AFL to make late transgender draft call

The AFL will make an announcement on transgender player Hannah Mouncey's draft eligibility on Tuesday.

The AFL won't make a call on transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey's eligibility until the day before the AFL Women's draft.

The league's national selection meeting will be held in Melbourne on Wednesday but clubs won't know if they can pick Mouncey until an announcement is made on Tuesday.

The 190cm, 100kg ruck played eight games for Ainslie in Canberra's women's competition this season and kicked 17 goals.

Having previously played for Australia's men's handball team, Mouncey began taking gender transition hormones in 2015.

Despite having a season of state league football under her belt, the AFL will step in and make a ruling on her eligibility to play at the elite level.

"The AFL can confirm she has nominated for the AFL Women's draft and that her eligibility status will be determined prior to Wednesday's selection meeting," AFL spokesman Jay Allen told AAP on Monday.

The AFL follows International Olympic Committee rules which state an athlete must prove their testosterone count is below a certain level.

It is understood Mouncey meets those requirements.

Inspired by the success of the inaugural AFL Women's season, Mouncey has previously spoken of her desire to test herself at the highest level.

But she took to Twitter on Monday to decline further comment.

"At the moment I am not in a position to make any comment surrounding my availability for the draft," Mouncey wrote.

"(I) will not be doing any interviews or making comment on the situation."


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Published 16 October 2017 6:00pm
Source: AAP


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