Society/Culture Transgender athlete attempting to make history in the AFLW

[Lethality]

Great story here about a transgender woman who will be attempting to make the grade in the AFLW. I'm not sure if she's any good, but regardless of whether or not she can be a good AFLW player, I'm sure it will be worth it, seeing as it's just such a great story to see someone blazing a trail. Hopefully it encourages more transgender women to consider a move to AFLW or women's sport in general.



CANBERRA ruck Hannah Mouncey will attempt to become the first transgender footballer in the AFLW’s second season when she nominates for the October 18 draft.

Mouncey, 27, represented Australia in the men’s handball side that attempted to qualify for the Rio Olympics before transitioning into a female.

She has already trialled for AFLW clubs including Melbourne and has interest from several Victorian sides given her powerful 100kg, 190cm physique.

Mouncey kicked 15 goals in the last three home-and-away games after moving from the midfield into the ruck for Ainslie in AFLW Canberra.

She has permission from the AFL to play given her testosterone levels are lower than most females and an agent in Tim Hazell pushing her draft prospects.

The AFL told the Herald Sun in June it welcomed transgender players provided they passed all relevant tests regarding testosterone levels.

 

[strung_out7]

So a man wants to play amongst women, in a sport where the physical attributes of a man dominate. How is this a great story. It's sickening

 

[Kurve]

yeah ... nah ... omg

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

lol, nice thread Podgey. Good work.

 

[Brunswick Trap King]

A lot of people on the main board seem to be missing the bigger picture.

Guys aren't going to suddenly start thinking 'I'm going to become a woman so that I can play sport at a lower level'.

 

[Seeds]

A lot of people on the main board seem to be missing the bigger picture.

Guys aren't going to suddenly start thinking 'I'm going to become a woman so that I can play sport at a lower level'.

This is true. People arent going to change sex for this reason. but nonethless this person is a fit 100kg person. its almost impossible for a women to have those sort of physical attributes. its a massive unfair advantage. unless the average transgender women has the same average physical attributes as a female then its advantage that is unjust to naturally born women.

 

[strung_out7]

A lot of people on the main board seem to be missing the bigger picture.

Guys aren't going to suddenly start thinking 'I'm going to become a woman so that I can play sport at a lower level'.

Why don't they play in men's leagues?

 

[strung_out7]

I want to go play colts. I identify as being 20 years younger than what I am. No one can stop me

 

[Brunswick Trap King]

This is true. People arent going to change sex for this reason. but nonethless this person is a fit 100kg person. its almost impossible for a women to have those sort of physical attributes. its a massive unfair advantage. unless the average transgender women has the same average physical attributes as a female then its advantage that is unjust to naturally born women.

I tend to agree, but I can also see the reasoning when people say something like 'would Liz Cambage also be disallowed?'

I don't really understand the intricacies of how testosterone is reduced for transgenders well enough.

 

[Kurve]

I played my first game of mixed netball, as an A grade player against the guys at the footy club. Biggest mistake we ever made in our lives, half of us were off the court before the third quarter with injuries ranging from broken wrists and fingers to a broken nose and it was all completely unintentional.

I don't have a problem with anybody wanting to transition, I just don't care good luck be happy all the best. He developed as a man though playing competition sport and didn't switch until he was fully developed as a guy. If he/she had hormone treatments to lower testosterone, what's the difference between taking steroids for performance enhancement/get the edge at every other level of professional sport which puts you out in disgrace?

Edit: This looks like cheating

 

[Lethality]

I played my first game of mixed netball, as an A grade player against the guys at the footy club. Biggest mistake we ever made in our lives, half of us were off the court before the third quarter with injuries ranging from broken wrists and fingers to a broken nose and it was all completely unintentional.

That makes me feel better. First game of mixed netball I played, I concussed a woman, and I sobbed on the court.

 

[Bleeeeeeeeep]

NO NO NO NO NO! can't have that big brute hurt those poor little girls????? Seriously wtf.
Anyway good luck to her and all the best.

 

[rhinowce]

NO NO NO NO NO! can't have that big brute hurt those poor little girls????? Seriously wtf.
Anyway good luck to him and all the best.

 

[WeetBixKid]

Oh boy. Here we go.

