Trans Women Might Be Welcomed Into The AFLW This Week

When the AFL Women's league (AFLW) was established at the beginning of the year, it was widely seen as a massive step in making Australian sports more inclusive. But while the league offered a new level of competition and recognition to female players, it didn't clarify their position of transgender athletes in the AFL. This week, a historic ruling will determine that position, as the AFLW decides if trans women are eligible to compete.

The decision is centred on 27-year-old Hannah Mouncey, the former national men's handball player nominated for Wednesday's draft. Mouncey spent last season starring for the Ainslie Tricolours in the AFL Canberra women's competition. While her skills and experience have made her a promising player, AFLW teams aren't currently sure they can pick her during the draft on Wednesday.

Officially, the AFl follows International Olympic Committee regulations when assessing transgender athletes' eligibility to compete. The IOC state that an athlete must prove her testosterone level is below 10 nanomoles per litre. Hannah's testosterone limits are well within the permitted levels, and if she's drafted she'll become the first transgender athlete in top level Australian football.

Speaking to ABC's Outer Sanctum podcast last month, the 190 cm tall, 100-kilo athlete reflected: "I know that I am different, not necessarily in a good way or bad way." Elaborating on the place her size plays in her abilities, she continued: "People have said 'with how big you are you'll probably hold back a bit so you don't hurt anyone' and I'm like, 'well no, I'm not going to hold back, that defeats the whole purpose…I had my ribs broken in my last game so I know they can hit me as hard as I can hit them and do damage."

In the past, critics of the inclusion of transgender athletes have pointed to their physicality and experience in male sports as giving them an advantage. But Hannah is quick to suggest it's not always the boon it may seem. In fact, she's worked to drop seven kilos to improve her athleticism, explaining: "I've probably got to reduce my weight more than anything and the more you do to maintain your strength it's going to be detrimental to the aerobic side, so I do just enough."

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Last year she also told the Herald Sun that since she began transitioning in November 2015 she's lost significant strength. "People talk about the performance advantage and I can understand where they come from looking at me. But the easiest way to put it is that all the females I am playing against have more testosterone than I do," she explained.

Later in her chat with Outer Sanctum, she opened up about the backlash and criticism she has faced as the first AFL player to go through this process. "To be honest, I've probably heard and seen everything that you possibly can in the negative sense so that's not really going to hold any fears for me there." Adding, "'I'm just keen to play, get picked up hopefully and then see what happens."

If the AFL doesn't side with Hannah on Wednesday, they could face legal action. Queensland Australian of the Year, RAAF Group Captain and transgender activist Cate McGregor, told the Age, "They'd [the AFL] have to say she's not eligible for ability because in terms of saying she actually can't play they'd run into discrimination laws."

For now, the AFL have only confirmed that their decision on Mouncey's eligibility will be announced before Wednesday's draft.

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For more experiences of transgender athletes:

What Actually Happens When a Trans Athlete Transitions

Fighting for Identity: The Life of a Transgender Kickboxer in Rural Thailand

Heroes, Martyrs, And Myths: The Battle For The Rights Of Transgender Athletes