Netball teams ousted from league due to lack of footballers sparks equal opportunity complaint

A regional Victorian mother has written to the state's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission after her daughter's junior netball club was removed from the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) due to low footballer numbers.

The league's decision has raised questions about why Woady Yaloak Football Netball Club's thriving junior netball teams have to suffer due to a lack of junior footballers.

Local politicians and the Victorian government have even waded into the controversy, which seems likely to prevent more than 80 girls from playing netball this season.

Missing out

Woady Yaloak Football Netball Club joined the Ballarat Football Netball League three years ago.

Last season the club fielded football teams in the under 10s and 12s Sunday competitions, as well as netball teams in the under 11s, 13s, 15s and 17s comps on the same day.

The league also has under 14s and 16s football on Sundays, but Woady Yaloak has never fielded an under 16s team and last season was unable to put together an under 14s team.

However the BFNL announced last week that all of Woady Yaloak's junior football and netball teams would be barred from playing in the league this season due to the club's lack of an under 14s team this season.

The league backed its decision by saying it had "a responsibility to all member clubs to ensure competitions are structured in a way that avoids uneven draws, excessive byes, potential forfeits and ongoing fixture disruptions".

Woady Yaloak Football Netball Club secretary Stacey Rouhan said the impact on the draw was a non-issue.

"We played without an under 14s [football team] last year, so we know the fixture is doable," Ms Rouhan said.

She said the league's decision affects about 70 junior footballers, although they will have the option to play this season with other clubs.

However Woady Yaloak's 80-plus junior netballers will likely have to sit out the season, she said.

"[They have] nowhere to go. The other teams have had try-outs and they're now closed and at capacity," Ms Rouhan said.

"We put forward different options [to the] BFNL like supporting our footballers to find other clubs this season and let our netballers stay.

She said the majority of junior clubs are struggling with low football numbers, but Woady Yaloak had been "upfront and honest with [the league]" about it.

A letter for equality

Cathy Tischler's daughter is one of the netballers left stranded courtside by the BFNL's decision.

She has taken her complaint to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission saying she's "absolutely gutted" by the league's lack of respect to Woady Yaloak's junior netballers.

"This warrants an investigation around how the decision was made, and if gender was appropriately taken into consideration, because we have plenty of netballers at Woady Yaloak," Ms Tischler said.

"I would really like the BFNL to reconsider their decision … and we'd like to see Netball Victoria to do something as well, as many of us are members."

A BFNL spokesperson told the ABC that it would "be very difficult" to only include either a netball or football club in a dual league.

The league said it would mean split fixtures and other clubs would be forced to play football and netball at different venues on the same day, instead of having all teams together at one ground.

"While this is a difficult outcome the league acknowledges the efforts of Woady Yaloak FNC in working to field junior teams and recognises the participation challenges faced by many regional clubs," the BFNL said.

Netball Victoria said it was "working closely with the Woady Yaloak Football Netball Club to ensure these junior players have a competition to go to".

"We will make an announcement soon," a spokesperson said.

Labor MP for Ripon, Martha Haylett, said she was outraged by the decision and could not believe the league killed the whole club at the eleventh hour.

"They were debating the numbers of the footballers. There's been other clubs who have struggled with numbers who have been able to continue," Ms Haylett said.

"There are some other options for boys to play football … but all the other clubs are full with netball because we know so many girls and women are playing now and love it."

A state government spokesperson said that while it was a matter for the BFNL, "the Victorian Government is committed to levelling the playing field for women and girls in community sport."

"We encourage Ballarat Football Netball League to continue working with all parties to find a solution to support inclusive participation," the spokesperson said.

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