Western Bulldogs AFLW skipper Katie Brennan will be able to play in round one next season after settling her differences with the league over her controversial grand-final ban.
Brennan missed the Dogs’ first women’s premiership after an appeal against a two-match suspension had been dismissed.
She took her grievance to the Australian Human Rights Commission, but that was dropped after the AFL agreed to amend the penalty system for the women’s competition.
The AFL acknowledges that the sanction regime established by the League for the women’s game differs from the men’s game. This regime was established in good faith and in consultation and agreement with the players through the AFLPA in 2016.
The AFL, Katie Brennan and the Western Bulldogs have agreed that, in the post-season review conducted by the AFL into all aspects of the AFLW season, the AFL will amend the differences in the sanctions regime to ensure AFLW players are not more likely to be suspended than men for identical conduct with identical disciplinary records.
The AFL has agreed that this change will mean that Katie Brennan will be available for selection for the first game of 2019.
The AFL thanks Katie and the Western Bulldogs for advocating for the changes, and they will be incorporated into the broader review of all aspects of the game in the coming months.
The AFL has invited Katie to be included in the consultation process and Katie has accepted the invitation.
Katie Brennan:
“I am delighted the AFL has taken the time and responded to review and adjust the rules. I look forward to working collaboratively with the AFL, along with fellow players in the future. The decision to push for change in the rules at this vital time of development reflects the passion I have for the game and the future generations of our sport. The competition is still in its early days and that means it requires appropriate care and support for the growth and sustainability.”
“It has been a great privilege to be part of the AFLW Competition over the last two years; a league that has provided so much opportunity for women and girls of all ages to play Australia’s game. I would personally like to thank Peter Gordon and the Western Bulldogs for their exceptional support and guidance during this time. I look forward to my road to recovery and returning for round one in 2019.” Ms Brennan said.
The Human Rights commission has been notified that the matter has been resolved.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Please try to understand context - the original poster Ben suggested maybe they should pay the same fines as the men my comment was related to that - I do not believe they should be paid the same as men yet nor do I believe that pay levels should be based on gender
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Read what the AFL have said - the whole basis for their decision was that the penalty in the men’s comp for these offences would have been fines otherwise there was no issue. You may disagree that the original finding should have been like Dangerfields but it was not and so it is irrelevant to this decision.....understand?
I ate pies
Guest
Hahaha. Pay me $500,000 a year to not be able to kick and for no one to watch me, go on. Or do you base your assessment purely on the sex of the person playing?
I ate pies
Guest
That's just not true. Case in point, Patrick Dangerfield last year. And she did it twice! What is it that you cannot understand?
Penster
Roar Guru
Good outcome for a game changer and establishing fair, reasonable and proportionate sanctions.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
If she was in the men’s comp for those tackles she would have been fined not suspended and that is the whole point of the argument what is it you cannot understand.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Maybe if they got paid the same they would n’t mind paying the same fines
I ate pies
Guest
What unintended consequences? She did the same dangerous tackle twice; she deserved to get suspended. Let's face it, this is only an "issue" because it was the grand final. Any other week no one would have batted an eyelid. A dangerous tackle is a dangerous tackle, regardless of the sex of the player. Players need to be protected.
Kurt
Guest
Poor you. Did a woman get the promotion you think you deserved at work?
Kurt
Guest
Really? There are always going to be some issues when implementing a new competition and a few unintended consequences from decisions taken in good faith at the time.
I ate pies
Guest
She still got to celebrate like she was on the field. That whole copying Bob thing was really poor form; she let her teammates down by getting suspended twice then pretended it wasn’t her fault that she wasn’t playing.
Ben
Roar Guru
I wonder how the other AFLW players will feel about paying fines, and losing most of their pay packet because of one selfish player? And although there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of it happening. But it would be great if the AFLW started handing them fines like the man get, to perhaps show Brennan what real equality looks like.
Ben
Roar Guru
Who cares, she knew the rules. You can't just accept the rules when it suits you.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It may have been resolved, but the upshot is that Katie Brennan still missed out on playing in a grand final.
I ate pies
Guest
So the AFL backed down based on the sex of the player. Welcome to modern Australia. Of course, the women's competition is different to the men's competition so by extension it's quite reasonable that the penalties for transgression would be different. But alas, the women want to have their cake and eat it. This whole episode is a blight on women's footy.