AFLW 2022: Abhorrent conditions laid bare with players subjected to coachroach infested facilities

Male staff were forced to share toilets with female players and cockroaches visible in change rooms as major issues with AFLW matchday conditions were again laid bare.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 16: Nicola Barr of the Giants contests the ball during the round eight AFLW match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Hawthorn Hawks at Henson Park on October 16, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

The AFL is again facing calls to further assess matchday conditions for AFL Women’s players after a Sydney ground came under the spotlight for “awful” changeroom facilities.

Henson Park in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner-west, hosted Greater Western Sydney’s clash with Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon — the third of five games scheduled for the ground this season.

Away team players at Henson Park are provided one room which they must change in, warm up in and then complete their post-match recovery, including ice baths in tubs.

Two toilets were provided for the entire team and all club staff — including males — with players queuing up to use them before the game.

There was no sink in the toilet area with one sink present in the changeroom area.

Two showers with plastic shower curtains were provided, with a number of players simply opting not to shower after the game.

The Herald Sun has also been told by multiple sources that cockroaches were visible in the changerooms.

“You can’t put young women, let alone elite athletes, in places like that — it was just terrible,” one AFLW club insider said.

Another said “it was awful”.

The Herald Sun was also told that some umpires got changed for the game outdoors, with only one room provided to change in and both male and female umpires officiating the game.

The league was contacted for comment but did not answer specific questions about whether it considered the facilities adequate.

Nicola Barr fends off her Hawthorn rival at Henson Park, where facilities came under attack. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

There are plans to upgrade Henson Park — which is touted by council as “one of the jewels in Sydney’s crown”.

Creating “female-friendly changerooms” are a key focus of the redevelopment that is largely funded by the NSW government, council, the AFL and the federal government.

It comes just weeks after Greater Western Sydney star Chloe Dalton lashed facilities provided to Giants players at Ikon Park which included “one gross toilet” and “very old, run-down changerooms”.

AFL Women’s boss Nicole Livingstone was in attendance at Henson Park on Sunday and visited Hawthorn’s changerooms prior to the game.

Hawks coach Bec Goddard said after the game that there was “no doubt” the facilities at the ground needed to be assessed.

“It’s fantastic to play footy wherever we can,” Goddard said.

“And that’s what the girls get to do. It’s their job. They love having it.

“This deck here was absolutely fantastic.

“There’s no doubt that the facilities for AFLW athletes need to be looked at and whether they’re appropriate for our elite women athletes going forward.

“But I’m sure that’s something that the AFL’s looking at.”

A Giants player and her Hawks opponent fly for a marking duel. Pictures: Getty Images

Akec Makur Chuot contests for the ball at the ground which is home to the Newtown Jets.

Henson Park is home to the Newtown Jets — which plays in the NSW Cup rugby league competition — and once upgraded, will be the base for the Sydney AFLW team.

Sydney will host Fremantle at the ground this Saturday afternoon with another match scheduled in Round 10 between the Giants and Gold Coast.

Carlton played at the ground in Round 5, while Sydney and Gold Coast played at the ground last weekend in a period where games have been played at the venue for five straight weeks, prompting the question from some club figures as to why further temporary facilities were not installed at the ground for the month.

Clubs have been made aware of what they may be facing ahead of games at the venue and were encouraged to forewarn their players.

Giants player Dalton said in August that the experience she had earlier this year where players were forced to walk across Ikon Park “in towels and sports bras” to have ice baths was “one of the most offensive things I’ve experienced in my career as a professional athlete”.

“Offensive is probably the best word I can use to describe what it was like,” she said.

The AFL declined to answer specific questions relating to the state of current facilities being provided for AFLW players at Henson Park, but provided the following statement to the Herald Sun:

“As announced in July this year, we are grateful for the support of the Federal and NSW Governments, as well as the Inner West Council who have joined with the AFL in investing in the planned upgrade of the iconic Sydney venue of Henson Park.

“The upgrade of facilities, including improved player changerooms, will ensure that it continues to be an important home for AFLW games in Sydney and families can continue to enjoy the game at one of Sydney’s favourite suburban venues where Australian Football has been played since the 1940s.”

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >