![\"Kyneton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/412e206d8b2c281c50eb97e346b5d8fd15d04e74.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThis masthead has seen screenshots of Power\u2019s comments in an email to the AFL integrity unit on February 7.<\/p>\n
The AFL declined to comment.<\/p>\n
The Riddell league said in a statement on Tuesday that it had been made aware of the comments on Power\u2019s social media account.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RDFNL had no prior knowledge of these comments. Following a brief review, Andrew Power and the RDFNL mutually agreed that his personal views are not aligned with the values of the league, its board, and staff,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew has resigned from his position as vice president effective immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thank him for his service over many seasons and wish him well for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RDFNL does not condone or support the behaviour reflected in those comments and apologises for any distress caused to members of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Power\u2019s resignation follows a 12-month dispute between the Kyneton women\u2019s team and the RDFNL. The women\u2019s side defected from Kyneton Football Netball Club last year after claims over inequitable treatment and disrespectful conditions, and have been battling to find a new home.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kyneton Women\u2019s Football ClubCredit: Joe Armao<\/p>\n
Kyneton accepted into Central Football League<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, president Natalie Korinfsky confirmed to this masthead that after negotiations with the AFL, the team\u2019s application to join the Central Victorian Football league for the 2026 season was approved, on the proviso they drop \u201cKyneton\u201d from their name, not use the Kyneton Showgrounds and play as the Wedge-Tailed Eagles.<\/p>\n
While \u201cnot a perfect solution\u201d, Korinfsky said she felt incredibly relieved.<\/p>\n
Kyneton representatives met with AFL executives on February 9 to discuss alternative options for the team to play in a league after their application to join the CVFL was blocked by Riddell District \u2013 an appeal that was upheld by AFL Victoria.<\/p>\n
The AFL gave the women\u2019s team two options: play in the Central league (provided they drop the name) or get an AFL affiliation where they would play CFVL teams in scratch matches but not score premiership points.<\/p>\n
Korinfsky said players voted for the first option and their application to the CVFL was officially approved on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though what we\u2019re going through is incredibly difficult and truthfully quite distressing at times, to get these amazing people and organisations just throwing their support behind us just tells us that we were doing the right thing,\u201d Korinfsky said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing it for our playing group and for our club, we\u2019re also doing it for women, girls and gender diverse people everywhere in our country, to say, \u2018there\u2019s a space for you in sport, and you deserve to be there\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deserve to be feel safe and respected.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement posted on Monday, RDFNL said they would not be appealing Kyneton\u2019s re-submitted application to the central Victoria Football League.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the past 15 months have been challenging, the RDFNL respects the outcome and sincerely hopes the newly established Wedge-Tailed Eagles Football Club, the Central Victorian Football League, and the RDFNL each enjoy successful seasons ahead,\u201d the league said in a statement.<\/p>\n
AFL integrity unit investigates after comments from country president<\/p>\n
In a separate incident, on December 21, Instagram media page Not All Clubs posted an alleged comment by RDFNL president Brenton Knott in a private message to a supporter, later leaked to media, saying the situation was \u201cnot about footy, it\u2019s about grooming and gender weirdness\u201d.<\/p>\n
The league has since said the message was a \u201cfalsified, photoshopped and doctored image\u201d.<\/p>\n
The comment was allegedly sent in response to a post discussing Kyenton\u2019s application to join the Central Victorian Football League.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to look at the other side. They don\u2019t deserve anything \u2013 you\u2019re advocating that any team that\u2019s not happy breaks away,\u201d said the alleged message, which has been seen by The Age.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow is that manageable by the AFL? If you look at the principals [sic] in this \u2013 it\u2019s not about footy, it\u2019s about grooming and gender weirdness.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou follow local footy so you need to see AFL Vic and RDFNL aren\u2019t the bad ones here.\u201d<\/p>\n
On February 6, the RDFNL published a statement on its website and said Knott\u2019s alleged comments were a \u201cfalsified, photoshopped and doctored image\u201d. The AFL integrity unit has not announced an outcome of the investigation; the AFL was contacted for comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RDFNL and Brenton were not able to come out and deny these claims publicly during this time but can now confirm that these claims to be completely false and fake,\u201d the organisation said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrenton and the RDFNL can now begin the legal process of proceeding with defamation cases against those parties responsible for publishing these doctored images \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The Age contacted Knott, who declined to comment.<\/p>\n