A series of events across Victorian community football clubs has brought into sharp focus issues of league entry disputes, alleged discriminatory conduct, and broader challenges faced by women and gender-diverse individuals in Australian sport. The Kyneton Wedge-Tailed Eagles women's football team recently secured entry into the Central Victorian Football League (CVFL) after a year-long dispute. This involved an appeal by another league and allegations of biased comments.
Separately, the captain of a women's team at Box Hill North Football Club resigned following the club's handling of inappropriate costumes worn by the men's leadership team. These incidents occur amidst ongoing discussions about increasing participation rates for women in sport, coupled with concerns about retention due to systemic inequities and reporting failures regarding discrimination and harassment.
Kyneton Wedge-Tailed Eagles Secure League Entry Amidst Dispute
The Kyneton Women's Football Club (KWFC), which later became the Wedge-Tailed Eagles, was formed as an independent club in 2024. This followed its separation from the Kyneton Football Netball Club (KFNC). KWFC cited claims of disrespect and inequitable treatment from KFNC, claims which KFNC denied, asserting its commitment to inclusivity.
The Wedge-Tailed Eagles initially faced rejection from three competitions for the 2025 season, including the Riddell District Football League (RDFNL), where many of its players had previously competed. The Central Victorian Football League (CVFL) subsequently accepted KWFC's application for the 2026 season with unanimous approval. However, AFL Victoria intervened, blocking this entry after an appeal was lodged by the RDFNL.
AFL Victoria's appeal board considered factors including the long-term sustainability of the club, potential impacts on established participation pathways at existing clubs, and uncertainty regarding facility provisions. The club disputed facility concerns, stating a local council had allocated them a ground.
Weeks after the AFL Victoria appeal board's decision, Brenton Knott, president of the RDFNL, was alleged to have made comments in a leaked message to a supporter, reportedly discussing KWFC's application. The message was said to contain statements such as, "it's not about footy, it's about grooming and gender weirdness." KWFC reported this alleged message to the AFL integrity unit for review.
KWFC stated deep disturbance over the public message and its use of "harmful and offensive language in relation to gender diversity and inclusion in football."
Knott has reportedly denied making these specific comments and stated he is exploring legal advice. KWFC President Natalie Korinfsky expressed concerns about potential bias influencing the appeal board, citing Knott's position of authority. A previous AFL Victoria review into the circumstances of the women's team's separation from KFNC has not had its findings publicly released, with KWFC calling for their disclosure.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan expressed support for the team, hoping the rejections would not deter young female footballers and emphasizing equal participation in sport. Following a year-long dispute, the Wedge-Tailed Eagles Football Club has since been approved to play in the Central Victorian Football League. The Kyneton Tigers did not field a women's team in 2025 but are scheduled to return to the RDFNL in 2026.
Box Hill North Football Club Addresses Inappropriate Conduct
At Box Hill North Football Club (BHNFC), the women's senior captain, Genna Krienke, 25, resigned in August 2025 following the circulation of photos of the men's senior leadership team in inappropriate costumes. The photos were taken during the men's team's "Silly Saturday" post-season celebrations.
One photo depicted the men's senior team captain dressed as a schoolgirl, which Krienke identified as mimicking an individual making sexual assault allegations against public figures. Another photo showed the deputy vice-captain in full body blackface with an attached large penis costume. The blackface photo reportedly remained on Instagram for over three months.
Krienke reported the schoolgirl costume to BHNFC in August 2025. She stated that after initial communication, she did not receive further updates for a month and a half. In mid-October, she initiated another meeting, informing the club about the blackface photo and learning that no action had been taken regarding the first photo. Krienke indicated that the club committed to taking action in January 2026, only after media inquiries.
BHNFC released a statement apologizing for "any offence caused" by the end-of-season gathering, acknowledging that "certain costumes and associated social media posts were inappropriate."
