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Brennan takes AFL to Aus Human Rights Commission

The Bulldogs have given up on freeing Katie Brennan for Saturday's AFLW grand final -- but they will head to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Brennan lost her appeal at the AFL on Thursday and could have taken the league to the Federal Court to challenge the two-match suspension.

However, she has since decided to let the team focus on the grand final and instead challenge the AFL to change its rules surrounding women's suspensions.

“I believe my tackle on Harriet Cordner was reasonable and I strongly disagree with the guilty finding,” Brennan said in a statement on Friday morning.

“It is even more troubling to know that if I was a man playing in the AFL and was reported for the identical tackle, I would not have been suspended and I would be playing in a grand final tomorrow.

“The fight for gender equality is as every bit as important to me as the grand final and the decisions I have made reflect both of those priorities.”

Katie Brennan. Pic: Getty
Katie Brennan. Pic: Getty

Brennan could still have her suspension overturned by the commission, a possibility she is seeking "in the interests of justice".

League rules state that the AFLW players are suspended on their second sanction, owing to the short seven-game season.

AFL players, who play a 22-game home-and-away season, are suspended on their third sanction.