Bulldog Robert Murphy took a devoted Bulldog member and footy fan on a tour of the new Elite Learning Centre recently after hearing that she had been banned from playing footy with her mates.
Evelyn Rannstrom and Toni Wilson want to continue playing in the under-14s team at Gembrook Cockatoo Junior Football Club this season but because they are girls they are unable to play.
The girls' parents have now lodged complaints against AFL Victoria at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
The girls, aged 14 and 15, were denied an age exemption by the Dandenong Ranges Junior Football League to play in the under-14s. AFL Victoria rules exclude girls from playing once they turn 14 and discourage them from playing with boys above the level of under-12s.
Toni was interviewed on radio station Triple M after the story was made public and the station in turn contacted Murphy, who has a regular weekly spot with the radio station, when they learned she was a Bulldog fanatic.
“As soon as I heard that she was a Bulldog Member and a real footy fan I knew that we needed to cheer her up and show her was footy is all about,” Robert Murphy said.
Toni came down to the oval to visit the playing group and was delighted to get the chance to meet her favourite player - Robert Murphy.
“This is amazing. I never expected to see such a big training facility and it’s incredible to see them training up close. Robert is my favourite player so this is just awesome!” she said.
