Australian life comes in many different forms. I chose to be a part of the Renegade Pub Football League (Pub Footy) for its inclusive, modern and community minded take on AFL, a staple of my up-bringing in rural Australia. AFL, historically is not an inclusive sport.
As a child I played for 6 years in a boys team as no girls teams existed. Every year my parents fought the league to keep me playing. I wasn’t allowed to play after 14 years of age, a story common for many women of my age group.
As I got older, I moved away from sport, becoming disenfranchised by the sexism ingrained in AFL. In my late 20’s I joined the pub footy league. Each team is affiliated with a pub or live music venue in the inner north of Melbourne.
I fell in love with the league and its constant effort to welcome people of any gender identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, religion, or skill-level. I started documenting each round, the crowd, the teams and taking portraits of each player to create trading cards. During each round the league raises money for a different charity via a community bbq while a crowd of families, hipsters, footy fans and doggo’s watch and enjoy the inclusive atmosphere.
I have taken 1000’s of photos, often with a beer in my hand. I strive to convey the happy, vibrant and inclusive nature of a community of people coming together to have fun, drink some beers, listen to music and play a little sport in-between.
My name is J, I am a professional photographer. In my arts practice I document the world around me. My images are as simple (and as complex) as my one-letter first name.
