News Mitch Brown comes out as first openly bisexual AFL player

[Northball]

Takes guts.

 

[Shuestar13]

Well done Mitch

 

[BSD]

As reported at the time he retired.

'What do I do?' Delisted Eagle lost without footy

Delisted Eagle feels lost after failing to find a new home in the drafts

www.afl.com.au

"Brown turned down a contract extension at the Eagles in a bid to find a new club in Melbourne, where his netballer wife Shae had moved."

That's what the story was at time .

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

This being your immediate response is… interesting to say the least.

Please stop it. It's not all about you.

 

[Godfather32]

2016. Selected in the elimination final no less.

Don't start....

Good on him though, brave to come out now. Shame he didn't feel comfortable enough around the club to do so when he was here.

 

[KBLT]

As a bisexual man myself, I cannot understate how important this is.

Mitch ended his career in 2016, which was right as the talks of the gay marriage plebiscite were really ramping up. At the time, I myself was struggling with coming to terms with who I was in a time where debate around same-sex couples was dominating the media and social landscapes. In the months after Mitch retired especially, with the advertising from the no campaign, it was very hard to work through that, seeing all of the 'it's immoral' or 'slippery slope' arguments being laid out against a very core piece of who I am, a part that I had yet to fully accept. It wasn't until a few months after the plebiscite passed that I felt comfortable coming out to my family.

If an AFL player, especially an Eagle had been openly gay or bisexual at the time, it would almost certainly have made my own battles with identity easier. I even remember hoping that someone would come out and say it. At the time a handful of players of other sports, not just in Australia, were doing so. Not seeing that happen in the AFL was disheartening.

But I couldn't possibly blame Mitch, or any other past or present LGBTQ+ player who have chosen not to come out publicly, there's a reason it has taken until 2025, almost eight years since same-sex marriage was legalised, nine years since he retired, to finally see the first in the AFL. Its a reflection of the environments inside clubs, unfortunately, intentional or not. Even today, with the debate around bans for homophones slurs, there is some real nasty shit being lobbed around. Even on this board.

I remember, as a fourteen year old, crying because I didn't want to be gay. At the time the term bisexual was unknown to me, but I doubt that would have made much of a difference.

It may be too late to help me come to terms, but so many young (or even not so young) men and women like me will have seen this today and been given something. Maybe that could be inspiring someone to come out, or to accept themselves, or just some hope, it doesnt matter how it helps, but it does.

Proud of you, Mitch.

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

Gonna be a huge day for the “who cares, just stick to football” commenters.

But isn't that what you people want? Oh, right, it's not what you want. You want to keep pretending everyone who isn't a virtue signaller, is a massive homophobe. You guys are sooo tiring.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

But isn't that what you people want? Oh, right, it's not what you want. You want to keep pretending everyone who isn't a virtue signaller, is a massive homophobe. You guys are sooo tiring.

Please stop. It’s not all about you.

 

[Forward Press]

But isn't that what you people want? Oh, right, it's not what you want. You want to keep pretending everyone who isn't a virtue signaller, is a massive homophobe. You guys are sooo tiring.

More on topic, the fact he was selected in the 2016 elimination final should be evidence that he wasn't earmarked for the delist pile. The 5 games in 2 seasons stat is misleading because he did his ACL in Round 1 of 2015 and our backline was extremely strong in 2016.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

But isn't that what you people want? Oh, right, it's not what you want. You want to keep pretending everyone who isn't a virtue signaller, is a massive homophobe. You guys are sooo tiring.

I'd have thought you would have exhausted yourself raging about Pride Round and Sir Doug Nicholls Round (oddly enough, Big Freeze Round or the country-themed round/match or ANZAC Day round or Spud's Game never seem to draw the same "stick to footy" complaints), but apparently not.

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

it was very hard to work through that, seeing all of the 'it's immoral' or 'slippery slope' arguments being laid out against a very core piece of who I am, a part that I had yet to fully accept.

There's actually not a lot of people who think it's immoral.

But I couldn't possibly blame Mitch, or any other past or present LGBTQ+ player who have chosen not to come out publicly, there's a reason it has taken until 2025, almost eight years since same-sex marriage was legalised, nine years since he retired, to finally see the first in the AFL.

The salient point is that it's 9 years after retirement. This will be old news tomorrow. Literally, hardly anyone cares. In fact, the people who care the most are the ones claiming a large portion of society are homophobic.

If a current player comes out, it will get some more air time. While players run around a call each other on the field, I doubt they'd be saying that to a gay guy. They'd be supported by the vast majority of the players. They're still going to call other straight guys , though.

It may be too late to help me come to terms, but so many young (or even not so young) men and women like me will have seen this today and been given something. Maybe that could be inspiring someone to come out, or to accept themselves, or just some hope, it doesnt matter how it helps, but it does.

