Mitch Brown has become the first male AFL player, past or present, to come out as gay or bisexual, in a step he hopes will make others in the game feel seen.
The 36-year-old played 94 matches for West Coast in a career that ended in 2016. He identifies as a bisexual man and is in a long-term relationship with a woman.
Brown said it would have been difficult had he spoken publicly during his playing career, but was motivated to help change the culture within the sport.
“Maybe a second person [comes out], and then the third…,” he told The Daily Aus. “You may be playing with someone who’s in the queer community. Empathy is powerful.”
Adelaide’s Izak Rankine became the latest in a string of players banned for using homophobic slurs last week. But suspensions have been unable to address the root causes of the game’s struggle to accept diversity among its players.
“What matters to me most is a sense of change, [creating] a movement where [players] can be anyone and be safe in any environment,” Brown said.
The news was widely welcomed on social media. In addition to messages from fans and supporters, the AFL Players’ Association described the post as “powerful” and the GWS Giants’ account responded with a heart emoji.
Brown grew up in Ballarat and was drafted into the AFL with pick 16 in 2006. The defender debuted the following year and spent a decade in the competition before playing his final game at age 27, an elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.
“I got to the end of my career and I was asked to play on for a couple more years, and I was over it. I was done,” he said. “I craved talking to someone and not being judged. I craved the ability to choose who I wanted to be around, rather than to fit into a team.”
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He said he had “buried” questions about his own sexuality due to the “hyper-masculine” environment, and that slurs were so constant they “just became part of the normal conversation”.
“There have been so many times in my life I’ve seen things or heard things and not said anything… in fear of people thinking I was gay or bisexual.”
Brown said he empathises with those currently playing, and it is easier for him as a past player to speak up.
“I don’t have to run out there at the MCG in front of 80,000 fans next week… and fear the comments being thrown at me.”
In contrast to the men’s game, the AFLW boasts numerous out players.
