Outspoken footy star Mitch Brown has drawn a connection between a comment made by Gold Coast Suns coach Damian Hardwick and the rates of violence against women and children in Australia. Hardwick's remark, made in a post-game press conference, followed a melee during the Suns' loss to Collingwood.
During the match, which saw 21 players charged with melee involvement, a scuffle occurred when Brayden Maynard attempted to reach Ben Long and made contact with an umpire. In the subsequent press conference, when asked about the incident, Hardwick stated, "oh, just a melee it's hard to see isn't it, players everywhere. So it is what it is. You know the game's a pretty important game for both sides, physical game so at the end of the day, boys will be boys."
Former West Coast star Brown took issue with Hardwick's concluding phrase, "boys will be boys," describing it as "excusatory language for male behaviour." In a video posted to Instagram, Brown argued that such casual language from leaders is harmful, especially in a context where "men killing women and children on a weekly basis here in Australia" is a significant issue. He added, "we need to expect more."
Brown further elaborated in his Instagram post caption, stating, "I have been in my fair share of sporting melees, but in a world where rates of men’s violence are only increasing, this kind of excusing language and approach isn’t good enough."
Supporters responded positively to Brown's remarks, with many thanking him for initiating the conversation. One user shared an experience from a game, observing young boys cheering for a fight while their parents did the same, questioning how to shift male culture without such discussions. Another commenter noted Maynard's visible anger during the melee, describing him as looking "scary."
According to reports from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for 2024-25, a woman was killed every 11 days in Australia.