A NEW study into women's attitudes towards sexual misconduct in the AFL has found women don't always blame footballers for creating trouble.

More than 80 women, all AFL supporters or club members, were interviewed for the study, which found that women's reactions to allegations of sexual assault ranged from disgust, to blaming the victim, to suggestions that sexually aggressive women target footballers.

The study was sparked by allegations of sexual assault against AFL players in 2004.

In the past year the AFL has dealt with allegations of rape against former St Kilda player Andrew Lovett and of sexual assault against Brisbane's Brendan Fevola, as well as investigated the relationship two Saints players had with a Melbourne schoolgirl who became pregnant.

The study's co-author, Deakin University's Dr Peter Mewett, said three general responses dominated when discussing sexual misconduct.