Polly Burridge, known as “It’s a very, very big part of my identity and how I define myself as a person,” is a passionate supporter of the Sydney AFL team. The 30-year-old creates social media content, connects with fellow fans, and co-hosts the Swans-centric podcast, True Bloods. Her journey stands in stark contrast to her childhood experiences of being bullied for her love of AFL in the heartland of NRL in south-west Sydney.
“in serious breach of expected club behaviour and standards” Burridge states. This deep connection has made the recent turmoil surrounding the club particularly difficult for her.
Investigation into alleged misconduct
Victoria Police are currently investigating an alleged sexual assault that occurred early Monday morning at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne, where the Sydney men’s team was staying after their match against Essendon on Sunday. On Wednesday morning, the club announced that five high-profile players had been stood down for the remainder of the season due to being “It was staying out late, it was drinking, it was continuing their night, it was bringing women back to the hotel, it was a long way short of what we expect from our players.” Swans chief executive, Matthew Pavlich, elaborated on the players’ conduct, stating, “I have seen four losing grand finals in my lifetime and nothing of that can even remotely compare to this,”
Although none of the players have faced arrest or charges related to the sexual assault investigation, the series of events has reverberated beyond the club’s fanbase, impacting the wider football community. Supporters, club officials, and female players in Australian rules football have expressed their weariness and frustration, viewing this as yet another instance of a football culture that devalues women. The sense of betrayal is particularly sharp because the Sydney Swans have publicly championed their commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Fans express disappointment
“The initial gut reaction when the news was coming through … was just this dread that I had never ever felt with this footy club.” Burridge reflects. “the AFLW players, our female staff and the women in our lives, our partners, mothers, sisters and all women within the community” On Friday, the Swans men’s coach, Dean Cox, and captain, Callum Mills, issued an apology to “We take full responsibility, and we are deeply sorry,”
“We’ve got a lot of work to do for our football community and the community in general … We’re willing to put that work in.” Cox remarked. “we know the actions of those five players are not a reflection of the broader club”
Lucy McEvoy, captain of the Swans AFLW team, expressed her team’s profound disappointment over the situation, stating, “The girls are working through their emotions as they see fit for themselves. Personally, we wrap our arms around everyone as the whole entire club,” McEvoy added, “There’s no doubt the club has taken a reputational hit this week. And we’ll do whatever we can as a club, in both programs, to make sure we build back the trust and respect of our members and fans and the community more broadly.”
This Sunday, the Swans AFLW team is scheduled to compete in a highly anticipated double header at the SCG alongside the men’s team, an event originally intended to celebrate the progress of the women’s team. Burridge has been “No matter what, I’ll be there to support the girls. Whether I stay for the boys’ game as well, it remains to be seen,” on whether to remain for the entire afternoon. “I want to go and support the boys who have done the right thing and aren’t doing anything wrong. But at the same time, it still does feel weird and yuck to put the red and white on at the moment.” she indicated.
Community reactions
“made me so disappointed in the club” Burridge said. Carmen Chong, a Swans fan and amateur footballer from Melbourne, shared her feelings of disappointment in the club following the recent events. “Growing up in Sydney, the Swans were everything when it came to footy. Moving around the country a bit, they were always an important link home,” Chong noted.
“I really thought their culture was better than that, but at the same time, taking a step back and seeing how big football is in places like Melbourne, it’s not surprising that privileged men think they can always get away with unacceptable behaviour. “This kind of behaviour just signals to community footy that this society thinks this is fine.” she added.
Lydia Holt, president of Melbourne’s West Brunswick Amateur Football Club, recognized for its progressive stance on gender politics, expressed that her community feels “quite exhausted, and a bit empty, because this issue just persists” “I’ve almost stopped wondering when it will change,” she remarked, “and I’m almost back to wondering if it will change … The needle’s barely moving.” Holt emphasized that West Brunswick prioritizes equal investment and support for all its teams, but acknowledged that in community football, “get elevated over their W peers” that men’s teams often receive preferential treatment over their female counterparts.
“The default is the boys’ club and everything that comes with that,” Holt explained. “So they get access to better facilities, better training times. They’ll be on the better oval. More resources – not just funding resources but literally just the [playing] times, the actual surface of the oval and where they’re playing. “If you’re not really taking this proactive stance and putting a lot of initiative to really address the issues, that default [will] just perpetuate itself.”
Drew Menard and his two adult daughters, lifelong Swans fans, are reconsidering their memberships in light of recent events. Menard, who has coached girls’ and senior women’s community football, mentioned that his daughters, aged 21 and 18, are talented players. “Junior footy was our church. Every Sunday morning we shared a ritual and [were] part of a greater, accepting community,” he recalls.
While he believes that “most of the public discourse that clubs make about equity is all lip service,” he acknowledges, “the Swans have always been very forward facing with diversity and inclusion.” “I was shocked that anyone on the Swans could even do this. It never existed on my radar; maybe other clubs, but not the Swans. They’re squeaky clean,” Menard expressed.
“But what really hurt was my oldest daughter’s response of ‘fuck them!’ She has been a diehard fan since she could walk, and we’ve all had so much excitement about this year maybe being the one again. The disgust in her voice broke my heart … I don’t know what the Swans as an organisation can do to convince me that all of the talk about diversity, gender or otherwise, wasn’t just rhetoric.” he added.
“Sport just has to be somewhere where everyone belongs.”
