W-League crowd culture under the spotlight after bottles thrown in Melbourne derby

There has been a lot of discussion about male fan behaviour at women’s football this week after a Victory fan threw a bottle at Melbourne City goalkeeper Teagan Micah during a W-League match on Sunday.

The fan was part of a men’s active group that had attended the last two Victory W-League fixtures, sitting separately from the women’s Victory Vikings group and acting on their own accord.

Originally lauded for their loud and proud support, the recognition of their attendance turned sour after Sunday’s incident at Melbourne’s Epping Stadium, prompting robust conversations within the football community about the difference between A-League and W-League crowd culture.

If you have ever attended an A-League match, you will have seen what male…