLW stardom to stand up against haters. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

What motivates someone to write or say something like that? Obviously that person feels entitled and hasn’t thought about the women reading it.

They haven’t thought about the young girls reading the comments section out of curiosity.

They haven’t thought about the young boys seeing adults — maybe their dad, their brother, a family member or friend — say such hurtful remarks and model their behaviour on them. They might have a daughter, they might not but, regardless, they have women in their life who are impacted by their words.

If someone is willing to spit fire on social media, it actually reveals more about them than anything else.

If someone is watching AFLW and says players are “useless and shouldn’t be paid a cent”, it speaks volumes of the opportunities they believe women should be afforded.

Carlton AFLW player Darcy Vescio’s artwork she hopes will help educate people about how negativity against the sport impacts women around them.

It may not impact us as AFLW players — we have incredible support networks around us and if we’re struggling we have the backing of our teammates, we have mental health services available to us and supporters who understand where the game has come from and where we want to go.

But who’s supporting those who aren’t in that position? Who’s supporting the little girl who overhears these comments being spat at the TV?

Who supports the quiet co-worker who has to listen to this on their lunch break?

Who’s reassuring the women and young girls who’ve been inspired by AFL Women’s and are considering taking the amazing step of wanting to play footy, that they can take that step?

Vescio is the key to Carlton’s AFLW hopes. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

By talking about AFLW and challenging ‘the haters’, together we can disrupt the pattern.

I’m proud to say I’ve noticed a shift in the amount of people supporting us and calling out those who put us and the sport down.

In the past, when I read the comments I left feeling flat and upset that someone would take time out of their day to insult us.

But I no longer feel the need to justify our existence as women in football because those who choose to question that are looking more and more out of place thanks to the people standing up to them.

While I might cop criticism for this, so be it because it’s bigger than me and it’s bigger than football.

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Originally published as Darcy Vescio opens up on how she deals with AFLW haters and why she feels a duty to stand up to them