Former AFLW star Moana Hope details excessive verbal abuse at local footy game

Former AFLW star Moana Hope has called out the "vile and disgusting" verbal abuse she was on the receiving end of at a local football game over the weekend.

The 37-year-old, who used to play for Collingwood and North Melbourne, said she was really disappointed in the excessive and relentless verbal attacks from both opposition players and the crowd during a qualifying finals clash.

"As a parent, I was concerned, and I questioned whether it was the safest place for my kids and my family," Hope posted to her Instagram.

"On the field, there were a few players that were incredibly, incredibly inappropriate with the verbal abuse that they were giving me, the personal attacks.

"They were saying horrible things, things they were saying about my personal life and about me, and the people that I love."

It comes as the AFL integrity unit investigates Adelaide star Izak Rankine for the alleged use of a homophobic slur during Saturday night's win over Collingwood.

Moana Hope played for Collingwood and North Melbourne in the early seasons of the competition. (AAP: Mal Fairclough)

Hope plays in Essendon Districts Football League women's premier division for Aberfeldie. She said her coaches put in a complaint to the league, which she trusts will "fulfil their due diligence" on the matter.

At one stage, Hope alleged an opposition player threatened her with physical violence.

"The ball was nowhere in sight, by the way, not that that would make a difference. It wouldn't. It was just a really horrible experience, and really unwarranted, unacceptable and embarrassing," Hope said.

Hope said one man in the crowd "stood there all day" throwing abuse at her, within ear shot of her family, including her small kids.

"The things that he was saying were vile and disgusting, and nothing short of just a personal attack on me, for absolutely no reason. I spoke to my mum after the game, and she said she felt completely and utterly uncomfortable about it," Hope said.

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While she said the majority of clubs her side has come up against all season have been incredible, this was a really disheartening experience.

"I just want to say this, if you're going to go and support a football team, support that team. Don't abuse, don't scream or threaten players just for no reason other than you think it's appropriate," Hope said.

"That's not footy, and that's not welcome … you might have been able to go on and have done that in the 1950s and got away with it, but that's not played in the spirit of the game.

"That's not footy, man. That's just abuse."

The league has been contacted for comment and is not yet in a place to provide one.

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