Description

After years of being pushed to the sidelines with second-hand balls, women’s footy has finally stepped out of the dark ages… or has it?

This week we put male-dominated sports under the microscope with Not All Clubs. Behind the aliases Ripley, Jyn, and Lara are three fearless voices exposing the discrimination, harassment, and toxic cultures still silencing athletes and making clubs unsafe.

With AFL player Mitch Brown recently becoming the first openly bisexual male in the league, this conversation is more urgent than ever. Whether you’re an athlete, parent, or coach, this episode is about creating safer, more inclusive environments - and understanding the role you can play so fewer female and LGBTQIA+ athletes walk away from sport.

What We Cover

• The Power of Anonymity – Why the team remain anonymous to protect themselves and encourage others to share safely.
• The Catalyst – The incident at a First Nations round that sparked the Not All Clubs movement.
• The Systemic Problem – From being kicked off an oval to harassment and assault, sexism in sport is widespread.
• The Female Athlete Journey – Why young women leave clubs and what this costs future communities and sponsorships.
• Tackling Change – The governance, leadership, and policy shifts needed to move beyond tokenism into genuine inclusivity.
• Individual Action – Practical steps you can take, from calling out “drive-by comments” to being proactive in your club.

Why Listen

• Be empowered to create real change in your sporting community.
• Understand the deep-seated issues behind sexism and homophobia in sport.
• Know you’re not alone - others share these experiences, and there are people working to change things.
• See how male allies can use their voice to support women and LGBTQIA+ athletes.

Key Takeaways

• The problem is widespread – These issues aren’t isolated but part of a global, systemic culture in male-dominated sports.
• It’s more than a game – Sport builds confidence, belonging, and life skills, making safe, inclusive clubs essential.
• Every action counts – Calling out microaggressions signals these behaviours won’t be accepted.
• The solution is collective – True change requires men to listen, acknowledge their role, and work with everyone in the community.

Timestamps
00:00 Mitch Brown and the urgency of the conversation
01:00 Jyn’s story: sexism’s impact on a young athlete
04:47 How Not All Clubs began
07:44 The power of anonymity
12:53 Stories from the DMs
18:59 Why women don’t get the longevity of connection
21:30 The red armband protest
24:12 The toll of heavy stories
29:21 A feminist framework for change
35:46 What you can do
38:53 Case study: drag queen rejected for “family club”
41:40 The vision for the future of sport
44:42 What a women-only league could look like
47:50 Advice for a 16-year-old feeling isolated
54:40 The most important lever for change: corporate support

Follow the 4TG movement on Instagram @4TG_podcast and join the discussion. Follow Not All Clubs on Instagram @notallclubs and check out their podcast. If this episode hit home, share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a five-star review.

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