A Victorian women’s football team broke away from their club for major allegations that they were exposed to inequitable treatment and lack of support.
A newly trained football club Kyneton Women’s Eagles Football Club, appeared after 35 players who decided to break with the Kyneton Football Netball Club due to the current concerns.
Natalie Korinfsky, president and player of the new club, said that the decision to leave was motivated by the distress of the treatment they received.
“All we want to do is play football and be treated with respect, and if you do not have these fundamentals, it is impossible to stay in these environments,” Korinfsky told ABC Sport.
The representatives of players and coaches cited the need for a safe and inclusive environment as the main motivation behind the training of the independent club.
“As an independent club, we can rely on our proud tradition of diversity, inclusiveness and security for all players, coaches and volunteers,” said Korinfsky.
The Kyneton Football Netball Club women’s team has separated to form its own team, the Kyneton Women’s Eagles Football Club
The declaration published by the Kyneton Football Netball Club after the defection of the women’s team
The male Kyneton Football Netball Club male team has pink socks during a match in order to collect funds and raise awareness of breast cancer research
The Kyneton Women’s Eagles have kept their original game group, coaches and support staff, many of whom have been part of the team since its creation in 2015.
“It’s wonderful to see our coaches, our trainers and, above all, the players have signed our new club for the 2025 season,” said Korinfsky.
Korinfsky underlined a culture in KFNC which let the female team feel unwelcome.
She recalled an incident where an “ `pride ‘sticker placed in the rooms of the club by the female team for their game of” pride “was demolished.
“Now we don’t know who has torn it away, but it is the feeling that crosses the club,” she said.
In addition, Korinfsky described cases where the female team has found blood, spindle and excrement in their changing rooms after male matches.
The team’s switch point came during the 2024 grand finale, where they played against Macedonia.
While the match took place in Woodend, KFNC would have held his annual home raffle at the same time, preventing committee members and supporters to attend the game.
The female part alleges that the club held a raffle in a different place to prevent the members of the committee from attending their grand finale
“It broke the hearts of most of our players,” Korinfsky said.
Co-captain Belinda Hateley expressed his disappointment in the face of the lack of support for their major final appearances.
“If it was a male team, there is no way that they had a raffle at the same time,” said Hateley.
KFNC denied misconduct allegations. In a statement published on social networks, the club said they had never been informed of any reprehensible act against players or guests.
“The club has always responded to the concerns of the well-being of the players who were communicated to the committee. We strive to be as inclusive as possible, ”says the declaration.
“It is important that our young women can continue to play and be supported in our club where football is at the center.
“Our club was a pioneer to support women’s football in the region and it will be our 10th year.”
Kyneton’s female coach Phil Hawkes, who has more than 20 years of training in training, said he was not surprised by the massive release of players.
The Kyneton Women’s Eagles Football Club began to train for the 2025 season and hopes that a league will take them
“They (KFNC) thought that only a few could leave,” said Hawkes.
“So I think that part of this was a big shock that everyone left and said,” No, we have enough. “”
Korinfsky revealed that five other women’s teams had set out since their departure, sharing similar experiences of discrimination and lack of support.
Jane (not her real name), a player in the northeast of Victoria, said that their club had favored “uncomfortable space” for female footballers. She described cases of sexist and homophobic comments during club events.
The change in our survey on the game of the game revealed that almost a third (28%) of women in community sport had planned to leave their club due to inequitable treatment.
The report, published in July 2023, also noted that women were 2.5 times more likely to feel unwelcome compared to men.
Despite the training of their own club, Kyneton Women’s Eagles is likely to broadcast a league.
Their candidates for the Ballarat Football Netball League, the AFL Central Victoria and Riddell District Football Netball League (DRFNL) were rejected.
The three leagues were contacted to comment by Daily Mail Australia.
The DRFNL quoted non-compliance with AFL Victoria’s rules and deadlines as reasons to refuse their request, but said it explored five alternative solutions.
“It is impossible to get out of it (football clubs) because we cannot enter a league standing by ourselves,” said Korinfsky.
“But then, they will not let us go either, or they suggest that we simply go to another club that has a similar configuration, but make these risks to put our team in a similar environment.”
Korinfsky thinks that the authorities hesitate to allow independent female clubs to create a previous one.
“We think we have the right to play sports in a safe, united and fair environment, and that’s what we do as a club. We just ask for a good blow.
The Ballarat Football Netball League said that it was “ Happy to explore the ” and planned discussions with the Eagles and the AFL.
AFL Victoria published a statement saying that she was working with players and leagues to find a way for them to play.
“The AFL Victoria helps to find a solution, with the accent given to offer the options that these players play football in 2025. AFL Victoria has been and will continue to work with all stakeholders until ‘They can help get there, “said a spokesperson.
Until the decision, the Kyneton Women’s Eagles will continue to train in the Wooded racetrack reserve.