Proud of you, Mitch.

I'm proud he came out and hope others follow. But I think what will help most is realising that most people really don't care. There's people who need to make out it is way worse than it actually is in order to support their ideology. Those people are probably doing more harm.

 

[Forward Press]

There's actually not a lot of people who think it's immoral.

The salient point is that it's 9 years after retirement. This will be old news tomorrow. Literally, hardly anyone cares. In fact, the people who care the most are the ones claiming a large portion of society are homophobic.

If a current player comes out, it will get some more air time. While players run around a call each other faquots on the field, I doubt they'd be saying that to a gay guy. They'd be supported by the vast majority of the players. They're still going to call other straight guys faq's, though.



I'm proud he came out and hope others follow. But I think what will help most is realising that most people really don't care. There's people who need to make out it is way worse than it actually is in order to support their ideology. Those people are probably doing more harm.

What do you gain from peddling this kind of apathetic ideology?

As a bisexual man myself, I cannot understate how important this is.

Mitch ended his career in 2016, which was right as the talks of the gay marriage plebiscite were really ramping up. At the time, I myself was struggling with coming to terms with who I was in a time where debate around same-sex couples was dominating the media and social landscapes. In the months after Mitch retired especially, with the advertising from the no campaign, it was very hard to work through that, seeing all of the 'it's immoral' or 'slippery slope' arguments being laid out against a very core piece of who I am, a part that I had yet to fully accept. It wasn't until a few months after the plebiscite passed that I felt comfortable coming out to my family.

If an AFL player, especially an Eagle had been openly gay or bisexual at the time, it would almost certainly have made my own battles with identity easier. I even remember hoping that someone would come out and say it. At the time a handful of players of other sports, not just in Australia, were doing so. Not seeing that happen in the AFL was disheartening.

But I couldn't possibly blame Mitch, or any other past or present LGBTQ+ player who have chosen not to come out publicly, there's a reason it has taken until 2025, almost eight years since same-sex marriage was legalised, nine years since he retired, to finally see the first in the AFL. Its a reflection of the environments inside clubs, unfortunately, intentional or not. Even today, with the debate around bans for homophones slurs, there is some real nasty shit being lobbed around. Even on this board.

It may be too late to help me come to terms, but so many young (or even not so young) men and women like me will have seen this today and been given something. Maybe that could be inspiring someone to come out, or to accept themselves, or just some hope, it doesnt matter how it helps, but it does.

Proud of you, Mitch.

Can you read this Ruben Grubarb and still stand by that post?

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

I'd have thought you would have exhausted yourself raging about Pride Round and Sir Doug Nicholls Round (oddly enough, Big Freeze Round or the country-themed round/match or ANZAC Day round or Spud's Game never seem to draw the same "stick to footy" complaints), but apparently not.

On record: I'm a fan of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Gather Round, too. My position is, and always has been, keep it. Pride Round, Ladies Round, f'em off. Keep Anzac game to one game. Trophies and medals for home and away games, f-em off.

The virtue signalling is too much. Doesn't mean I'm a racist, nor homophobe.

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

Can you read this Ruben Grubarb and still stand by that post?

Yep.

 

[jdisc]

He’s previously told the story of how he was offered a deal for 2017 then had it reneged when Sam Mitchell said he’d come over.

I suspect the offer to play on for a couple more years that’s he’s talking about came from another club.

Believe it was St Kilda, but by the time the Mitchell stuff all wrapped up Saints had already allocated the list spot/cap space elsewhere

 

[squashface]

There's actually not a lot of people who think it's immoral.

The salient point is that it's 9 years after retirement. This will be old news tomorrow. Literally, hardly anyone cares. In fact, the people who care the most are the ones claiming a large portion of society are homophobic.

If a current player comes out, it will get some more air time. While players run around a call each other faquots on the field, I doubt they'd be saying that to a gay guy. They'd be supported by the vast majority of the players. They're still going to call other straight guys faq's, though.



I'm proud he came out and hope others follow. But I think what will help most is realising that most people really don't care. There's people who need to make out it is way worse than it actually is in order to support their ideology. Those people are probably doing more harm.

I’m sure hardly anyone cares in the bigoted circles you surround yourself with but the huge amount of people who now feel represented as well as anyone who feel a shred of empathy for others do in fact care.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

On record: I'm a fan of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Gather Round, too. My position is, and always has been, keep it. Pride Round, Ladies Round, f'em off. Keep Anzac game to one game. Trophies and medals for home and away games, f-em off.

The virtue signalling is too much. Doesn't mean I'm a racist, nor homophobe.