Anyone who watches MMA knows this is a terrible idea.

 

[kirsti]

Hi Kirsti here a transgender Footy Player. Trans inclusion in sport is a very contentious issue and as a trans athelte I do not agree with the AFL or IOC's current trans participation policies.

I am happy to share my experiences and answer any respectful questions as this subject is about to become even more contentious if changes to the current policies are not made.

 

[WA ROO]

Oh boy. Here we go.

Anyone who watches MMA knows this is a terrible idea.

With female combat sports in the Olympics this could turn out horrendous

Hi Kirsti here a transgender Footy Player. Trans inclusion in sport is a very contentious issue and as a trans athelte I do not agree with the AFL or IOC's current trans participation policies.

We have had short conversations re this
I see women getting badly hurt in certain sports.
Also over time we have seen whole countries try to cheat in Olympic competition.This could see the destruction of womens sport

 

[King Brown]

A lot of people on the main board seem to be missing the bigger picture.

Guys aren't going to suddenly start thinking 'I'm going to become a woman so that I can play sport at a lower level'.

The Spanish Men's Paralympic Basketball team disagree with you.

 

[Seeds]

I tend to agree, but I can also see the reasoning when people say something like 'would Liz Cambage also be disallowed?'

I don't really understand the intricacies of how testosterone is reduced for transgenders well enough.

testosterone is only one part of it. Bone structure doesnt change and testosterone doesnt impact all aspects of muscles. The fact a particular women may be able to compete with an athletic transgender women is not the point. The point is whether there is a vast difference in the average physical attributes of transgender women compared to average naturally born women. If there is then it creates an unfair advantage that will most likely result in transgender women disproportiinately making up a greater share of female athletes. If that is what we want then fair enough. But I think it goes against the very reason why we have sports comps restricted to only certain sub groups of the population. I.e. because on average that sub group is physically limited to the average of other sub groups.

 

[Moshie The Mook]

A lot of people on the main board seem to be missing the bigger picture.

Guys aren't going to suddenly start thinking 'I'm going to become a woman so that I can play sport at a lower level'.

She is 190cm tall and weighs 100 kegs. Clubs will be looking for players with similar physical attributes to combat Hannah. There may be several AFL players struggling with their gender identity. This may be the catalyst for them to express their gender fluidity, and possibly further their playing career in the AFLW,

 

[Taylor]

Do you really think there would be a future where elite international sport is entirely men, or women competing as women but born as men?

It would be quite ridiculous.

 

[King Brown]

Do you really think there would be a future where elite international sport is entirely men, or women competing as women but born as men?

It would be quite ridiculous.

No, if it came to that there would be pushback and a redefinition of what is required to compete in elite women's sport.

The only way it works is if there are token competitors who are moderately good.

 

[Taylor]

No, if it came to that there would be pushback and a redefinition of what is required to compete in elite women's sport.

The only way it works is if there are token competitors who are moderately good.

It doesn't sound all that bad, a few girls born girls might miss out on chances

 

[twotooto]

This is an interesting one.

At the moment there are two AFL leagues for two different genders - the AFL(men) and the AFLW(women).

Correct me if I'm wrong here but doesn't the LGBT movement wish to be identified as being of a different gender(s)? i.e not male, not female, but a specific gender(perfectly fine imo).

So really there needs to either be a separate league for LGBT(obviously not possible at this point in time due to numbers), or change the name of the AFLW to something like AFLWLGBT or something that reflects what it actually is.

 

[WA ROO]

Do you really think there would be a future where elite international sport is entirely men, or women competing as women but born as men?

It would be quite ridiculous.

Who thought we would see what happened in East Germany and China
Search Andreas Krieger

 

[Moshie The Mook]

This is an interesting one.

At the moment there are two AFL leagues for two different genders - the AFL(men) and the AFLW(women).

Correct me if I'm wrong here but doesn't the LGBT movement wish to be identified as being of a different gender(s)? i.e not male, not female, but a specific gender(perfectly fine imo).

So really there needs to either be a separate league for LGBT(obviously not possible at this point in time due to numbers), or change the name of the AFLW to something like AFLWLGBT or something that reflects what it actually is.

We may need a third league for players who identify as non-binary.

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