Cairns women's AFL team faces funding disputes and resignations

A successful women's AFL team in Cairns is facing a crisis just before the new season. The team, the Manunda Hawks, is upset because the club's committee is not providing enough money for the women's side compared to the men's team. Kareena White, a long-time player and coach, has decided to leave the club. She feels "exhausted" after the club refused to increase funding for women’s football. White, who has won four premierships and played over 200 games, said they only asked for about 30% of what the men's team gets. Ryan Galea, the new senior women's coach, also quit last week. He criticized the club for treating players poorly and questioned their standards for funding. White was hurt to hear that some players were told they weren’t "up to standard" to warrant sufficient funding. She noted that the Hawks have been very successful, winning championships in the past decade. The club president, Andrew Welsford, said they are committed to supporting a women's team but are facing financial pressures. He acknowledged that the club is still working on its budget and has lost several sponsors. White, however, believes the merging of the men's and women's teams has widened the gap in funding and support for women. Several players, including elite cricketer Kris Hunt, have left the team due to these issues. White expressed her frustration saying she is tired of fighting for equality in funding. The league's general manager, Craig Lees, is willing to help resolve the issues between the committee and the women's team. He emphasized the importance of listening to the players. Lees noted that participation in women's football has grown by 30% in Cairns over the past year and highlighted the need for clubs to ensure everyone can play without financial burdens.