Trans footballer says she doesn’t agree with AFL’s decision to ban her
Image: Image: Channel Nine.
Trans footballer Hannah Mouncey has appeared on television to discuss being trans and her controversial ban from this year’s AFLW draft.
Speaking to 60 Minutes, Mouncey said she discovered she was trans in her twenties.
“It’s not a decision, it’s just not,” she said.
“It’s difficult. It’s even been to the point where I thought, if I could just make this better for everyone else, have all my friends back, go back to being Cullen—the thing is I just can’t.
“I know if I was to do that I’d be just as miserable as I was before. It’s not a choice.”
The Canberra player said that although much had been made of her size, she wasn’t much taller than the average cis female player.
Having gracefully accepted the league’s decision a fortnight ago, she opened up to host Peter Stefanovic about her disagreement with the call.
“I feel the game prides itself on being able to be played by anyone,” Mouncey said.
“I obviously don’t agree with what the AFL has done. There’s a dozen girls of my height. I was the tallest [but] within a couple of centimetres.”
Ainslie Football Club coach Chris Rourke said he had initially been concerned about Mouncey having a size advantage, but conceded her skills as a player were “average”.
“She could develop into a really good power forward but she’s got a lot of work in front of her,” Rourke said.
The AFL has said Mouncey may be able to nominate for next year’s draft, but for the 29-year-old player in a sport where most retire around 30, time is getting tight for her to play at AFLW level.
