Player accuses Australia's AFL of sexism

The captain of an Australian rules football team has launched a high-profile gender discrimination complaint after she was banned from playing in her league's biggest match.

Katie Brennan was suspended from the Australian Football League Women's (AFLW) over a rough tackle.

A similar offence in the men's league would attract a fine, not a suspension, BBC reports. 

Brennan has taken her case to the Australian Human Rights Commission. League officials have denied sexism.

What was wrong with the tackle?

Australian rules football is a contact sport that involves two teams of 18 people who use their feet or hands to move an oval-shaped ball.

Players tackle by wrapping their arms around an opponent and dragging them to the ground.

Brennan's tackle was deemed illegal because her opponent's head hit the ground - a rule designed to prevent concussion. The opponent appeared shaken but continued playing.

A tribunal ruled that Brennan had used excessive force, and banned her from leading the Western Bulldogs in the AFLW Grand Final on Saturday.

What is Brennan alleging?

Brennan has asserted that her suspension is a "fundamental breach" of Australia's Sex Discrimination Act.

She argues that AFL rules stipulate a lesser penalty in the men's game, citing incidents involving players Jack Redden and Ben Howlett last year.

"I believe my tackle on [opponent] Harriet Cordner was reasonable and I strongly disagree with the guilty finding," she said in a statement on Friday.

"It is even more troubling to know that if I was a man playing in the AFL and was reported for the identical tackle, I would not have been suspended and I would be playing in a grand final tomorrow."