Nov 5th, 2017

Nov 5th, 2017

Transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey believes the AFL were scared she'd get stronger if recruited to play in the women's competition.

The 28-year-old was barred by the league from this year's draft less than 24 hours before it was held in Melbourne.

“I obviously don't agree with what the AFL has done,” Mouncey said.

She believes the issue that prevented her recruitment was she would put an extra 15kg on to her 190cm, 100kg frame if she started training with a team.

"I think the biggest issue is not necessarily that I'm too big or too strong now," she told Nine Network's 60 Minutes program.

"It's more, 'OK, you're already big, you're already strong, whatever. But what if you were to get into that elite training environment and they were to build you up, put on an extra 15 kilos and you just push everyone aside.'

"But physiologically, that's just not going to happen."

Mouncey takes four pills a day, oestrogen and anti-androgen, and says she has fully transitioned.

"Of course I’m going to have a size advantage over some of the girls,” Mouncey said.

"But I feel the game prides itself on being able to be played by anyone – whether it be little rovers, or your ruck man, or your full forward and forward pocket.

A former Australian men's handball player, Mouncey began gender transition in 2015 and is allowed to play in the Canberra local league.

She's been told she may nominate for future AFLW drafts.

"The AFL sought advice and information from a range of organisations on the issue of transgender participation at the elite level of sport, as well as being responsible to the Australian anti-discrimination legislation,” the AFL’s administrator said in a statement.

"There are specific issues to be considered with some transgender players involving safety and competitiveness, issues linked to individual circumstances. This is recognised at the national and international level in sport."

"The AFL will work with the Human Rights Commission and the Australian Sports Commission to develop a policy, but the most important issue is that each case will be decided by taking into account individual circumstances.

"This was a not a decision to stop transgender people playing the game."

©AAP2017