Hanede Rabah is a practicing Muslim and an avid sports fan. Born into a family of seven brothers and two younger sisters, she fell in love with the game of Aussie Rules, but soon realised there were more than just rules she would have to negotiate.

“When I was younger, ‘I’m the girl, I belong in the kitchen, I don’t belong out on a footy field’, was the dominant prejudice, she recalls. “Even as I got older, after I covered, there was more judgement, because I’m covered and I shouldn’t be playing sport and if I did, how was I going to be modest about it?

Men play sport, women get married and have kids. That really hit me, because I didn’t agree with that.” 

So, the Richmond supporter, who embodies the Tigers’ ‘strong and bold’ ethos, stood her ground.

“Sport means everything to me. It gives me happiness, it gives me freedom. It gives me a sense of, I can be who I want to be.

I just said to them, ‘this is what I love and this is what I’ll do and I’ll never change for anybody!’ Yeah, and I don’t care what people think.”

She didn’t have to look far for support, with those closest to Hanede, clearly in her corner.

“My family is very supportive because we come from a family that loves sport. We believe that I come to the tennis court, I play with my brothers. I go with my brothers to have a kick.” 

“Yeah, I definitely would advocate for women to be more active within our culture”, says Hanede’s brother, Hasan Elmahmoud. “I don’t think that it’s a religious barrier, it’s more of a cultural barrier. There’s nothing wrong in Islam if you’re keeping your modesty and being decent. Actually, Islam would encourage for you being healthy and looking after your body.”

Prejudice wasn’t the only part interfering with Hanede’s pursuit of her passion. 

“I played footy back in school and was really good at what I did. But when school finished, so did footy. There was nowhere else for me to go.”

Now, an assistant coach for Richmond Football Club’s, Bachar Houli Women’s Footy Programme, Hanede acknowledges society’s views have changed significantly, thanks, in part, to the dashing number 14 defender in yellow and black.

“Bachar Houli has shown people that Mulsim people can do it. I think people had the fear before that, ‘I’m Muslim, people will judge me, I’m not going to get accepted’. But with Bachar Houli out there now, I think he’s given a lot of people a lot more positivity and hope.

We just wanted to show them (programme’s female participants) what footy is all about and not just boys can live up to their dreams, but you can too. A few of the girls after that were like, ‘I can’t wait to play AFL and I hope I get there’. We just gave them that confidence and encouragement, that you can do it.” 

Hanede reveals fear of judgement can often be heightened for Muslim women and punctuates the importance of spreading the message, that being active and playing sport, is not just for a select few.

“They (Muslim women) can be accepted just like everybody else. Just because they’re Muslim, doesn’t mean they can’t do what everyone else can do.”

And her advice to anyone avoiding being active because of fear of judgement, “everyone should just go for their dream and not worry about what other people think of you. Do what you love. Don’t let anyone stop you.”

“This girl can be whoever she wants to be and follow her dreams and be successful.”

Richmond Football Club is a proud partner of VicHealth’s This Girl Can Victoria campaign, celebrating women who are all kinds of active. Women who are giving it their all, or giving it a go, but not giving a damn!