Scholz Defends Port Adelaide's Nutbush Dance
Port Adelaide AFLW ruck Matilda Scholz has criticised online commenters who mocked the team's dance during a lightning delay.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Dancing
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During an hour-long lightning break in its match against St Kilda in Melbourne, Port Adelaide performed the Nutbush dance, which drew mockery online. Port Adelaide went on to win by six points, and 21-year-old ruck Matilda Scholz has since rejected the criticism.
Why it matters
Scholz said critics of the dance do not watch women's sport and do not understand how female athletes prepare differently from male athletes. Her comments highlight ongoing debate about how the AFLW is judged against the men's competition in Australia.
The match result was a six-point Port Adelaide win following an hour-long lightning break, per the match report. The extraction does not provide any audience or engagement figures for the social media criticism.
The players
Matilda Scholz
A 21-year-old ruck for Port Adelaide in the AFLW who publicly defended her team's dance and rejected comparisons between the women's and men's competitions.
The details
Port Adelaide used the Nutbush dance to pass the time during the hour-long lightning break in its match against St Kilda. Scholz, who plays as a ruck, said commenters who mocked the performance did not understand the realities of women's sport.
Timeline
Saturday night: Port Adelaide beat St Kilda by six points after the lightning delay.
Season Trajectory
The clash reflects a long-running debate over whether the AFLW should be measured against the AFL men's competition in Australia. Scholz's remarks place the incident within that wider argument about how women's sport is perceived and covered.
Fans following the AFLW can expect the Nutbush dance to remain part of the team's pre-match and break routines if it becomes a regular feature. The episode may influence how supporters and commentators discuss women's sport on social media.
The takeaway
Criticism of women's sport often reflects unfamiliarity with how female athletes train and compete, so judging the AFLW on its own terms is more accurate than comparing it directly to the men's league.
Further reading
Explore more about dancing traditions and performances that fans and teams use to mark moments in sport.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 7NEWS.
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