In a shocking display of disregard for elite athletes, players from the Western Bulldogs' AFLW team were forced to conduct a full training session on a public park Oval littered with dog mess this week.
The professional footballers, preparing for their upcoming season, had to navigate the filthy conditions at Skinner Reserve in Braybrook, west Melbourne, after being locked out of their usual high-performance facility.
A Disgusting and Unacceptable Situation
Disturbing images from the session reveal multiple piles of dog faeces dotted across the playing surface. Players were seen performing tackles and ground-level drills just metres from the biohazard, with one star visibly recoiling after a close encounter with the waste.
This is not just a matter of poor optics; it's a serious health and safety issue. Contact with animal faeces can transmit a host of parasites and bacteria, posing a direct risk of infection and illness to the athletes.
Club and Player Reaction
While the Western Bulldogs club has remained diplomatically tight-lipped, sources close to the playing group report feelings of anger and frustration. To be treated in such a manner is seen as a profound lack of respect for women competing at the highest level of their sport.
The incident highlights the ongoing struggle for resources and adequate facilities in the AFLW competition, which often sees women's teams relegated to inferior grounds compared to their male counterparts.
Council Under Fire
The appalling state of the council-owned oval has drawn fierce criticism from local residents and sports fans alike. Many are questioning why more isn't being done to maintain public spaces and enforce dog ownership laws.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges still faced by professional women athletes and raises serious questions about the value placed on their health, safety, and the competition they represent.
