Every time it feels like we are making two hard-fought steps forward in women's sport, old men throw us back a decade.

The latest setback is an AFL women's coach being let go over misogynistic comments towards his own players, including reducing them to 'breeders'.

During an online stream of a Collingullie Wagga Demons game, in regional NSW, which circulated on social media, one of the team's assistant coaches is heard making derogatory remarks about a female player's appearance.

Mamamia attends EA Sports Women's Football Summit. Post continues below.

During the Southern NSW Women's League match, the two men can be heard discussing the athlete's body, and the "shape" of young girls in general.

"She could be a good player if she lost a lot of weight," the now-sacked coach says. "She reads where the ball is. But she just can't f**king move. She's had four kids."

He pauses, before adding: "Well, we've got a real issue in our society overall, with the body shape of our women. They're our breeders, mate."

A second man replies, "Yeah, I know."

The assistant coach says, "It's just f**king wrong. Because of the food they're eating. Even the young girls' body shapes are all wrong… when we were growing up, the body shapes of girls, you hardly saw any fat girls. It was rare."

After being made aware of the recording, the club cut ties with the coach.

AFL Riverina said in a statement, "The language and commentary contained within the video are not representative of AFL Riverina, AFL or the values of our game. AFL Riverina has been in communication with the club, and the individual has been stood down from their role".

A toxic culture that still won't die.

Every time I think we're winning the battle against misogyny in sport, I am reminded that it's just being whispered away from women's ears.

This language isn't harmless. It perpetuates damaging stereotypes and reinforces the idea that a woman's value is tied to how her body looks and her ability to bear children. Spoiler: it's not.

The word 'breeder' being used so casually left me gobsmacked. Using it to talk about talented athletes running around a pitch — in front of men who could never — displaying skills as impressive, and in some cases more so, than their male counterparts, is not only inexcusable, it's a dehumanising reduction of women to their reproductive roles.

Criticising female "shapes" and tying it to their sporting ability is demeaning and diminishes the incredible achievements and work ethic of female athletes.

What makes the recording even more appalling is that the coach is speaking about his own player. This man, in a privileged position of authority, is supposed to develop and champion these athletes. Instead, he has degraded them, sprouting fatphobia, without hesitation.

If you need a reminder: women do not need to conform to a specific body type. Never. Not at any age. Not in any sport. And a woman's sporting capability has nothing to do with how small she is or how much she eats, as this coach suggests.

Saying these comments is bad; not stopping it is just as bad.

This behaviour isn't an isolated event, and it reflects a wider societal issue that needs constant attention and action.

Only last year, radio host Marty Sheargold was dumped by Triple M after he made disgusting comments about the Matildas and women's football. Earlier this year, the women of the Kyneton Wedge-Tailed Eagles (KWFC) had to fight against gender inequality and transphobia to compete in the league.

Read more: They stood up to a toxic boys club. Now these women have been barred from the game entirely.

As this recording showed, it's not just uneducated middle-aged men talking badly about women behind their backs, there are male bystanders who keep letting it happen.

As a parent, it's my job to teach my children respect, kindness and equality — but a big part of their development will happen away from me, influenced by coaches and peers. This kind of trope makes me worried — not because I have a daughter (because I'll teach her to give no f**ks about men's opinions on bodies), but as a mother of boys.

I can't control what they hear behind closed doors and in sports locker rooms.

Women are tired of calling this out. It's men who need to step up for women, in 'boys' only' spaces. Stop your dads, mates and sons from spitting out this speech.

Research shows that one in three Australian women has experienced sexual harassment in a sporting environment. And this just proves it again — sexism in sport is alive and well.

I wish we didn't have to talk about it. I would rather be talking about women's sport growing and thriving. How the recent attendance at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup opening game, between Australia and the Philippines, smashed the total attendance for the entire 2006 tournament in Australia.

But if we don't name and shame this toxic and contagious behaviour when we see it — whether it's a public platform, or a private conversation — this "locker room talk" will fester, and we risk teaching little minds that disrespect towards women is acceptable.

Boys need to know that equality belongs to every person, not just their male teammates, and girls must be able to pursue sports, in safe environments, without the fear of judgment based on their bodies. And sexist men need to be taken out of positions of influence immediately — like the Collingullie Demons have swiftly done.

If I had one message for the coach caught on the recording, it would be from the iconic US rugby star Ilona Maher: "I don't think you're going to bully the girl who could probably beat you up in a rage".

For the female Gullie stars: Don't you dare shrink. Take up even more space.

Feature image: Collingullie Wagga Demons.