Manunda Hawks in AFL Cairns set to drop senior women’s team for the upcoming season

A footy club at the centre of a sexism row has been rocked for a second time following revelations about the future of its women’s team. Full details here.

Cairns City Lions v Manunda Hawks preliminary final at Cazalys Stadium. AFLW Cairns 2024. Photo: Gyan-Reece Rocha

Manunda Hawks have dropped a bombshell on the eve of the AFL Cairns season, confirming the withdrawel of its women’s team for the 2025 season in the aftermath of a sexism row.

The women’s side, which won the premiership just two seasons ago, won’t be taking to the field this year as the fallout from the sexism allegations that engulfed the club last week continue to reverberate throughout the club.

In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon and signed off by club president Andrew Welsford, the club revealed it would not field a senior women’s side in 2025 in order to get it “operating correctly” for 2026 and beyond.

“Unfortunately we will not be fielding a senior women’s team in 2025 with a lot of work to be done in this area to get it operating correctly in 2026,” the statement said

“We are already working on a coach/operations person for the women’s team to assist with this process.”

It’s a dramatic twist of fate for a club which has made finals the past three seasons including winning the 2023 premiership.

Welsford was contacted for additional comment and declined.

More to come.

Originally published as Manunda Hawks in AFL Cairns set to drop senior women’s team for the upcoming season