AFL Victoria has dropped an investigation into an alleged derogatory comment attributed to the president of a major football league towards the breakaway Kyneton Women's Football Club, citing a lack of corroborative evidence.
On 21 December, Instagram media page Not All Clubs posted a comment alleged to have been made by Riddell District Football Netball League president Brenton Knott in a private message to a supporter, saying the situation was not about footy, it's about grooming and gender weirdness.
The comment followed a long dispute between the Kyneton women's team and the RDFNL, after the women's side defected from Kyneton Football Netball Club last year following claims of inequitable treatment and disrespectful conditions. The Kyneton Women's Football Club was formed in late 2024 after more than 30 players, coaches and volunteers walked away from the Kyneton Football Netball Club following years of mistreatment, disrespect, and unsafe conditions.
In a statement, an AFL spokesperson confirmed the complaint was investigated by an AFL Victoria accredited investigation officer and assessed consistent with the National Community Football Policy Handbook. Due to a lack of corroborative evidence, the allegations are unable to be substantiated and therefore no further action can be taken.
The Riddell league's response added to the tensions. In a statement published on its website on 6 February, the league said the message was a falsified, photoshopped and doctored image and said they would begin the legal process of proceeding with defamation cases against those parties responsible for publishing these doctored images. When questioned by reporters, the league said the RDFNL President was not asked to supply his phone once there was a lack of cooperation from the other party.
The investigation's closure comes as the broader dispute has shifted. After months of uncertainty, persistence and passionate advocacy, the Kyneton Women's Football Club has been given the green light to compete as the Wedge-Tailed Eagles in the Central Victoria Football League for the 2026 season. The Riddell District Football Netball League had opposed the use of 'Kyneton' in the club's title, but has since confirmed it does not object to the team joining the CVFL under its new identity.
The saga has also claimed leadership casualties at the Riddell league. RDFNL vice-president Andrew Power has resigned following offensive comments made on the women's club's social media. Following a brief review, Andrew Power and the RDFNL mutually agreed that his personal views are not aligned with the values of the league, its board and staff.
The dropped investigation leaves unresolved questions about how community sports organisations handle disputes and protect their members. The women's decision to break away was driven by what they describe as systemic mistreatment. Players and staff raised concerns about unequal treatment between the men's and women's programs, including resourcing, access to facilities, and club priorities. While the former club denies these claims, players say their concerns went unresolved, and they decided to leave. That institutional failure, rather than the alleged comment, may be the more pressing accountability question for community football.