AFL Victoria must act now to stop the Kyneton Women's Football Club and their players being locked out of the game.

The Kyneton Women’s Football Club (KWFC) is a ready, proven, community-backed women’s football club - yet we have just 30 days to save our 2026 season after AFL Victoria upheld a closed-door decision blocking us from competing in any affiliated league.

KWFC was formed in late 2024 after more than 30 players, coaches and volunteers walked away from the Kyneton Football Netball Club following years of mistreatment, disrespect, and unsafe conditions. These concerns were compounded recently by public comments attributed to the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) president, which framed women’s participation in terms of “grooming and gender weirdness” and described the club and players as undeserving.

The players refused to accept marginalisation, disrespect and poor governance, and chose to build something better.

So they created their own player-led club, the Kyneton Women's Football Club.

In August they applied to play in their local league, the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) but were rejected without reasons.

So they applied to a league a little further down the road, the Central Victoria Football League and were accepted unanimously. 

Despite this, and despite meeting all participation requirements; AFL Victoria upheld the appeal by the RDFNL, a league that had previously rejected KWFC. The reasons they provided do not stack up, but there is no opportunity for appeal or to have the decision reviewed by an independent panel because of AFL's behind closed doors processes.

The bottom line is:

This decision was made behind closed doors.
KWFC was not allowed to participate in the appeal process.
We were not given a right of reply.

The Facts:

There is a league ready to take us.

We are financially viable. Strong Governance. Support for facilities and grounds access and we are a team that is ready to play.

The only thing stopping us is a single administrative decision.

If this decision is not overturned in the next 30 days, women footballers will lose a second consecutive season, and an award-winning, community-run club will be sidelined entirely.

What We Are Calling For:

AFL Victoria, and the AFL in its oversight role, to:

1. Approve the Kyneton Women’s Football Club’s affiliation for the 2026 season.
2. Publish clear and transparent league entry criteria.
3. Apply decision-making processes consistently and fairly.
4. Treat women’s teams as essential - not optional.
5. Ensure independent, accountable safety and integrity systems.

This is not just about one club.

It’s about who gets to play - and who gets to decide.

The KWFC deserve safe, fair, and equal access to the game they love.

Let Kyneton Women's Football Club Play in 2026. 

Want to help our campaign? Visit www.kwfc.com.au to find out other ways you can help.

** Reminder that donations made on this petition page go the Change.org (not our club). If you would like to donate directly to the KWFC and their campaign, you can make a tax-deductible donation here: https://asf.org.au/campaigns/kyneton-womens-football-club/donate-to-the-kyneton-women-s-football-club