Dwayne Russell believes the video featuring AFLW players hitting back at critics only gives the “trolls” and the “haters” more credibility.
The video released via social media by 7AFL was targeted at football fans who have belittled the women’s competition that got underway last weekend.
Russell has urged the wider AFLW community to “forget the haters” and that there are indeed football-loving males who are “100 percent behind” what they’re doing.
“I didn’t think it was a great idea girls, because it does exactly what you’ve been warning people not to do,” Russell told SEN SA’s Dwayne’s World.
“Instead of highlighting the highlights and accentuating the great parts of AFLW, it actually highlights and points to the negative and gives some credibility to the trolls and haters.
“Hey girls, some of us footy guys are 100 percent behind what you’re doing too.
“I personally hope with this explosion in participation rates that the dream of an 18-team, 22-round AFLW season where the girls get the same pay as the guys, can some day become a reality.
“Forget the haters, don’t waste your breath on them.”
7AFL later removed the video from their social media platforms.