Regional WA football coach fired for online sexist slur against Tammy Hembrow
Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club says it has "terminated" John Baggetta's position as league coach. (Sourced: Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club)
In short:
A regional football club has sacked its senior coach after he made a graphic sexual slur about an influencer on social media.
John Baggetta was the league coach for Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club when he made the comment online.
What's next?
The South West Football League has referred the incident to the WA Football Commission.
A senior coach at a regional West Australian football club has been stood down after he directed a graphic sexual slur at fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow on social media.
Harvey Brunswick Leschenault (HBL) Football Club, which counts among its alumni West Coast Eagles rising stars Brady Hough and Clay Hall, today informed its players and members that John Baggetta had been "terminated" as league coach.
The termination came in response to an offensive remark Mr Baggetta made online about Tammy Hembrow after she was allegedly spotted on a date with Geelong star Bailey Smith.
The comment, which the ABC has decided not to republish, has since been deleted — but not before being reshared by other pages.
John Baggetta (middle) says he has owned his mistake and apologised "unreservedly" for the comment. (Sourced: Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club)
"We do not condone these comments, and they do not reflect the values or standards of the Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club at any level," HBL's board said in a statement.
"We are incredibly proud to have a women's team, female representation on our board and women actively involved as members of our club.
"We have consulted with members of our women's side, and we are committed to offering them and all the females in our club any support necessary."
'I have owned my mistake'
Mr Baggetta told the ABC he had apologised for the comment.
"I have owned my mistake and have apologised unreservedly," Mr Baggetta told the ABC.
Mr Baggetta's remark about Ms Hembrow has also drawn attention to other offensive social media comments made by the former coach in the past.
In one post from March 2023, Mr Baggetta said West Coast Eagles' AFLW senior coach Daisy Pearce — then a development coach at Geelong — "obviously can't cook or she [sic] be in the kitchen".
South West Football league president Barry Tate says local leagues set the tone for the wider AFL community. (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
In another post from September 2017, Mr Baggetta used a homophobic slur in the caption of a picture he shared of a same-sex marriage plebiscite postal survey.
When asked about previous sexist and homophobic comments made on social media, which remain online, Mr Baggetta said: "The other matters are irrelevant to this matter."
Mr Baggetta, who also commentates South West Football League (SWFL) games for SEN, initially parted ways with HBL at the end of 2021 after three years as league coach.
He was reappointed in April after Derek Hall stepped down and was meant to see out the rest of 2025 and 2026.
League president puts foot down
SWFL president Barry Tate said Mr Baggetta's behaviour was not something the league wanted to be associated with.
"I'm pretty disappointed," he said.
"That stuff that was happening maybe 50 years ago ... we should be moving on."
South West Football League president Barry Tate says he was disappointed to hear the comment made by Baggetta. (ABC South West WA: Bridget McArthur)
Mr Tate said HBL was doing "everything possible to make sure this is not put underneath the carpet".
He said it was an important wake-up call to all clubs to make sure they set clear standards.
It comes three years after another SWFL club, South Bunbury, was accused of condoning sexist and racist behaviour, prompting over half of its women's football team and their coach to quit halfway through the season.
"We learned a lot from that situation and that's why first thing this morning the integrity officers from the Football Commission were notified,"Mr Tate said.
The SWFL president said it was important local leagues cracked down on sexist behaviour as they represented the "grass roots" of the AFL community.
"It's really important for the young kids coming through that they do have good role models," he said.
In a joint statement to the ABC, WA Football and Country Football WA said Mr Baggetta's comments did not reflect their values.
"We are aware of a social media post from a senior coach in country WA and strongly condemn the sexist, vile nature of the comments made," they said.