Australian Football League allows 6’3” player in women’s league

The Australian Football League (AFL) has ruled that Anthony “Freya” Golding, a 6’3”, 200-pound player, is permitted to continue competing in women’s leagues. Golding, who previously played in the senior men’s division, currently plays for the Westminster Old Scholars in the Adelaide Footy League.

The decision follows formal complaints from three clubs within the league, which argued that Golding’s physical presence poses a safety risk to female athletes. These concerns were heightened by viral footage showing Golding knocking a player to the ground during a match.

The AFL’s Gender Diversity Policy Committee investigated the matter and concluded that Golding’s participation does not present “unacceptable safety risks.” Under the current policy, players are allowed to compete on teams that match their self-proclaimed gender identity, and they cannot be excluded solely due to potential physical advantages.

Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernaham criticized the decision, maintaining that the player's size and weight constitute a continued safety risk to competitors.