NO TROLLS Homophobia in the AFL - 4 Corners

[Bombermania]

More prevalent in older age groups.

I doubt that when many young guys listen to Andrew Tate.

 

[quotemokc]

The biggest issue is the media.

They cannot get enough of same sex relationships.

Moana Hope and Maria Thattil share loved-up selfie

Well, it’s official…ish – Moana Hope and Maria Thattil seemingly confirm their rumoured relationship via an Instagram story.

www.perthnow.com.au

Completely irrelevant ex-player but wow front page news!!!

When do you ever see an article about a female sportsperson and her male partner?

 

[CrazyJoeFevola]

Honestly baffled as to how anyone could think there aren’t any players at the top level who are gay lol. There would be more than a few handfuls. That’s not even factoring in the plethora of players who aren’t gay but aren’t straight either. I fit in to that category (obviously not the top level AFL player category lol) and have been around the ‘gay scene’ (cringe as hell term but remember there are posters here who think there aren’t any gay players in the AFL, need to be clear) and there have been players on nights out not giving a toss who sees them getting comfortable with other blokes.

Good program on the whole. Aker came across as a more than a complete tool, even trotting out the ‘how can I be homophobic, I’m not scared of gays’ and ‘I don’t care if you’re gay, just don’t shove it in my face’ tropes.

One thing I thought was slightly tacky and I didn’t see the value in adding on was the AFLW contrast provided to it in the context they used it in. It’s a false comparison. If you’re denying the level of homosexuality is much much higher in some top level women’s sport including AFLW than in general society, which is what they were saying to then throw it back on the shithouse position as far as the men’s game has, it ain’t going to work. You have to deal in facts.

It’s absolutely wonderful that women’s sport in general is and always has been much more welcoming to people who aren’t heterosexual and it would’ve made it easier for me in certain circumstances playing blokes sport at lower levels if it were like that but you can’t compare apples and oranges. At no level of men’s footy are you going to get a change room that is over 50 percent queer. It’s just not helpful to make the comparison.

 

[Del165198]

I doubt that when many young guys listen to Andrew Tate.

Children can be morons, yes.

But there's plenty of studies/surveys out showing that each successive generation since the silent generation has had more accepting attitudes towards homosexuality

 

[Toump Ass]

I believe the world of AFL footy is not ready for it.

Leaving aside the rest of the article, I thought at the time this comment from Aker was spot on.

Ten years later, we still don’t have an openly gay footballer. Sadly, this kind of proves his point.

It’s his opinion a gay footballer would have struggled in the AFL environment. I’d like to think that’s not the case anymore, but having been at two afl clubs he’d know better than I would what it would have been like.

Edit: I haven’t seen the show so have no idea what else Aker said, sounds like a load of crap tho.

 

[Toump Ass]

Looking forward to the day there is an openly gay fooyballer. Really don’t think it would be a big deal tbh.

 

[Cmarsh]

Honestly baffled as to how anyone could think there aren’t any players at the top level who are gay lol. There would be more than a few handfuls. That’s not even factoring in the plethora of players who aren’t gay but aren’t straight either. I fit in to that category (obviously not the top level AFL player category lol) and have been around the ‘gay scene’ (cringe as hell term but remember there are posters here who think there aren’t any gay players in the AFL, need to be clear) and there have been players on nights out not giving a toss who sees them getting comfortable with other blokes.

Good program on the whole. Aker came across as a more than a complete tool, even trotting out the ‘how can I be homophobic, I’m not scared of gays’ and ‘I don’t care if you’re gay, just don’t shove it in my face’ tropes.

One thing I thought was slightly tacky and I didn’t see the value in adding on was the AFLW contrast provided to it in the context they used it in. It’s a false comparison. If you’re denying the level of homosexuality is much much higher in some top level women’s sport including AFLW than in general society, which is what they were saying to then throw it back on the shithouse position as far as the men’s game has, it ain’t going to work. You have to deal in facts.

