Leading female footy star labels AFL legend Mick Malthouse ‘degrading and disrespectful’

A women’s AFL star has caused a sexism storm by walking out of a presentation when Mick Malthouse suggested the sport was a ‘man’s game’.

Speaking at a lunch in Ballarat on Thursday, Ms Hope stormed out of Mars Stadium after Malthouse declared AFL was a ‘man’s game’ and women should play under modified rules.

‘I was so disgusted… I walked out and drove back to Melbourne. He (Malthouse) can have an opinion but he was degrading and disrespectful,’ she said.

Taking to Instagram, she said she was ’embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated and disgusted’.

AFLW women’s star Moana Hope (pictured right with girlfriend Isabella Carlstrom) is at footy war with AFL identity Mick Malthouse

Speaking at a lunch in Ballarat on Thursday, Ms Hope stormed out of Mars Stadium after Malthouse (pictured) declared AFL was for men only and that women should wear skirts

Speaking at a lunch in Ballarat on Thursday, Ms Hope stormed out of Mars Stadium after Malthouse (pictured) declared AFL was for men only and that women should wear skirts

AFLW women's star Moana Hope (pictured right with girlfriend Isabella Carlstrom) stormed out of a footy function after she felt degraded by AFL identity Mick Malthouse

AFLW women’s star Moana Hope (pictured right with girlfriend Isabella Carlstrom) stormed out of a footy function after she felt degraded by AFL identity Mick Malthouse

‘I love OUR game and I will never, ever let anyone tell me or any girl that we don’t belong or deserve to pull this jumper on at this level. We are one,’ she later wrote. 

Hope’s girlfriend Isabella Carlstrom took to Instagram to also vent her frustration, labelling the premiership-winning coach in 2010 with the Magpies ‘disgusting.’

‘How can this man be paid to attend a function and put women down so badly that @moanahope puts the mic down and walks out of a room full of people. Degrading women of the AFLW #disgusting,’ she wrote. 

‘I cannot believe what this disgrace of a man said while on stage in front of so many young kids and my partner.’  

Malthouse was bemused by Hope exiting the function in dramatic fashion, believing her conduct was unprofessional, before stating his comments were not aimed at female footballers. 

‘If she cared to listen instead of looking at her phone for most of the event, she would understand,’ Malthouse said via AFL.com.au.

‘Apparently she’s had a crack at me in terms of what I said about netball.

‘(I was saying) the new rules are similar to netball, in other words, positioning. Not one word about female football, females or anything else.’     

Taking to Instagram, Hope said she was 'embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated and disgusted'

Taking to Instagram, Hope said she was ’embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated and disgusted’

Hope's girlfriend Isabella Carlstrom took to Instagram to also vent her frustration, labelling the premiership-winning coach in 2010 with the Magpies 'disgusting'

Hope’s girlfriend Isabella Carlstrom took to Instagram to also vent her frustration, labelling the premiership-winning coach in 2010 with the Magpies ‘disgusting’

Former Collingwood star Moana Hope (pictured) has declared footy war on AFL identity Mick Malthouse

Former Collingwood star Moana Hope (pictured) has declared footy war on AFL identity Mick Malthouse

He later told the Today show that Hope ‘hadn’t listened to the questions’.  

AFL great Jason Akermanis, who sat in between Malthouse and Hope at the function, backed the former Magpoes boss.

He also felt Hope’s Instagram comments were ‘a bit strong’. 

‘I thought her reaction was one of inexperience. You want to have people on stage that will give you a different opinion that you’re probably not going to like. We’ve all done it. We’ve all been there,’he told SEN’s Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson.

‘Mick is a great guy to talk footy. He’s a great human being. So to sort of attack Mick on a personal level and say he’s not a nice person is a bit strong.

‘I think Mo just hadn’t been in these situations much. And I think in about 5-7 years when she’s been through the circuit a bit more she’ll probably be a bit more relaxed and I reckon she’ll see it a bit differently.’

Hope was a marquee signing for Collingwood when AFLW launched last year.

She will turn out for North Melbourne in 2019.   

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