Former AFLW player Ashleigh Guest has revealed she was allegedly spat at and verbally abused during a local league senior women’s grand final, prompting her decision to step away from the sport at the community level. Guest, who previously played for GWS, Melbourne, and the Western Bulldogs, described the incident as shocking and degrading, sparking renewed conversation about the treatment of ex-AFL and AFLW players when they return to local competitions.

According to Guest, a group of three men on the sidelines heckled and taunted her throughout the decider. The situation escalated near the end of the final quarter when she went to retrieve the ball from behind the goals. Guest claims she heard one of the men spit at her.

"I jumped up straight away and was like, 'Did you f***ing spit at me?' and they just laughed," Guest told ABC Sport.

The incident has raised questions about how former elite players are treated in local football competitions, as well as the mechanisms leagues have in place to protect participants from abuse. Many former AFL and AFLW players return to local leagues with a passion for the game and the desire to mentor younger players. However, Guest’s experience suggests that the transition from professional to community football can sometimes be fraught with hostility.

The Western Football Netball League (WFNL) and Guest's club, the Yarraville Seddon Eagles, confirmed that the alleged spitting incident was formally reported and subsequently investigated. Despite a thorough review, including available video footage and witness accounts, the WFNL concluded there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the claim.

"Following a timely and thorough investigation, including a detailed review of available video footage, the player is observed collecting the ball and turning toward the group," the WFNL stated. "However, there is no visual evidence of any individual spitting and no witnesses in the immediate vicinity — including the WFNL goal umpire — that observed the alleged act."

The opposing club involved in the match also conducted an internal investigation in coordination with the league. They concluded that those present denied any spitting occurred during the game.

Guest, however, expressed disappointment with how the incident was handled, noting she was never contacted by league officials throughout the investigation.

"The actual incident itself, I feel really degraded. I'm not even sure why someone would spit, [it's] a pretty horrific act," she said. "Is it because I was an opposition player, or I'm a woman, or because I'm a lesbian? For what reason would someone spit? It has made me feel really gross; it's just an awful thing to have experienced."

As a result of the incident and its handling, Guest has decided not to return to play for Yarraville next season. She stressed that her decision was not based on her relationship with her teammates, who she described as supportive and welcoming.

"I love the girls; my teammates are great," Guest said. "My teammates have been nothing but supportive. And I think our president and the committee were trying to be supportive in their own way, [it] just hasn't come off. So it is sad, they've been a great club. I've been there for the last two seasons and was looking forward to playing there next year, but yeah, I can't justify [playing there and] won't support the WFNL at all."

The Yarraville Seddon Eagles acknowledged the league and opposition club's statements but fully backed Guest’s version of events. In a statement, the club emphasised its commitment to fostering a safe and respectful environment in community football.

"We acknowledge, however, that in the world of community football, it is difficult to determine all of the facts with the tools available to us. We will continue to advocate for a safe and respectful game environment and will work with the league and all member clubs to achieve this outcome," the club said.

The WFNL also reiterated its commitment to upholding respectful behaviour as a "non-negotiable" standard at all sporting events, underlining the seriousness with which it approaches such allegations.

Guest’s experience is not isolated. Earlier this year, former AFLW star Moana Hope recounted a similarly distressing incident, describing the verbal abuse she endured during an Essendon Districts Football League qualifying final as "vile and disgusting." Hope, a former Collingwood and North Melbourne forward, 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," the 37-year-old shared on Instagram. "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."

Investigations by ABC Sport revealed that former male AFL players have also faced similar challenges at the community level. Ex-West Coast premiership player Adam Hunter and ex-Collingwood defender Jason Cloke were both targeted with unnecessary aggression, resulting in injuries and discouragement from continuing to participate. Cloke, who suffered numerous concussions and multiple hospitalisations, ultimately stepped away from community football.

"They think you're entitled to cop it and you should be able to cop it because you're an ex-AFL footballer," Cloke said.

Guest highlighted the broader implications of these incidents, expressing concern that the abuse may discourage other former elite players from participating in local competitions.

"Why would AFLW players or AFL men's players come back to play local footy if they're going to be either targeted physically on the ground or targeted off-field with incidents like this?" she asked.

With community leagues relying on former professionals to mentor, inspire, and grow the game at the grassroots level, incidents like these raise serious questions about player welfare, league oversight, and the cultural environment within community football. While the WFNL and clubs stress that they treat all allegations seriously, Guest’s departure underscores the challenges leagues face in balancing evidence-based investigations with player safety and trust.

The incident has reignited conversations across the AFL community about the need for robust reporting, supportive procedures, and preventive measures to ensure that former AFL and AFLW players can participate in local football without fear of harassment or abuse.

As Guest steps away from the Yarraville Seddon Eagles and local football, her story serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting both the passion former elite players bring to grassroots competitions and the vulnerabilities they face in environments that may not always have the protective infrastructure of professional leagues.