An embattled Western Australian country football club has taken the "unprecedented" move of withdrawing its three-time premiership women's team amid claims of racist and sexist behaviour within the club.
Almost the entire women's team at the South Bunbury Football Club has now resigned halfway through the season in response to the alleged incidents.
In one such incident, a male club leader was forced to apologise after referring to being at a strip club during the women's season launch.
It was alleged he said "he needed bigger pants" to contain his excitement at being in a room full of "pretty girls".
Another flashpoint came in May where a rival player, Noongar man Hayden Yarran, was racially vilified by one of South Bunbury's male league players.
That led the women's team coach, Maxwell Jetta, to resign in protest of his club's handling of the incident.
He was promptly followed by his assistant coach and more than a dozen players.
The South Bunbury women's team forfeited its weekend match after being unable to field a team.
On Monday afternoon, the South West Football League (SWFL) announced the club had withdrawn its women's team from the competition.
The SWFL said in a statement what was happening at the club was "obviously unprecedented" and it would work through the ramifications.
Heartbreaking to see it 'crumble'
Team captain and one of the club's first female players Bethany Bond said pulling the team was a decision of the board and not discussed with the remaining players.
Following the weekend forfeit, Ms Bond said she was left with about four girls who wanted to continue playing this season.
"It's heartbreaking after six years of hard work and all of the dedication we've put into this team … to see that all just crumble is extremely sad, but I wasn't surprised," she said.
Ms Bond said that while she had not personally experienced sexism, she was aware of sexist remarks aimed towards teammates throughout the year that had made them feel uncomfortable.
"Personally, I thought we had a good culture, but coming into this year I did feel like the board didn't really respond to our women's players really well," she said.
Ms Bond said the future of women's football at the club was unclear.
"This is going to affect the club for years," she said.
"I feel like people will avoid playing there next year and I honestly don't know if any of the girls will go back."
The ABC has contacted the South Bunbury Football club for comment.
More players speak out
Emily Wilson, 20, has been a club member since she was a child and currently plays for the affiliated South Bunbury netball team.
She claimed to be one of several women who were spoken to inappropriately at the season launch night.
Ms Wilson said she felt singled out by being called "gorgeous Emily" by an older man.
"In the moment I sort of laughed it off but I think everyone at the club looked shocked, even the boys, but no one really stood up and said, 'That's wrong'," Ms Wilson said.
"I felt like I needed to be okay with these jokes and language that's passed around the club to be respected by the male members but really it just makes you feel really small.
"Unfortunately, I think you kind of learn at the club that you're not really as valued as a woman just for being a woman."
A group of players from the women's netball team have since sent an open letter to the club urging them to do better when dealing with racism and sexism.
The ABC understands the club will have a board meeting tonight to address the issues raised by the female members.
