AFLW Star Sarah Perkins Speaks Out Against Body-shaming In Sport

When it comes to advertising in sport, we’ve long been confronted with images of the lean, toned athlete. Whether it’s running, athletics, tennis or surfing, the ideal has long been one perpetuating unrealistic body standards. But what advertising gets wrong is that professional sport isn’t a domain concerned with beauty. Whether taking to the court or the field, athletes have shown us that theirs is a profession grounded in grit and determination, something Gold Coast Suns player Sarah Perkins has in excess. 

Over the weekend, the Gold Coast Suns were defeated by St Kilda, but Perkins’ athletic prowess still captured the attention of crowds. She’d already kicked a goal and two behinds in the game before she went on to take a fifth mark in front of goal with a minute left in the game, with her side trailing four points behind. Sadly, Perkins skewered the shot wide and the Suns dropped to a narrow defeat of 5.4 (34) to 4.7 (31). 

Perkins was quick to address the fans on social media, apologising for the loss. The 28-year-old wrote, “Yesterday hurt a lot but the sun came up this morning and I’m ready for a big week on the track and in front of goals. Sorry to the Gold Coast Suns fans but please stick with us.”

While the response was overwhelmingly positive from most fans, it was also a post that drew criticism and body-shaming comments about Perkins’ weight. Not one to back down, Perkins was quick to speak out against the messages about her weight, tweeting: “2 from 2 this evening…anyone other bloke/fake account wanna comment on my size, body shape, athleticism? More than happy to hear feedback about my football skill/ability but unfortunately not everyone can be a size 6!”

The AFL Players Association said: “There’s no room for these kinds of comments. We’re with you all the way, Perko.” It was a sentiment echoed by the Suns, who condemned such comments and reported the social media users and their comments to the relevant organisation. “There is no place for abuse of any form in our game, whether it be in the stands or on social media,” a club spokesperson said. “As a club and community…it’s up to us to call out anti-social behaviour when it occurs.”

Other players were quick to voice their support for Perkins. Collingwood captain Steph Chioci wrote in a tweet: “People are just jealous they have never achieved anything worth posting about. Got your back always. Can’t wait to see you kick more snags from 50m out and lay tackles like a boss.”