© Hannah Mouncey / Facebook
Hannah Mouncey, who is a former Australian men's handball representative, had requested to be part of this year's Australian Football Women's League (AFLW) draft.
However, a five-person subcommittee formed to evaluate the player's eligibility ruled that Mouncey, who stands 190 cm (6 feet 2 inches) tall and weighs 100 kg (220 pounds), "would have had an unreasonable physical advantage over her opponents", the AFL said in a statement.
The League went onto explain: "A subcommittee was formed to rule on Mouncey's eligibility and its decision was based on analysis of transgender strength, stamina and physique, as well as the AFLW being in its infancy.
"The process included consultation with Mouncey, her management, the AFL Players' Association, the Australian Sports Commission and Pride in Sport."
In making their decision, the AFL also consulted the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission's guidelines 'Trans and Gender Diverse Inclusion in Sport - complying with the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.'
Mouncey, who played eight matches and scored 17 goals for her local women's football team, Ainslie in Canberra, said in a statement that she was "extremely disappointed" by the decision.
"While I am extremely disappointed with the AFL's decision regarding my participation in tomorrow's AFLW draft, I thank them for the genuine way in which they approached my situation," Mouncey said.
"Despite not being able to take part in the draft, the AFL has given me the all clear to play for Ainslie next year in the AFL Canberra competition for which I am very grateful and look forward to doing in 2018, before hopefully being able to nominate for next year's draft."
The decision has polarized opinion in the Australian sports world, with some calling the decision logical and others branding it a disgrace and a backwards step.
Mouncey, a journalism student at the University of Canberra, simply wished other eligible players luck during the season.
"Good luck to all the girls who nominated for the AFLW draft tomorrow, especially my mates from Canberra. I can't wait to see you all at the highest level and to play with and against you back in Canberra next year!"
The League's ruling applies solely to Wednesday's AFL Women's Draft and the next AFLW season, meaning Mouncey can nominate for eligibility in future drafts and register in other competitions.
Reader Comments
I know it's strange but you gotta say that if a male is willing to undergo the particulars involved*. . . well, those chosen actions speak far, far, louder than words.
My favorite Uncle, (my Pops' little brother), was born about one year after my blessed Grandma had delivered a girl child, R.B.M. who died at age 1 day to 4 weeks or so. When my Uncle L. followed as soon after as logic would allow, even at a very very young age, he swore that that girl, was him, and that his having been born that way was an error, and so he left and came back/arrived - again but instead about one year later as a boy.. And from the age he could talk, he insisted that his soul had erroneously ended up in that body, with memories etc. (This I'm sure was not something he learned at the Southern Baptist church in S.C. which my father detested so much that he disclaimed religion and claimed to be an atheist (he was a spiritualist agnostic) and so I never had to go to church, thank God! (I called my house of worship "The Church of The Atlantic.")
Nowadays, modern medicine would have likely prevented that death and unknowingly saved R.B.M.'s likely to be miserable life and likewise prevented the wonderful life that Uncle L. lived. (RIP, all.) (Yep, from my talks with him, my father et al., I believe he spoke the truth - I'm done rambling. With only good wishes for you and yours, good night.
R.C.
*Which - I would bet makes most guys instinctively cringe to/and protect their 'boys down there' - well that tells me that they probably weren't dealt a fair hand - and I'd bet it's more nature than nurture** - so I do ultimately feel sorry for them, and I think you have more compassion than your comment indicates.
RC
Good decision made by those committees, hope they do the same thing in upcoming years. Women are women, men are men. Best be finding s better way to deal with that if you don't like it.