Emma Kearney<\/a> played her football at Melbourne University in the old VWFL, who were very much at the forefront of Pride and inclusion initiatives back in the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKearney explained that \u201cMelbourne Uni, we’ve had a couple of country games, we were lucky enough to play against Darebin Falcons back in my hometown of Hamilton [in western Victoria]\u201d a couple of times back around 2016. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also said to play these games in \u201ca country town like Hamilton where there wouldn’t be as many openly out people was really special”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe whole town was covered in, the shops were covered in rainbow flags and they really got around it,” Kearney said. “I think the impact that it has on our regional towns that are probably more I suppose stereotypically homophobic or more conservative, is really important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But now, AFLW’s in the public eye a lot more than it was for Melbourne Uni, so to be able to celebrate this, to have a media call, um, so we gain greater awareness is really important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Australian rules has not been Kearney\u2019s only elite sporting career, with a high level cricketing career preceding her AFLW career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kearney explained that \u201cthere was never ever any pride rounds or any discussion around that,\u201d in cricketing circles during her career, but also said that \u201cwomen’s sport\u2019s always led the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt’s always been a space, an environment where I can be myself, and I’ve never had to walk into that environment and sort of scope the room and sort of suss out who’s going to be my support,” Kearney said. I know that everyone’s going to be. It’s not the case when I go into work functions or other areas of my life, where I have to sort of scope and think, do I have to refer to my partner as a friend, or can I say she\u2019s my partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that’s the most important thing about women’s sport, and lead the way in that space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some clubs have been more involved in this space than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bulldogs have been one of the frontrunners in the celebration of Pride, and one of its young stars Issy Grant<\/a> said that she is proud to be a part of such a club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI think something that we value, not just as a club, but as a playing group is bravery and being the first year. to sort of put their hand up and support something like that, that’s brave,\u201d Grant said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I think it’s sort of a similar link to the LGBTQIA+ community in that being yourself and being your true identity, like, that’s hard, that’s brave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The collective power of the players is important in the Pride Space, but to truly see the hope for change that comes with Pride Round to actually eventuate, the power of the AFL is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AFL\u2019s Executive General Manager Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch<\/em><\/strong> says that the AFL is working on a plan to educate fans to try and stamp out some of the phobia around the LGBTQIA+ community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cOne of the things that we have to understand is that, you know, a pride round certainly isn’t going to address all of that,\u201d Hosch said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe education behind it, the substance behind these messages are really important. We are in the final processes of creating some educational packages for our club leaders, including coaching staff. It’s part of community coaching accreditation that involves the input of players, so it’s been co designed to really address a lot of that stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe think that supporting leaders in sports clubs, in our footy clubs, to really have a proper understanding about these issues, hearing directly from players, and having the right materials is a big part of getting that right, and I think we will continue to grow that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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