Women's Forum Australia has lodged an appeal with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, urging him to intervene in the decision to allow transgender footballer Freya Golding to continue playing in the Adelaide Footy League's women's competition. The group's appeal comes after three clubs raised concerns about player safety.
The AFL's Gender Diversity Policy Committee recently determined that Golding's participation did not pose an unacceptable safety risk to other players. Golding, who previously played in the league's men's competition, was cleared to continue playing in the women's league after the committee's review.
Stephanie Bastiaan, head of advocacy for Women's Forum Australia, argued in a letter to Dillon that the committee's ruling endangers female players and called for a reassessment of the AFL's community football policy. Bastiaan cited an incident earlier this year where Golding reportedly made a heavy bump on an opponent, leaving the player in visible pain. This incident, she stated, prompted the three clubs to raise duty-of-care concerns.
Bastiaan also claimed to have spoken with female footballers at community and state levels who sustained serious injuries after competing against transgender players. These included a concussion that reportedly forced a student to withdraw from her studies and another collision resulting in stomach surgery. She asserted that the AFL could legally exclude players under Section 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, which allows for exclusions based on strength, stamina, or physique.
"The AFL is not being asked to do something the law prohibits; it is being asked to use a protection provided under Australian law for the safety and fairness of women and girls in sport," Bastiaan wrote. She also highlighted a perceived disparity in eligibility requirements between elite and community levels, noting that while AFLW and state league players must meet low testosterone levels, community league players are generally permitted to compete if they identify as women.
Sall Grover, founder of Giggle for Girls, echoed these concerns, suggesting that inclusion pressures are being applied to women's football without a similar emphasis on the men's league. Grover stated that sporting categories should be based on biological sex rather than gender identity, arguing that "Sport is played by bodies not identities."
Golding has previously refuted claims of holding a significant physical advantage or dominating opponents. "I'm not the biggest and tallest player getting around," Golding stated earlier this year, adding, "And by no means am I a dominant player. I've had some good moments, but it's rare I get in the best players. I just want to play the sport I love with a great group of people and I've been so lucky to do that this year."
Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan also expressed criticism of the AFL's review process, describing it as the organization "marking its own homework." Kernahan maintained that the league's concerns were based on observations of player safety at the community level and that the league felt participant safety required them to act, despite accepting the AFL committee's final ruling.
The AFL committee's decision allows for further assessment if new information emerges that could alter its findings. The Australian Sports Commission, in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission, has provided guidelines on gender diversity in community sports, emphasizing inclusivity and respect for all participants.