Equal The Contest
The Australian Football Women’s League (AFLW) is the fastest-growing sport in Australia. So why are women and gender-diverse people still underserved? Director and film maker, Mitch Nivalis, captures the realities in their new film, Equal The Contest.
By Ellë Bolland
Photography By Mitch Nivalis
The Australian Football Women’s League (AFLW) is the fastest growing sport in Australia. Recognised in 2016, now 600,000 women and gender-diverse people play the sport. For those that haven’t got a clue what I’m talking about, Aussie Rules is… what’s the word? Violent. Very, very violent – or at least historically it has been. It’s like the naughty sibling to rugby and football – the one that picks fights in the playground for no known reason, the class joker that gets excluded from school for constantly disrupting everyone. In the game itself, players position themselves on the oval shaped field to use any part of their bodies to move the ball (also an oval) and kick it between the central goal posts. Its full name is Australian Rules Football, but to call it that is a bit like calling a commercial plane a Boeing 737. It’s known as footy. The Australian Football League (AFL) is the premier competition, and in Victoria, AFL isn’t just a sport – it’s a way of life.
Today, the sport is maturing and becoming more inclusive than before, with the AFLW league not only inspiring young girls but people of all ages and identities – photography & film director Mitch Nivalis is a testament to that.
Mitch was 40 years old the first time they ever laced up footy boots. Growing up in the suburbs of Sydney, Mitch was immersed in sport – but early experiences with exclusion shaped their perspective. “When I was 9, I played Tee-ball for a season (a simplified game of baseball). It was an all-boys team, but I loved it,” Mitch recalls. “Just after we won the grand final, I was told that I couldn’t go on to play baseball with the team anymore. Only boys play baseball – so instead of joining a women’s softball team, I quit”. A similar experience at 10, when they were told they couldn’t continue in boys’ football, reinforced the harsh reality that gender often dictated who could play. “I can’t believe that now, at 42 years old, this is still happening. Why are there so many barriers in place to prevent people from playing sport? Why is gender such an issue?” Mitch reflects.
Mitch tells me about their early experiences of AFL, “I went to one game and found it very hostile, very aggressive,” they admit. However, years later, while studying photography, Mitch discovered AFL in a new light when they saw a poster for Mt Alexander Falcons that said, “Women & gender-diverse people are welcome.” This became the turning point, as Mitch found themselves drawn to the sport in a way they never had before.
Mitch tells me that the journey with Mt Alexander Falcons began with a simple, yet powerful experience. “I went to the clubs’ ‘Come and Try’ day and loved it. It was drawing people from all walks of life because it embraced everyone with a ‘you’re welcome’ attitude – this small nuanced praise made it really inclusive”. The Falcons’ roster included players over 40, larger-bodied people, and individuals from multicultural backgrounds – many of whom had never considered themselves footballers. Despite early losses, Mitch believes that creating the right environment led to success. “If you create the right space, anyone can become competitive”, Mitch reflects.
But soon after, Mitch’s excitement turned to frustration when the Falcons’ application to field a team in the league was rejected without explanation. This setback inspired Mitch to turn the story into a documentary, chronicling the team’s journey toward inclusion. In doing so, Mitch discovered the 1948 Castlemaine Woollen Mill Women’s Football team, whose last surviving member, Mavis Thompson, became part of the film. “We are not the first to play, and we are not the last,” Mitch emphasises. “We need to continue our work to make people feel they can belong in this sport”.
Watching the film, I learn the journey begun in 2020, amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, when four people in Castlemaine, regional Victoria, came together to create a football team specifically for women and non-gender people. Lou, a Criminal Defense lawyer, is President of Mt Alexander Football Club; Alana, a Public Servant, is Vice President; Sam, an Economist, is Treasurer; and Gabe, a Physiotherapist, is Secretary. The goal? To create opportunities for new players rather than drawing from existing teams and those already invested in the sport.
Secretary, Gabe, herself a Physiotherapist, reflects on her position as a white, cisgender, heterosexual woman, explaining that the Falcons weren’t trying to replicate spaces where she already felt welcome, “We don’t need another space like that, because those spaces exist”. President, Lou, a Criminal Defense Lawyer, recalls a conversation with a long-time club member who said, “I’ve always felt safe here,” to which she responded, “Of course you do; it was built for you! But you’re not the members of my community that we’re targeting.” The Falcons simply aimed to offer an inclusive space for those underrepresented in traditional football.
