As we approach the fourth AFLW Pride Round this weekend, path-breaking strides in the name of inclusivity and acceptance echo through its women’s league, delineating a path for the men’s counterpart to wholeheartedly embrace diversity.
Groundbreaking progress was made by this Australian sports institution in 2021, as it paved a new pathway for inclusivity with its first dedicated pride round. However, nearly three years later, the AFL, known for its traditional deep-rooted bend, is yet to kindle the spark beyond the yearly match between St Kilda and Sydney.
Saints’ Jesse Wardlaw, a distinguished star of the game, attributes the success of the pride round to the freshness and adaptability of AFLW, home to numerous openly gay players. However, he concedes that the league’s comparative newness may have facilitated the assimilation of an overarching theme of acceptance into the rounds, a prospect that the historic men’s competition may be lagging behind. “Despite our novelty, we are evolving with the times, in contrast to the traditional men’s competition that seems to struggle to keep pace,” Wardlaw candidly noted.
Reflecting on the importance of bringing the conversation to the fore regarding inclusivity, Gab Pound, a formidable defender for Carlton, expresses his hope for the anticipated emergence of openly gay men players, which could steer the AFL towards a full ‘pride’ round. He lauds the steady progress made by AFLW and its community in propelling the conversation towards acceptance and liberation.
An overwhelming endorsement came from the entirety of the 18 clubs, uniting to underline this crucial message, with the league steering clear of controversies that have marred other sports like NRL and NBL in the past year.
A significant departure from these encouraging sentiments came from GWS midfielder Haneen Zreika, the first Muslim woman to play AFLW. She declined to participate in the Pride Round for a third consecutive season due to religious commitments.
Hawthorn’s captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd defines the visibility and recognition accorded to AFLW’s Pride Round as instrumental in fostering an atmosphere of acceptance and security in football. She connects the ski to its source, reflecting on the days of playing women’s football before it was AFLW professionally. The foundations of love, acceptance, and safety that it was built upon have now seeped into AFLW, making every pride round an emblem of unity and acceptance, she concluded.
