The AFLW community has rallied around Maddy Prespakis after the Essendon star hit back at body-shaming trolls.
The 23-year-old was targeted before Sunday’s win over Gold Coast and issued a personal statement about the impact of the “horrible message”.
Prespakis, the league’s best-and-fairest in 2020 and a three-time All Australian, then sent a message on the field by lifting her jumper and proudly pointing to her body to celebrate a goal.
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“To be honest, I feel very sad right now, for myself I have battled with body image and learning to love my body from a young age until now,” Prespakis wrote.
“Playing football is the game I love but body confidence hasn’t always made it easy with the view I have on myself, and that’s why I’ve worked so hard to be able to look in the mirror and love what my body looks like.
“Yesterday’s horrible message has brought back A LOT of feelings I’ve worked hard to overcome over the years but with the best people around me right now I know I’ll continue to have the love from so many beautiful people in my life.”
Prespakis had addressed her body-image struggles in a pre-season interview filmed for Channel 7’s AFLW coverage, choking up as she discussed making changes to support herself.
“While I’ve achieved some great things I still don’t think I’m good enough,” she said.
The footage left a mark on the Talking W panel in the wake of Prespakis’s fresh fight as a result of the trolls.
“Oh Mads, you are good enough. But that is as raw, as open and as honest as you’ll get,” Adelaide Crows premiership player Abbey Holmes said.
All Australian Kate McCarthy said the episode sent an important message to the AFLW.
“Mads, you’re absolutely good enough and we love you in our game. We love everything you offer us and you’re one of the best players in the competition to start with, that’s full stop, no matter what anyone else has to say about anything,” she began.
“The thing that I love most about AFLW actually, and it’s really unique coming from other sports, is everyone has a different shape and size on an AFLW field, and we need everyone, the way that they look, because you’ve got speedy wingers, in-and-under midfielders, and you’ve got key position players.
“For women to be different shapes and sizes we need to look different to start with. And the other thing that really gets me from this is women aren’t like men and they’re not like male athletes, they’re not like AFL players where essentially you’ve got carbon copies of each other that are just a little bit taller or a little bit shorter.
“We have to look different to be able to put on weight, to put on size, to put on strength. It doesn’t come easy for some of us and it doesn’t come easy the other way for others. The unique ability about women is to put on size you need to put on weight. Our bodies are incredible.
“Mads, what you’ve been able to do by being so raw and open is just incredible and I think it’s nothing but positive that can come out of this. We’re all absolutely behind you.”
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North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney, a seven-time All Australian, reminded Prespakis “you are not alone”.
“I know I’ve had my struggles with that in the past,” the 35-year-old said.
“We’re constantly comparing ourselves to other athletes, other players in our side. Our bodies are our best asset as athletes.
“The most important thing, and I’ve known Mads since she was quite young, she’s a phenomenal player. She’s so strong in the contest but it’s her ability on the outside as well that carves teams up, she’s such a pure footballer.
“People just need to stop talking about people’s bodies, it’s no business at all and let’s just appreciate Mads as a footballer because she’s a bloody good one.”
Prespakis had 22 disposals and two goals against the Suns as the Bombers moved into the top eight with their third victory in nine days.
Essendon will be back in action against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night while Kearney’s ladder-leading Kangaroos will face Sydney on Sunday, both matches among five games live and free on 7plus in Round 7.