It’s absolutely wonderful that women’s sport in general is and always has been much more welcoming to people who aren’t heterosexual and it would’ve made it easier for me in certain circumstances playing blokes sport at lower levels if it were like that but you can’t compare apples and oranges. At no level of men’s footy are you going to get a change room that is over 50 percent queer. It’s just not helpful to make the comparison.

If Isabel Huntington as an AFLW player can recieve that much homophbic abuse while playing in a league where so many players have come out as gay, it gives a good indicator of why an AFL player has yet to come out. You could only imagine the amount of discrimination.

 

[Reximilian]

Interesting but still lacked a lot of substance. Not much discussion of what the AFL could actually do to be better apart from having a pride round. More education for players, club staff and the media or is the league just stuck in a holding pattern until someone decides to be first?

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I mean, all you have to do is picture hearing Luke Darcy's voice on repeat saying "how brave" so-and-so is for the rest of their lives to understand why no one wants to come out. Also, while 95% of the public will either: a) celebrate, b) not care or c) Keep their phobic shit to themselves, it's the 5% that will throw vitriolic shit with no repercussions over social media that are the problem.

 

[CrazyJoeFevola]

If Isabel Huntington as an AFLW player can recieve that much homophbic abuse while playing in a league where so many players have come out as gay, it gives a good indicator of why an AFL player has yet to come out. You could only imagine the amount of discrimination.

It’d be horrific. I can’t put myself in their shoes but I’m 99 percent sure I wouldn’t be publicly announcing myself as bisexual if I were an AFL player. I just don’t think it would be worth it. Again, from what I know and what the program showed, there are plenty of players out to their teammates and probably every other person in their own lives, in that respect it’s like being out to my mates I play with at my local club. It’s just not worth the crap that would come from the public, that’s the dimension that comes through here.

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

I find it weird that Aker copped so much shit when he said the AFL as an industry/community wasn't ready for a player to come out. He was right - the AFL community still can't go a season without racially abusing someone, generally abusing someone, or some sort of other shit. There's no way the community as a whole could handle a player coming out and it's a black mark against the league.


Edit: of course Akers other comments are out of line - but the above is still correct.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

The biggest issue is the media.

They cannot get enough of same sex relationships.

Moana Hope and Maria Thattil share loved-up selfie

Well, it’s official…ish – Moana Hope and Maria Thattil seemingly confirm their rumoured relationship via an Instagram story.

www.perthnow.com.au

Completely irrelevant ex-player but wow front page news!!!

When do you ever see an article about a female sportsperson and her male partner?

Um there's being plenty about Ash Barty and her wedding and recent birth of her child.

 

[Cmarsh]

Interesting but still lacked a lot of substance. Not much discussion of what the AFL could actually do to be better apart from having a pride round. More education for players, club staff and the media or is the league just stuck in a holding pattern until someone decides to be first?

program did mention the young advocate who has been trying to get the AFL pride round going. This has so far fallen on deaf ears. May be a something that should be done.

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

The biggest issue is the media.

They cannot get enough of same sex relationships.

Moana Hope and Maria Thattil share loved-up selfie

Well, it’s official…ish – Moana Hope and Maria Thattil seemingly confirm their rumoured relationship via an Instagram story.

www.perthnow.com.au

Completely irrelevant ex-player but wow front page news!!!

When do you ever see an article about a female sportsperson and her male partner?

Imagine a Bombers supporter having this opinion

 

[Chief]

I remember an NRL player I knew in high school who would occasionally snog the odd bloke but didn't think of himself as gay. Probably a ton of professional players in all sports like that.

 

[RAPPA]

In the digital and social media age we are in, it’s one thing for a player to come out and deal with it in the context or the AFL industry, but then there’s the need to deal with the backlash from the keyboard warriors who take to social media to troll and vilify.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Read the article. It perfectly talks about why a teen struggling with sexuality will drift away from footy.

I find it very easy to believe there has never been a gay player make the AFL.

Bi, at the absolute most, and even that's unlikely.

