Junior football league introduces send-off rule to stop kids from sledging

Concerns have been raised about the level of sledging in junior football games after a 12-year-old reportedly made a vile comment about an opponent’s mother during a game.

It comes as the South Metro Junior Football League, in Melbourne’s south-east, unveiled a new bylaw against derogatory sledging that will be introduced from next season.

League general manager Jake McCauley told 3AW it was a ‘proactive, not reactive’ step by the competition to stamp it out.

Neil Mitchell was stunned to learn kids were throwing around sexist and derogatory remarks.

‘I’ve known it to happen in AFL footy, or VFL footy, but at this level?’ the 3AW Mornings host said.

‘The worst sledge I can remember as a kid was ‘chewy on your boot’.’

LISTEN: Jake McCauley explains the league’s plan on 3AW Mornings