Bridie O'Donnell

We've seen criticism of some of the language being used.

On Monday, Sydney Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich said the club was, quote, "extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation." His choice of words has been criticized by sports broadcaster Bridie O'Donnell.

The thing that disturbed me the most was the language around found themselves, which is really passive language, and if we think about athletes, professional athletes, particularly men, and we like to describe them as active and strong and dominant and strategic and clever and, you know, powerful.

And then often, not just in this situation, but other situations where we're worrying or wondering if they've done something wrong or even criminal, suddenly they're like children.

We've seen, uh, criticism of some of the language being used to describe these sexual assault allegations.

Uh, yesterday, the Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich, uh, said the club was, quote, "extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation." That language is being criticized by sports broadcaster and former professional cyclist Bridie O'Donnell.

The thing that disturbed me the most was the language around found themselves, which is really passive language, and if we think about athletes, professional athletes, particularly men, and we like to describe them as active and strong and dominant and strategic and clever and, you know, powerful.

And then often, not just in this situation, but other situations where we're worrying or wondering if they've done something wrong or even criminal, suddenly they're like children.

We infantilize them.

Oh, my goodness, they just came across an incident.

That's former professional cyclist Bridie O'Donnell.

There's also been criticism of the focus on the footballing implications of this alleged incident.

And Lisa, as you'd expect, there's also discussion about whether the code needs to do more to reform its culture, particularly in regards to attitudes and the treatment of women.

Let's hear some of that comment now, starting with the view from former athlete and sports broadcaster, Bridie O'Donnell.

This is a club that has been held up as being a, a bastion of diversity and inclusion.

They've had Pride rounds.