AFLW Tuff muddas

[Teen Wolf]

Here are the players currently on an AFLW list who have given birth to at least one human baby, to the best of my knowledge. I would be surprised if I got it completely right in one go, so do chime in if you know of any other mothers that should be added.

Brisbane
Sharni Webb (placed on the club's inactive list in December 2020) is due to give birth in June 2021.

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

womens.afl

Fremantle
Ashley Sharp (placed on the club's inactive in May 2020) is due to give birth in December 2021.

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

womens.afl

Geelong
Maddy McMahon

Cats mum inspiring football girls | Geelong Independent

It’s little wonder four-year-old Matilda McMahon is pumped for her Auskick debut, when mum Maddy plays footy for Geelong in […]

geelongindy.com.au

K rock Football - K ROCK 95.5

Broadcasting every Cats game via FM 95.5, FM 88.0 at the MCG, and krockfootball.live GFNL matches can be heard via...

www.krockfootball.com.au

Kate Darby (placed on the club's inactive list in September) is expecting.

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

womens.afl

Kate Darby update: gave birth to daughter in March 2021.

GWS Giants
Brid Stack

Hospitalised after getting swine flu while pregnant

As doctors struggled to ward off sepsis concern grew about having to deliver baby early

www.irishtimes.com

Cork football star Brid Stack welcomes adorable baby boy

We love the family name

www.rsvplive.ie

Erin Todd

Todd Gets the Nod - AFL NSW/ACT

With Yvonne Bonner having to withdraw from the 2021 AFLW season, the GIANTS have signed former WNBL player Erin Todd.

aflnswact.com.au

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

womens.afl

Melbourne
Daisy Pearce

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

North Melbourne
Sophie Abbatangelo

Meet AFLW Forward And Mum-Of-Two Sophie Abbatangelo

North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos' new recruit reflects on juggling first seasons with first school days, and making it work as a single mum.

thedesignfiles.net

AFLW 2019: The ‘heartbreaking’ setbacks that have shaped North Melbourne’s Sophie Abbatangelo

The ‘heartbreaking’ setbacks that have shaped mature-age Roo

www.foxsports.com.au

After AFLW tragedy, this Kangaroo wants to talk about mental health

AFLW player Sophie Abbatangelo's mental health was "spiralling" until she reached out for support from North Melbourne's club doctor. Now, she wants more players to be able to get that sort of help.

www.abc.net.au

Jess Duffin

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

womens.afl

Richmond
Courtney Wakefield

Wakefield becomes ninth AFLW Tiger

Courtney Wakefield is the first VFLW Tiger to graduate to the Club’s AFLW team.

www.richmondfc.com.au

West Coast
Dana Hooker

Baby Alice on board for AFLW season

Midfielder Dana Hooker will have her four-month-old child Alice with her on the road for the AFLW season

www.fremantlefc.com.au

Western Bulldogs
Katy Herron (inactive)

'I had Joshua when I was 22. For a lot of girls, that could have ended their sporting career'

Donegal and Western Bulldogs star Katy Herron is set to make her AFLW debut tomorrow. Here, she reflects on her journey both on and off the field.

www.the42.ie

Herron to miss 2021 AFLW season

Katy Herron has elected not to return to the Western Bulldogs for the 2021 AFLW season.

www.westernbulldogs.com.au

Some related info that might come in handy from time to time, "Schedule E – AFLW Pregnancy and Parental Management Travel Policy" from the AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement 2019-2022:

Objectives
The AFL respects the rights of women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or the carer of a child to participate in the AFLW, and is committed to providing supports to assist them do so. The AFL and the Clubs prohibit any actions that may amount to discrimination against a Player because of the Player's pregnancy, breastfeeding or status as the carer of a child.

The purpose of this Policy is:

1. To set guidelines for Players’ continued participation in the AFLW during pregnancy.
2. To provide, so far as possible, a safe and inclusive environment for all participants, where all Players can participate in the AFLW at the highest level.
3. To provide guidelines for Players, Clubs and AFL personnel in relation to support available to a Player who is pregnant, breastfeeding or the carer of a child.

Pregnancy

1. The AFL respects and supports the rights of pregnant Players who, in consultation with medical professionals, elect to continue to participate in the AFLW, provided that at all times the health and wellbeing of the Player and their unborn child is paramount.
2. All Players agree that, as soon as possible after becoming aware that they are pregnant, and on an ongoing basis throughout their pregnancy, they will obtain, and disclose to the Club medical officer, regular medical advice which reasonably satisfies the Player and the Club medical officer in relation to: a) the risks associated with participating in the AFLW and associated training and events while pregnant; b) taking into account their individual circumstances, whether it is safe for them to continue participating in the AFLW and associated training and events; and c) whether their training and performance program should be reviewed or modified.
3. No information, other than whether the Player is fit to play and train, will be disclosed to the Club by the Club medical officer during the Player’s first trimester without the Player’s express consent. After the first trimester the Club medical officer may provide all relevant information to Club and AFL personnel on a ‘need to know’ basis as required. This information will otherwise be kept confidential unless the express consent of the Player is provided. Announcements regarding the Player's pregnancy will only be made in consultation with the Player.
4. If the Club or the AFL is not reasonably satisfied that it has sufficient medical advice in accordance with clause 2 of this Policy, the Club or the AFL will consult with the Player and may request that the Player agree to participate in an independent medical examination and opinion conducted by a specialist (obstetrician/gynaecologist) in relation to the risks associated with the Player’s continued participation in the AFLW competition. This independent medical examination will seek independent advice regarding the matters outlined in clause 2 above.
5. Players who elect to continue playing during their pregnancy are expected to maintain appropriate fitness and performance levels.
6. A Player who chooses not to play or is not certified fit to play as a result of the Player’s pregnancy will continue to receive full payment during the Term of the Player’s Standard Playing Agreement in accordance with her Standard Playing Agreement.

