Donvale player speaks out over alleged ‘hot or not’ ratings from Knox

The Eastern Football Netball league has handed down punishments to one of its clubs after members reportedly rated female players from a rival club from “1-10” or as “hot or not”.

Local footy players and a team officials in Melbourne’s east have been banned after rating female players from a rival club from “1-10” or as “hot or not”.

The Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) handed down the suspensions on Friday night following its investigation into the incident involving the Knox Football Club.

One of the women told the Herald Sun she and her teammates “broke down in tears” and “felt helpless” after being subjected to the comments earlier this month, as Donvale’s women’s team entered the field after halftime in its game against Knox.

A league statement said any players found to have breached the EFNL’s vilification and discrimination policy were suspended for six weeks.

“Further to this, if they are found guilty of any conduct breaching the policy in the next 2 years, they will no longer be able to play in the EFNL,” the statement said.

A Knox team official has been “suspended from duty” for six weeks after being found to have made AFL Laws of the Game 22.2.2 (cc) “through intimidating comments”.

The official will no longer be able to hold any official team position in the EFNL if they are “found guilty of any same or similar conduct”.

Knox will also undergo self-funded educational programs.

The club was also handed a $10,000 fine which has been suspended until the end of the 2025 season.

“As a league, the EFNL does not condone disgraceful behaviour towards any of our participants,” the league statement said.

EARLIER

The “development team” at the Knox Football Netball Club in Melbourne’s east has been stood down indefinitely following reports members started to rate female players from a rival club from “1-10” or as “hot or not”.

One of the women told the Herald Sun she and her teammates “broke down in tears” and “felt helpless” after being subjected to the comments on Saturday, as Donvale’s women’s team entered the field after halftime in its game against Knox.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Knox Football Netball Club said its players displayed “inexcusable behaviour” at the weekend that was “inconsistent with the club and league’s standards”.

“Our internal investigation executed by KFNC in conjunction with Donvale Football Club revealed that the individuals involved were members of our development team,” the statement read.

The development team at Knox Football Netball Club has been stood down indefinitely.

“At the request of KFNC, the Eastern Football Netball League have engaged an independent investigation into the incident to ensure transparency and accountability.

“The KFNC development team has been stood down indefinitely pending the outcome of the independent investigation.

“KFNC are implementing a comprehensive behavioural and domestic violence educational program across the entire club. Participation in this program will be mandatory for all members, with a ‘no education, no play’ rule in effect.

“We understand the gravity of this situation and the importance of taking swift and decisive action.”

One Donvale player speaking to this masthead anonymously described the incident as “overwhelming”.

She said players were already “uncomfortable” before the comments even started.

“It was really hard to take in as we had a game to play but as soon as the game was over and we all realised what happened a lot of us broke down in tears and just felt helpless,” she said.

“Personally I haven’t had anything as full on as this. I’ve had individual men come up to me and say things that aren’t really appropriate but this was a group of 20 men standing, laughing and making comments about us.

“The only thing I want to emphasise is the amount of other men from Knox that were around them not saying anything.

“Unfortunately I really do believe that men aren’t going to stop behaving like this unless other men call it out, they don’t listen to women.”

The victim said a strong punishment needed to be handed down.

“There needs to be a punishment because unfortunately these boys aren’t going to learn unless something like footy gets taken away from them,” she said.

“I think there needs to be education and an outside group that comes in to educate everyone.”

Port Adelaide superstar Travis Boak has also publicly slammed the incident, telling this masthead that he was “sad and angry this could happen in a place like a sporting club”.

“(It) is for the club and the league to handle (the) punishment but is just a sorry going to cut it? Will this affect any change in behaviour,” he said.

Travis Boak has slammed the behaviour. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Photos.

“High standards in regards to respect need to be set in all workplaces and then a high level of support to help educate everyone the importance of being a good human being and the effects it has.

“It’s not about ‘you have done this, you’re a bad person’ but about how you can learn and be better from this because this isn’t the level of respect we have for women and people in our community.”

Boak said it was “up to the males in and around football clubs to promote a great culture of inclusion”.

“No one is above anyone, we are all equal and respect for women and women in sport is a part of being a good human being,” he said.

“This sort of action just doesn’t represent how we should show up in the world particularly towards women and women in football where the game has grown so much and become a huge success in terms of young girls striving to play at the top level and follow their AFL heroes.”

In a statement released on Thursday night, EFNL chief executive Jy Bond said the league was “committed to overseeing a thorough independent investigation process”.

“As a league, the EFNL do not condone or tolerate any disrespectful and intimidating behaviour towards our participants,” he said.