Katie Brennan happy to make a difference in AFLW despite the pain of missing grand final

Katie Brennan was denied a premiership medallion but she believes she has “left a mark” on the game after successfully campaigning to have the AFLW tribunal rules changed.

Western Bulldogs star Katie Brennan believes she has “left a mark” on the game after successfully campaigning on equal opportunity to have the AFLW tribunal rules brought into line with the AFL.

Brennan fought for the imbalance between the men’s and women’s competition to be corrected after she was suspended from the Bulldogs’ grand final victory last year.

An AFL player would have been fined for the action.

“I am all for protecting players, but I also think it is important that girls to be able to have the equal opportunity to be able to get off (suspension) and pay a fine,” she said at her club’s AFLW season launch.

“Given our season is so short, girls just want to play football — it is important that there is a fine system in place so girls can get back to playing as soon as possible.

Katie Brennan has left her mark on the AFLW. Picture: Jay Town

“Although it was a really tough time for me, to have left a mark on the competition is really important.”

“As hard as the whole thing was, missing the grand final, I think it is a step forward for the competition and if a girl findsherself in the same situation she will be able to play.”

Brennan copped a two-week ban last March for a sling tackle on Melbourne player Harriet Cordner.

Her actions would have resulted in a reprimand, but she was suspended because it was her second offence.

Brennan filed proceedings with the Australian Human Rights Commission seeking to have the ban overturned and for AFLW rules to be brought into line with men’s.

The AFL agreed to change and the action was dropped.

Brennan on stage with captain Ellie Blackburn after the Bulldogs’ grand final win. Picture: Mark Stewart

Brennan said she was fully recovered from an off-season ankle reconstruction and ready help the reigning premiers go forward into 2019.

“I guess you go from hunting to the hunted, and we acknowledge that,” she said.

“As the premiers we know the recipe for success and that is what all the other teams want to know — and I think that givesyou a leg up in a way, but you can’t be complacent about it and you have to keep building on the foundation you have laid.”

“We have continued to work on our game plan over the pre-season and worked really hard on our fitness. I guess with that youhope it will take you to new levels.”

Originally published as Katie Brennan happy to make a difference in AFLW despite the pain of missing grand final