The documentary goes beyond just community sport, offering a message about the outdated sporting codes across the world. Traditionally, women’s teams have mirrored men’s teams, focussing on performance rather than a sense of belonging. Have you ever thought about how, as spectators, we’re always focussed on performance – looking at the score in the corner of the screen, awaiting the announcement of who will pick up the cup and be crowned winners? Is there an alternative way to view things? Mitch shares, “Most of the time women’s clubs are built off of the template of a men’s club, which is orientated around performance. But competition doesn’t always need to be the priority – belonging and inclusion do”. It makes me think that we’ve commoditised sport so much that we’ve forgotten its power to foster connection and simply move our bodies.
connection
I learn that Mt Alexander Falcons prides itself in a strong volunteer foundation, grounded in the belief that everyone deserves a run. “When you’re a club that stands for something, people get behind you – regardless if you’re winning or losing.” Mitch reflects. Alana echoes this sentiment, addressing a concern about the balance between inclusion and competition. When asked if they ever care about winning, she responds firmly, “I absolutely care about winning! But I also think if we get all this stuff right on the ground, then we’re creating fertile ground for a successful club. Just because we’re focussing on that at the moment, doesn’t mean we throw out the development of our players – which has perhaps been a criticism of our club.”
There are countless personal stories illustrating the impact of the club. Lou, for instance, shares, “Playing AFLW, or being a part of the Falcons, being tall was made a positive thing, being heavy was made a positive thing!” she reflects. “It feels extraordinary to have the chance to move my body in a different way to before”. In extension of this, Herbie, the club’s dedicated and long-standing volunteer, also highlights its impact. “If I had the opportunity when I was younger, I’d have been there playing. I absolutely love the game. At long last, women and gender-diverse people have been given the chance to play, and that can only make the game better and more accessible”.
Men are by no means excluded as such. Club treasurer, Sam, reflects on his long history in the sport, “The game has given me a lot.” There’s a quiet humility in his voice as he acknowledges the opportunities he’s had, “The thing that attracted me to being a part of a women’s team is that, for the 20 years I played, all I had to do was show up on game day and everything was already provided for me.” As Sam continues, the ease with which he speaks about his previous experience becomes more apparent. “Now, I want to help give women and gender-diverse people the same opportunity – I guess there’s also some cis, white, male guilt tied into it too!” he admits with a chuckle.
When Mitch gets on the field to play their first official game, sharing the joy of seeing young kids – boys and girls – on the sidelines, witnessing the possibility of playing footy, regardless of their gender. The sight of this next generation, who will grow up believing that a space in sport is theirs for the taking, fills Mitch with hope and excitement. “Knowing that these kids will have a chance – that’s awesome,” Mitch says. It’s a reminder of the power of representation – that one poster, one act of inclusion, can change everything.
Equal the Contest is not just a film about community AFL, but a broader reflection on the world of sport. It challenges the traditional focus on performance and highlights the triumphs of inclusion, offering a positive and empowering message, particularly for the LGBTQI community. Mitch’s involvement with the Falcons reflects the growing progressiveness of the sport, and the lessons from community clubs like the Falcons are creating truly inclusive spaces for women and gender-diverse individuals. “There’s a groundswell of people eager to make the world a place for all, though many are hesitant to take the first step for fear of making mistakes,” Mitch shares with a sense of optimism. The film provides a non-judgmental platform for difficult conversations, opening doors for all individuals to feel seen and heard in the sporting world.
More than just a story about sport, the film teaches us valuable lessons on inclusion, sparking moments of reflection for traditionally underexposed audiences – such as older, white men – on what it means to be an ally. It’s a powerful reminder that sport can and should be a space for everyone, and with the right mindset, it can play a key role in building a more inclusive and understanding world.
Find out more about Equal The Contest here.
Watch the documentary on SBS here or on Amazon Prime here.
Buy Equal the Contest by Mitch Nivalis book here.
Title image: Jesse lands a tackle.
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