Undefeated Women's Football Team Faces 2026 Season Collapse After League Ban
The Kyneton Women's Football Club, an undefeated premiership-winning side, is confronting the complete collapse of its 2026 season after being blocked from competing in any affiliated league across Victoria. This dramatic development has sparked urgent calls for direct intervention from the Australian Football League to resolve what players describe as a deeply unfair situation.
Thirty-Day Survival Deadline Looms
AFL Victoria has upheld a closed-door appeal decision that prevents the club from participating in any sanctioned league next year, leaving KWFC with just thirty days to secure a pathway back into competition. This ruling comes despite the club meeting all participation requirements and receiving unanimous acceptance from the Central Victoria Football League, creating what players call an illogical impasse.
Formation Following Years of Mistreatment
The club was formed in late 2024 after more than thirty players walked away from the Kyneton Football Netball Club, citing years of systemic mistreatment, unsafe conditions, and persistent lack of respect. Players have previously detailed disturbing experiences including being left to use filthy change rooms after men's matches, feeling unwelcome within the club environment, and being consistently marginalised during key moments of their season.
Despite these challenging beginnings, the breakaway club has built remarkable community support, secured dedicated volunteers and sponsors, and in 2025 joined forces with Gisborne Football Netball Club to compete as a hybrid side. Their on-field performance has been exceptional, with the team going undefeated and winning the premiership, later receiving the prestigious Award for Contribution to Sport in the Macedon Ranges region.
Closed-Door Decision Without Representation
Despite this success, the club's attempt to compete independently in 2026 has been halted after AFL Victoria upheld an appeal from the Riddell District Football Netball League, which had previously rejected KWFC and told the club to seek opportunities elsewhere. Crucially, this appeal was decided behind closed doors without KWFC being given any opportunity to respond or present their case.
Player Charlie Bracey expressed the team's frustration, stating: 'We were forced to leave our old club because it was unsafe and unsupportive. Now, after doing everything right, we're being shut out – and the clock is ticking.'
Community Support and Growing Pressure
Another player, Rebecca Evans, highlighted the apparent contradiction in the situation: 'There is a league ready to take us and a team ready to play. The only thing stopping us is a single decision.'
The club has now launched a public petition calling on AFL Victoria to reverse their decision and urging the AFL to step in to ensure women and girls can play safely and fairly. Without decisive action, players face losing a second consecutive season, with genuine concerns that some may walk away from the sport altogether.
Broader Implications for Women's Sport
Supporters argue this case exposes deeper issues in community football governance and the disproportionate power leagues hold over women's sporting pathways. In a statement, the group emphasised: 'This isn't just about one club. It's about who gets to play – and who gets to decide.'
The situation raises significant questions about transparency in sporting governance, equitable access for women's teams, and the mechanisms available for clubs to appeal decisions that affect their survival. As the thirty-day deadline approaches, the football community watches closely to see whether governing bodies will intervene to preserve this successful women's team.
