May 8th, 2018

May 8th, 2018

Transgender athlete Hannah Mouncey should give up on her dream of playing football because it is unfair for the other women players that she competes against, says AFL legend Chris Judd and respected journalist Caroline Wilson.

The issue of Mouncey playing in the VFLW but excluded from the AFLW this season was discussed again on Footy Classified on Monday night, following earlier comments from Judd that backed the AFL’s decision to prevent her from playing in the elite women’s competition.

Wilson said she had only formed her opinion on the matter after speaking to women players about Mouncey, who has campaigned since 2017 to be allowed to play in the AFLW. She currently plays for the Darebin Falcons in the VFLW.

“I didn’t know what I thought until I spoke to women footballers,” Wilson said.

“Everybody today wants to be themselves, but sometimes to be yourself and you should be allowed to be yourself, you just can’t do everything and in this case Hannah can’t be a footballer.

(Nine) Hannah Mouncey in action for the Darebin Falcons in the VFLW.

“I wouldn’t say that’s the end of the world.”

Judd said he understood the sensitivities around the subject as transgender people were already “marginalised” but the only solution he could see was if a transgender league was formed in the future.

“On a personal level I think it is unfair that just because of the way someone’s born, that they’re not able to play the sport they want,” Judd said.

“But I think if you try and make the world completely fair … it’s unfair for the AFLW players if they’ve got to compete against transgender players.

“I understand that this is a group that already feels marginalised by society, that’s why it’s such a sensitive topic, to then say, ‘No, you can’t be included in this.

“If they can have a transgender league where someday there’s enough transgender athletes that want to play football, and they can invite women into that, that’s a possibility.

“Otherwise you can’t play football.”

(Nine) Hannah Mouncey has spoken about how she nearly quit the game over criticisms.

Judd also wrote a column in The Age on Monday questioning why Mouncey had been cleared to play in the VFLW, a competition below the elite level of the AFLW.

“It’s important that it’s not viewed as the Hannah Mouncey policy, it’s a transgender policy and if they should be allowed to play in the AFLW which they’re currently not, or the VFLW which they currently are, and for me it just doesn’t make any sense,” Judd said.

“They’re not allowed to play in the AFLW but they are allowed to play in the VFLW, especially considering the contact nature of AFL football.

“I spoke to six AFLW players about this issue and none of them would be prepared to comment on it publicly for fear of being labelled a bigot.

“One of them wasn’t sure on her position, and five of them strongly opposed her being able to play, but none of them were prepared to say it on record.”

Mouncey recently wrote in playersvoice.com.au that she had nearly quit the game after Judd’s earlier criticisms.