A Collingullie Wagga Demons assistant coach has stepped down after making misogynistic remarks towards his own players during an online stream of a local women’s AFL game.

“Well, we’ve got a real issue in our society overall, with the body shape of our women. They’re our breeders, mate,” the unnamed coach said.

The second participant in the stream condoned these comments, consistently agreeing with the remarks.

“Even the young girls you know, the body shapes are all wrong. You think about when we were growing up, you know the body shapes of girls. You hardly saw any fat girls,” the coach said.

In response to the incident, the Collingullie Wagga Demons club has stated the assistant coach has stepped down from his club commitments.

“We take this matter extremely seriously and are currently working closely with the AFL to address the situation,” the club stated.

Misogyny in Public Discourse 

This incident contributes to the rise in conservative views amongst men. A recent Ipsos and King’s College London study, which surveyed 23,000 people worldwide, found that almost a third of Gen Z men believe a wife should obey her husband.

Lauren Rosewarne, an Associate Professor in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne, spoke to Farrago about the current state of misogyny in common public discourse.

When asked about the phenomenon of men not critiquing the misogynistic behaviours of other men, Professor Rosewarne detailed how some of these men choose this avenue to either avoid being “shamed or mocked or considered soft” or because they simply don’t see the misogynistic aspects of such language and actions.

The fact that this incident was livestreamed caused it to be vastly shared online. Professor Rosewarne details the repercussions of this.

“The mainstreaming of misogyny works to normalise it.”

Professor Lauren continued to unpack how this platform comes with some advantages as it “showcase[s] that there are still many people who consider such attitudes to not be revolting.”

Melbourne University Women's Football Club 

Despite this, there are a plethora of clubs and communities supporting women in AFL.

At the University of Melbourne, the Melbourne University Women’s Football Club (MUWFC) wants to keep creating inviting environments for women to play football.

MUWFC Co-President Michelle Andrews spoke to Farrago, “MUWFC was forged by women creating a safe space for women to play football. At that time, women were even more of a minority in footy than what they are now.” 

Established in 1996, the MUWFC is the oldest female led football club in the country, and has five seniors premierships to its name.

But the club is focused on more than simply winning games; they’re focused on supporting the community.

“I feel like I can play my best football because I know every player, coach, support staff and committee member is behind me,” MUWFC player Gabby McDonald said.

In previous years, the club has enforced action plans and crafted strategies to tackle issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community, First Nations peoples, sustainability and mental health.

“Paving the way for women has bled through to paving the way for many different groups. Everyone deserves a place to play this game,” Andrews said.

From 2022 to 2025, the club initiated a series of action plans including its “MUWFC Pride Strategy”, which details the ways the club would facilitate the needs of the queer community through education, advocacy and support, and policy.

“The LGBTQ+ community has always been a part of our inclusive nature and that isn’t going to change. We want everyone at Melbourne University and in our community to feel welcome and enjoy playing footy together.”

This support isn’t taken for granted by the club’s players, or the “Mugars” as they are nicknamed.

“Many Mugars identify with the Queer community, and I feel MUWFC is the most inclusive space I’ve been a part of. We are all stronger due to our diversity, our strong stance on social issues,” said Megan Gilmore, an MUWFC player and committee member.

This sport is currently dealing with the issue of women not feeling comfortable playing the game due to gender-based setbacks within clubs.

A study conducted by researchers from both Federation University and Victoria University found women’s teams in male-dominated sports struggle to maintain support from their clubs.

Some women’s teams reported they were pushed aside to make space for their male counterparts. The study also found that their participation retention was “much lower” compared to men’s teams.

“We need girls and women to keep playing the game, keep training, keep learning. We are seeing a drop off in senior players across all clubs at the moment and we need to find ways to encourage women to keep playing once they hit Under 19’s and beyond,” Andrews said.

One of the ways MUWFC is aiming to rectify this issue is by encouraging community involvement in the club’s operations. The club is working to utilise UniMelb students to further connect the student cohort to the team.

Future initiatives plan on utilising the skills of the UniMelb’s students. This possibly includes those studying physiotherapy who can potentially develop experience as sports trainers for the club, and dentistry students who can make mouth guards for the players.

“There are both challenges and advantages inherent to being a university football club, but the university—especially MU Sport—have made it clear that they are willing to work with us and support us in any way they are able,” McDonald said.

Above all, MUWFC is currently highlighting the advantages of women playing AFL. From the physical benefits of agility, strength and stamina to the not so obvious advantages of strategy and socialisation, the rewards outweigh the costs for women playing the sport.

“I think all UniMelb students should get involved in representing their university through sport. For me, it has added so many dimensions to my studies and helped me grow in confidence and leadership, making me a well-rounded individual ready for my future career,” Gilmore said.

The MUWFC is currently welcoming new players of all skill levels and all gender identities. 

Image Source: MUWFC