Transgender first for Australian football as Hannah Mouncey is accepted
Hannah Mouncey
Image copyright  Hannah Mouncey  YouTube Image caption Prior to  her  transition   Hannah Mouncey  was a member of the Australian men's handball team
 Hannah Mouncey   28  who previously played at local level in Canberra  hopes to take to the field in the state of Victoria this season.
Before  she  began  her  gender transition in 2015   Mouncey  played for the Australian men's handball team.
The AFL's decision means  she  can now partake in any of its affiliated state leagues during the 2018 season.
In a statement uploaded to Twitter   she  thanked  her  supporters - but not the AFL itself.
"I think it would be highly inappropriate for me to thank the AFL for allowing me to do something open to every other Australian  which the science and research has supported all along "  she  said.
Despite the decision made in  Mouncey 's case  the AFL has still to define its national framework for gender diversity.
Image copyright   [TGT]   YouTube Image caption Prior to  her  transition    [TGT]   was a member of the Australian men's handball team
  [TGT]    28  who previously played at local level in Canberra  hopes to take to the field in the state of Victoria this season.
Before  she  began  her  gender transition in 2015   Mouncey  played for the Australian men's handball team.
The AFL's decision means  she  can now partake in any of its affiliated state leagues during the 2018 season.
In a statement uploaded to Twitter   she  thanked  her  supporters - but not the AFL itself.
"I think it would be highly inappropriate for me to thank the AFL for allowing me to do something open to every other Australian  which the science and research has supported all along "  she  said.
Despite the decision made in  Mouncey 's case  the AFL has still to define its national framework for gender diversity.