Summary

AFL Women's competition Pride Round demonstrates the clubs' commitment to fostering a culturally and socially inclusive culture.

Introduction:

The Museum is developing a collection which documents the Australian Football League Women's competition, which was launched on 3 February 2017. In 2023, the season commences in September, with 16 teams and 14 rounds including ten home and away matches and four finals. The women's AFL competition has been recognised for its culturally and socially inclusive culture, and its community connections, which see it played at suburban football grounds and attended by families and grassroots fans.

Pride Round:

The Geelong Pride Round guernsey in the Museum's collection was worn by Mikala Bowen for the AFLW Pride Round 8, Season 7, 2022. Geelong beat the West Coast Eagles at Princes Park on 15 October 2022. The guernsey features a special design developed in consultation with the club's Pride Supporter group representatives and AFLW Pride ambassadors led by the club's Inclusion and Diversity Manager.

The final design was selected as it features the blended rainbow flag wrapping around the body in a symbolic gesture of support, representation, and embrace. The words 'We are Football' were included to demonstrate that everyone is welcome and included in the game, also leaning on the 'She is Football' wording - regardless of your gender identity or sexual orientation.

Wearer:

Mikayla Bowen provided the following reflection to the Museum:

'To be a part of such a powerful movement, backed by the unconditional support of our club, is something that I can only wish everyone had the opportunity to experience.

I am a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, even more so since being immersed within the Geelong Football Club. As is often too common within our LGBTQIA+ community, my journey wasn't one I was initially comfortable with. The fear of my true self not aligning with the perception of how others saw me, felt like I was locked in a room of which only I had the keys to. At 15 years of age, I finally allowed myself to be who I knew I really was. It is no coincidence that 14 years old was the age I first started playing footy.

This year in difference may not seem like much to the external eye, but to me it was 365 days of visibility, acceptance and belonging. The LGBTQIA+ community intertwined throughout women's football became my safe place, and one of which I didn't feel like the outlier. Not only did this sport ignite my passion as an elite athlete, but it gave me the confidence to unlock the door for myself.

Our 2022 AFLW Pride guernsey embodies the importance of visibility, acceptance, and inclusion for all through the embrace of the rainbow ribbon intertwined within our Hoops. I know I can speak on behalf of the playing group when I say that this embrace was exactly what was felt as we ran out onto Ikon Park in October. More specifically, I can only hope this embrace is what was further passed onwards to the members of the LGBTQIA+ community who haven't necessarily felt this way in the past. We see you, we hear you and we are with you.' (2023)

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