Channel 7 commentator Kate McCarty has slammed the internet trolls for continuing to abuse her for the fact that she is a woman.
McCarthy was an inaugural member of the Brisbane Lions AFLW team, making the All-Australian team in 2017 on her way to a successful career across three clubs.
She played seven years at the top level before retiring at the end of the 2022 season.
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McCarthy then transitioned into the media and has since become one of the prominent voices in the sport.
As well as working for Channel 7, McCarthy is also a member of the Triple M commentary team and works for AFL media on their Round So Far program.
On last week’s episode of Round So Far, McCarthy made a point about the game not doing enough to protect umpires backing out of a stoppage.
Players continually get fined for making contact with umpires, but McCarthy suggested maybe a more severe penalty like suspension or a free kick and 50m penalty might help stamp it out given the potential for an umpire to suffer a serious injury.
A totally valid comment on an issue that is clearly a hot topic at the moment.
But that didn’t stop the keyboard warriors with McCarthy posting a series of abusive comments directed at her.
She then followed up with a statement calling out the abuse.
“I am actually so f***ing sick of being abused for having an opinion on football. Most of the time based purely around the fact that I’m a woman,” she wrote.
“And yep I get they are just ‘words’ but when it happens every f***ing day/week it takes a toll.
“I have the right to have an opinion and present it in a fair and balanced way. And you’re all entitled to have your own take too. There are respectful ways to commute this.
“But to constantly be abused and diminished because of my gender is completely f***ed.
“Social media isn’t a license to abuse people and hide behind a keyboard.
“Leave me alone and continue scrolling if you don’t agree with me and can’t have a respectful debate on the topic.”