The club stated it "strongly condemns this behaviour" and escalated the issue to its governing body, the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), which consulted AFL Victoria for guidance on next steps.
BHNFC also committed to strengthening education, reinforcing its code of conduct, drafting a new disciplinary policy, and requiring committee sanction for future events. The club reiterated that it does not support "Mad Monday" or "Silly Saturday" events.
Krienke cited the delayed response and the need for media intervention as factors in her decision to resign, aiming to emphasize the unacceptability of the behavior. Approximately five other women's players were reported to be considering leaving the club. Krienke also noted previous experiences with misogyny, sexual harassment, and sexual assault at a former club, advocating for more education to address the consequences of jokes about sexual assault within sports club culture.
Broader Challenges for Women in Australian Community Sport
These incidents highlight broader systemic issues affecting women and gender-diverse individuals in Australian community sport, despite record participation rates for women and girls in football. Research indicates that while participation is increasing in traditionally male-dominated sports, retention rates for women and girls are significantly lower compared to men and boys.
A report by Federation University and Victoria University, based on 15 interviews, found that many clubs, originally established by and for males, struggle to adapt to and accept women and girls as integral parts of their environment. This often results in male teams being prioritized for resources such as fields, courts, and coaching.
Insights from the "Change Our Game State of Play" survey (July 2023), involving 670 Victorians, showed that:
- 28 percent of women in community sport had considered leaving their clubs due to inequitable treatment.
- Over half reported experiencing gendered discrimination.
- 55 percent witnessed or experienced sexist language and jokes.
Common issues reported include:
- Uneven resource allocation, with women's teams often receiving less than half of an oval for training.
- Avoidance of post-training social gatherings due to "locker-room chat."
- Difficulties in addressing concerns with leagues and clubs, particularly regarding fixture scheduling, match timing, and unequal access to trainers.
Natalie Korinfsky, president of the Wedge-Tailed Eagles, asserted that the primary barrier to women's sport is not participation, but governance, encompassing policies, structures, and cultural assumptions that have not progressed with the game's growth.
Reporting Failures and Proposed Solutions
Multiple athletes have reported experiences of sexual harassment and abuse within Australian sport, alongside difficulties encountered during the reporting process. These accounts include:
- A 19-year-old moguls skier who reported sexual harassment by an older male teammate and felt "guilty" afterwards, suggesting a need for more formal reporting processes.
- A swimmer who reported years of emotional abuse and harassment, with her coach reportedly denying incidents and protecting the male athlete.
- An athlete who reported being raped by a national team head coach, with the investigation reportedly taking months and the sporting organization covering it up.
- Observations of "out of control" sexual harassment from male coaches in rowing, including sexualized comments, leading to reluctance to report due to perceived inaction.
- Reports from anonymous athletes of sexual comments from male squad members being dismissed by surf clubs, and men in coaching positions with abuse complaints continuing to hold and advance in their roles.
Research from La Trobe University, the University of Sydney, and Victoria University on gender-based violence against women in sport identified that policies were often unclear, individuals did not know where to report, and reports frequently led to no action, dismissal, or suggestions to "get used to it." These issues contributed to disillusionment and women leaving sport, with common complaints including not being believed, losing opportunities, and facing intimidating legal processes.
Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) oversees matters such as anti-doping, match-fixing, and child safeguarding, but its remit does not specifically cover gender-based violence or safeguarding for individuals over 18, unless the sport is signed up to the National Integrity Framework. Lisa Purves, SIA Director of Safeguarding, stated that addressing gendered violence requires cultural change within sports, not just a reactive approach.
Suggested solutions to improve reporting systems and club culture include:
- Updating existing policies.
- Using a trauma-informed approach in handling reports.
- Utilizing publicly available toolkits, such as "Safe to Speak, Bound to Act," designed for sports leaders to respond to gender-based violence.
- Advocating for more women in leadership roles to foster trust and support within sports organizations.