Hannah Mouncey (pictured) will discover if she is eligible to join the AFL Women’s league in the coming days, after beginning her transition in late 2015
The AFL is set to make a historic ruling on whether a transgender player can take part in the AFL Women’s competition.
Former national men’s handball player Hannah Mouncey has nominated for Wednesday’s draft and is waiting to find out whether she will be eligible to be recruited.
The 27-year-old was part of the national handball side that competed to qualify for the Rio Olympics before undergoing hormone treatment. She began her transition in late 2015.
At 190cm and 100kg, Mouncey has spent the past season playing in the ruck for Canberra’s Ainslie Tricolours, having been given approval to play in the women’s league.
She has previously been found to be well within the testosterone limits permitted by the International Olympic Committee that the AFL has adopted for transgender athletes.
Ms Mouncey, 27, formerly Callum (right) is the former captain of the national men’s handball team
Ms Mouncey has spent the past season playing in the ruck for Canberra’s Ainslie Tricolours women’s team
The AFL has indicated it will rule on Mouncey’s eligibility in the coming days.
‘I know that I am different, not necessarily in a good way or bad way,’ Mouncey told the ABC’s Outer Sanctum podcast last month.
‘People have said ‘with how big you are you’ll probably hold back a bit so you don’t hurt anyone’ and I’m like, ‘well no, I’m not going to hold back, that defeats the whole purpose’.
‘I had my ribs broken in my last game so I know they can hit me as hard as I can hit them and do damage.
‘I know I’m seen differently but I won’t approach it any differently.’
The 27-year-old says she won’t be playing sport any differently because of her transition, and says she is prepared for backlash she might encounter
Mouncey acknowledged she would inevitably face scrutiny as the first transgender athlete in elite football but said she was prepared for any potential backlash.
‘If people have an interest in me because I’m trans, then that is what it is. I can’t control that,’ she said.
‘To be honest, I’ve probably heard and seen everything that you possibly can in the negative sense so that’s not really going to hold any fears for me there.
‘I’m just keen to play, get picked up hopefully and then see what happens.’
Ms Mouncey is hoping to be drafted to a team when the AFL draft begins in November