Dear Mr McLachlan,
I write to you as the mother who was with her 18-year-old daughter passing through the Hawthorn Junior Football Club luncheon at The Glenferrie Hotel on Friday, September 25. Yes, the one whom MC, Billy Brownless, referred to in a “throw away line” by saying: “here comes the strippers”.
Since going public with this abhorrent, most embarrassing confrontation, there has been a groundswell of support on social media, aligned to articles written by journalists from various mediums far and wide. This outrage and support says to me that maybe now is an opportune time to professionally address respect for women from those within the AFL community; a good place to start given we, the public, hold these athletes in such high esteem.
This is no longer about Billy Brownless. And as I’ve continued to choose to remain anonymous, this is not about me, nor my daughter. This is about how regularly women in Australia face such disrespect in public forums and are then defensively criticised because they can’t take a joke.
Women can take a joke, when it’s a joke. Abusing women either physically or emotionally is not a joke and never will be. Now is the time for an organisation like the AFL to stand up and make a difference. Sadly the AFL Diversity program isn’t resonating with those it should. A far greater public forum, worshipped by the target audience however, might just do the trick.
In my opinion, echoed by many on social media in the past 24 to 48 hours, the AFL Footy Show on the Nine Network would be a good place to start. I’m quite certain, as the respectable father of a young daughter yourself, you would prefer a mainstream television program like The Footy Show to be something you could sit down and watch together someday.
The Footy Show condones and breeds this toxic behaviour. When it’s on a major television network, perhaps the audience then believes this behaviour is acceptable. It must be, right? It’s allowed to be broadcast after all. The odd apology dished out the following week for some obnoxious sexist comment the week prior, will do, won’t it?
I question whether you, as the CEO of the sporting code which this show promotes, are 100 per cent comfortable with the display of thug-like culture — demeaning, belittling, condescending and disrespectful acts and comments towards women, from current and former players from the AFL.
I urge you, Mr McLachlan, along with a significant number of Australian women (and men), to use your power as the head of the AFL, to force The Footy Show (AFL) to significantly change their format and script NOW, while this topic is hot, and before another innocent family is subjected to such vile behaviour.
I’m not talking about a token-female host on occasion, nor am I talking about a female AFL player joining in discussions with the panel (we all know how appalling that was) and scripts don’t need to be sent to the Country Women’s Association for approval. Having a sensible woman involved in the script-writing, planning and production would be a significant step in the right direction. If such an amazing appointment were to happen, I hope the Nine Network will promote the hell out of it, because THAT might mean the show could potentially return to the ratings-winning, Logie-winning show it once was.
But enough about The Footy Show….. the best thing that could come from you taking a stand right now is that the current player lists and former football community is educated to the point whereby it changes their mind-set; pressing pause in their brain before sneering comments hit their tongues. Only then will these men actually understand the impact of their words and actions towards women. Let’s just hope this is in time for you to enjoy watching The Footy Show with your daughter.
Yours sincerely,
A mother and a dedicated football fan