You are very wrong.

 

[Walshawk]

Read the article. It perfectly talks about why a teen struggling with sexuality will drift away from footy.

I find it very easy to believe there has never been a gay player make the AFL.

Bi, at the absolute most, and even that's unlikely.

The reporter stated that she had spoken to all AFL club and that clubs acknowledged that they have gay players and know who they are. So it is not a secret amongst playing groups or at the club. It is the social media abuse that would be the main reason nobody has come out. That, and all the attention from being the first.

 

[IKnowtheDog]

One of the greatest male athletes this country has ever produced struggled with his sexuality. That gives an indication of the battle for those at the top level can face.

The important thing is community level be welcoming environments so that people feel comfortable in enjoying the sport.

 

[Bluelegs]

Leaving aside the rest of the article, I thought at the time this comment from Aker was spot on.

Ten years later, we still don’t have an openly gay footballer. Sadly, this kind of proves his point.

It’s his opinion a gay footballer would have struggled in the AFL environment. I’d like to think that’s not the case anymore, but having been at two afl clubs he’d know better than I would what it would have been like.

Edit: I haven’t seen the show so have no idea what else Aker said, sounds like a load of crap tho.

I remember he was asked similar questions on Open Mike years ago where he explained himself a little better. Did not come off well at all in the 4 Corners piece.

 

[The Educator]

Leaving aside the rest of the article, I thought at the time this comment from Aker was spot on.

Ten years later, we still don’t have an openly gay footballer. Sadly, this kind of proves his point.

It’s his opinion a gay footballer would have struggled in the AFL environment. I’d like to think that’s not the case anymore, but having been at two afl clubs he’d know better than I would what it would have been like.

Edit: I haven’t seen the show so have no idea what else Aker said, sounds like a load of crap tho.

Aker, who himself was ultimately not welcome at 2 clubs most recently 13 years ago, is a reliable judge on the attitudes of existing player groups?

 

[Gough]

The reporter stated that she had spoken to all AFL club and that clubs acknowledged that they have gay players and know who they are. So it is not a secret amongst playing groups or at the club. It is the social media abuse that would be the main reason nobody has come out. That, and all the attention from being the first.

I suspect the AFL want a tearful confessional in front of the media or playing group from the first out bloke with all the usual crap about a journey so it can pat itself on the back about how much progress we've all made. In a reality all it would need is a few words in the right ears and the process becomes as simple as Jared Rooke becoming Max Rooke.

 

[The Educator]

I find it weird that Aker copped so much s**t when he said the AFL as an industry/community wasn't ready for a player to come out. He was right - the AFL community still can't go a season without racially abusing someone, generally abusing someone, or some sort of other s**t. There's no way the community as a whole could handle a player coming out and it's a black mark against the league.


Edit: of course Akers other comments are out of line - but the above is still correct.

So once this "AFL community" (everyone who follows the sport???) is purged of all racism then we will be ready for the first gay player to come out???

Just bizarre how some people think

 

[Cmarsh]

More detail offered by Louise Milligan in a follow up article outlining just how hard it was to get people within the AFL to talk.

We tried to tackle the AFL's last great taboo. The code got defensive

Not a single elite male AFL player has ever come out publicly as gay or bisexual. This is what happened when Four Corners tried to ask about the silence.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Del165198]

More detail offered by Louise Milligan in a follow up article outlining just how hard it was to get people within the AFL to talk.

We tried to tackle the AFL's last great taboo. The code got defensive

Not a single elite male AFL player has ever come out publicly as gay or bisexual. This is what happened when Four Corners tried to ask about the silence.

www.abc.net.au

Pretty interesting article.

Remember when thorpey came out and the response was pretty much, well duh, and no one really cared.

I'd like to think that'd be the same in the AFL. Unfortunately there will always be the deadshits in society like the ones who racially abuse Aboriginal players. You'd have to be a pretty resilient type like Goodesy and someone who wouod be prepared to call out the homophobic abuse in the crowd.