Your definition of virtue signalling appears to depend heavily on your personal views on the issue. Sir Doug Nicholls Round "celebrates the culture of Indigenous Australians and the contribution of Indigenous Australian players to the sport" but Pride Round is "dedicated to promoting LGBTQI+ inclusion and diversity in Australian rules football by creating a safe, welcoming, and celebratory space for everyone" yet one is cool and the other is silly virtue signalling.

As for the accusation of "virtue signalling" it seems to stem from a believe that nobody earnestly believes in these causes, which I would say is emphatically not the case. And given that being LGBTQ+ has been heavily associated with elevated rates of suicide and depression, especially among young people, a major sporting code showing leadership in this area by trying to make the sport more open and welcoming to LGBTQ+ supporters or participants of said sport is a very positive use of their influence.

Or putting it another way,

 

[dopefish]

Easily the best 'good news' story of the year.

 

[Rowan18]

Good for him. I feel we're close to a tipping point with this stuff where a bunch of players announce things around the same time and then it's normalised. Has already happened for AFLW. There must be a few gay players on the list of every club.

 

[Kegs15]

On record: I'm a fan of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Gather Round, too. My position is, and always has been, keep it. Pride Round, Ladies Round, f'em off. Keep Anzac game to one game. Trophies and medals for home and away games, f-em off.

The virtue signalling is too much. Doesn't mean I'm a racist, nor homophobe.

In fact, the people who care the most are the ones claiming a large portion of society are homophobic.

Others have replied to this a lot better but worth saying - racism and homophobia are a spectrum. As are political views, this board's views on where Maric should be played, and sexuality itself.

You're not automatically 100% free of racism/homophobia because you wouldn't actively abuse someone for it. As a straight, white guy I've never had to stress about how others might judge me at my footy club for who I am (outside my mediocre on-field ability). Acknowledging that there's teammates, people you play against, people you watch and obsess over the stats of at AFL level, who are going through something most footy fans have never had to, I think more than justifies the very little effort it takes to get around something like Pride Round, show we would be supportive if a teammate does come out - and take the opportunity to see if there's a way we can better educate ourselves/understand this stuff.

Footy society is rightfully trying to stamp out overt homophobia, it's certainly still massive but it's good that words like f**t are becoming unacceptable on a footy field. However I'd argue there's far greater numbers of people like yourself who might not be outright abusive for it, but take the stance of "it's ok to be gay as long as you keep it away from me and my footy" or - "f Pride round off" as you say. Seriously have a think about what that general message would send to people in a competition/whole-sport culture who are nervous about how their sexuality will be perceived in the footy environment.

It's that covert homophobia, as well as the overt stuff, that I'd argue is making it so hard for non-heterosexual people in men's footy. Because that covert stuff genuinely is a large portion of society. I'm certain myself and most of the 'virtue signallers' in this thread have unintentionally contributed to it one way or another in the past, in junior footy or at workplace events or in general - which is why we need things like Pride Round and why it's awesome/important that Brown is putting this in the open, gives us an opportunity to stand with our mates of any sexuality and a point of discussion to hear accounts like KBLT 's and better understand something we've never had to deal with.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Would think the message of “please just offer a fraction of empathy” plus many of our own posters sharing their stories about how unbelievably life changing Brown’s announcement would have been for them if it came in their formative years would be enough evidence.

At a certain point, your mind is made up, and at that stage I just think this isn’t the thread (or board) for you.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Just look at that mullet though.

No wonder he has both the ladies AND the men chasing him!

 

[Scotland]

Anyone else get the 'We love you Mitch' post by the club before the context of the story? I did momentarily panic given previous events of 2025 so I am glad he is OK.

I'm from the 90s so I don't really care, but also appreciate that it would've been shit for him as a player trying to hide his personal life in the culture of footy and shit for him to be the first player to come out and now be known for that so I am glad the club are on the front foot supporting him even though he's been out of the system for a decade.

Straight, gay, bi - whatever. Can we all agree there is no reason to get around looking like Roland from Schitt's Creek?

 

[Godfather32]

Anyone else get the 'We love you Mitch' post by the club before the context of the story? I did momentarily panic given previous events of 2025 so I am glad he is OK.

I'm from the 90s so I don't really care, but also appreciate that it would've been shit for him as a player trying to hide his personal life in the culture of footy and shit for him to be the first player to come out and now be known for that so I am glad the club are on the front foot supporting him even though he's been out of the system for a decade.

Straight, gay, bi - whatever. Can we all agree there is no reason to get around looking like Roland from Schitt's Creek?

As long as he stays out of the forward pocket he can wear his hair however he likes imo

 

[Forward Press]

Straight, gay, bi - whatever. Can we all agree there is no reason to get around looking like Roland from Schitt's Creek?

I can excuse racism, homophobia and sexism, but I draw the line at insulting Roland from Schitt's Creek.