Parental Management and Travel

1. The AFL and the Clubs are committed to providing a supportive environment for Players who are carers of infants (meaning a child up to 12 months old or any older child who is being breastfed by the Player), including those Players who are breastfeeding an infant.
2. AFL and the Clubs will take reasonable steps to ensure that there are suitable facilities available at the Club premises to allow Players with an infant to breastfeed or express breast milk.
3. Any Player who has a responsibility for the care of an infant may travel with the infant when required to travel interstate for an AFLW match, provided a support person is present to supervise and care for the infant.
4. The Club will pay for the reasonable flight, accommodation, and transfer costs for the Player's support person and infant to travel with them, provided the flights and accommodation are organised through the AFL’s travel agency or travel costs are approved in advance by the Club. The Player is required to cover all other associated costs.
5. Where possible, the Club will endeavour to arrange for the support person and the infant to travel on the same flight and stay in the same accommodation as the Player (noting that the AFL and Clubs have access to a predetermined and limited allocation of flights and rooms per season).
6. The support person and the infant may, with the prior approval of Club management, be able to attend particular Club or team activities including training, meetings or meals.
7. The Player may elect to stay in the same room as their support person and infant or to sleep in the standard team accommodation.
8. The Player agrees to notify the Club at least one (1) week in advance if travel is required for an infant and a support person.
9. The Player will ensure that she is able to attend all Club commitments while travelling with a support person and infant and otherwise perform her obligations in accordance with the Standard Playing Agreement.

One thing not included in the CBA, but worth mentioning here, are the rules for replacing pregnant players:

Ordinarily, when an AFLW player gets injured or encounters some other availability issue after the list finalisation/lodgement date, the respective club can sign a replacement player. Nevertheless, that replacement player can only play a game when the club has less than 23 fit/available players to take the field.

However, this rule differs in the case of pregnant players. A replacement for a pregnant player is treated as a full signing, meaning the club's number of fit/available players doesn't have to reach a certain threshold before she can play.

I have argued that, while AFLW continues to function as a semi-professional league, this exemption should be extended to the cases of players who suffer injuries while working their day jobs (a police officer getting mowed down by a car, or a stevedore getting struck by lightning, for example). But I guess that's a discussion for another day.

 

[master bate]

I have argued that, while AFLW continues to function as a semi-professional league, this exemption should be extended to the cases of players who suffer injuries while working their day jobs (a police officer getting mowed down by a car, or a stevedore getting struck by lightning, for example). But I guess that's a discussion for another day.

That would make sense. Really I'd be happy with any player for any reason going on a long term injury/inactive list and being fully replaced as they are done for the year. Maybe with a mid season deadline for footballing injuries and no deadline for things like illness, accidents and pregnancies. Where as short term injuries can't be fully replaced and clubs can only get train on players until they are required to play.

Melbourne pretty much ran out of players after the ACL's last year and none of them were coming back, at least some of them should've been replaced fully. I guess the concern is if you declare a hamstring out for the year and pick up a quality mature age recruit who's come from nowhere to dominate a state league it's a big advantage, especially to the clubs that have access to the stronger state leagues.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Duffin set to return tomorrow.



Also, I have updated the OP with links to stories about each player. Some of the articles (like the one published on the ABC News website today) are about another topic but nevertheless provide some insight into their lives as mothers slash footballers.

 

[Teen Wolf]

I have repeatedly forgotten to add a Kate Darby update to this thread, but not today!

 

[TRP1996]

Here are the players currently on an AFLW list who have given birth to at least one human baby, to the best of my knowledge. I would be surprised if I got it completely right in one go, so do chime in if you know of any other mothers that should be added.

Are there AFLW players who have given birth to non-human babies?

 

[Teen Wolf]

Are there AFLW players who have given birth to non-human babies?

No South Australians that I can think of.

 

[Teen Wolf]

Sharp added to OP, "Fremantle to work with the AFL over the next few weeks around signing a replacement player."

And for those who glossed over the OP, the info about the maternity policy that you might have been looking for:

A Player who chooses not to play or is not certified fit to play as a result of the Player’s pregnancy will continue to receive full payment during the Term of the Player’s Standard Playing Agreement in accordance with her Standard Playing Agreement.