‘An important moment’: Former Eagle Mitch Brown becomes first openly bisexual male player in AFL’s history

Former West Coast player Mitch Brown has become the first openly bisexual male player in the AFL’s 129-year history, saying going public would be worth it if it meant helping just one person.

Brown, who played 94 games with the Eagles before hanging up the boots in 2016, revealed his sexuality in an interview with The Daily Aus on Wednesday, following up with a message shared on his Instagram page.

Brown said it was a “very weird feeling … knowing this is out in the world”, but added: “This isn’t about me. The world needs more positive male role models and I hope I can step up and be one.”

There are no currently openly gay or bisexual male players in the AFL, and none had come out publicly before Brown. Danielle Laidley, a former coach and player with North Melbourne, was outed as transgender in 2020 when police revealed pictures of her after she was arrested for stalking an ex-partner and drug possession and put in a holding cell (no conviction was recorded when she agreed to be of good behaviour and complete a drug rehabilitation program).

In his interview with The Daily Aus, Brown described a culture of “hypermasculinity” during his football career that made questioning his sexuality impossible.

He recalled sitting in a massage room next to six teammates when the topic of gay players came up.

“I remember two people having a conversation around how they would feel having a shower next to a gay man, and one of the players said, ‘I’d rather be in a cage full of lions than have a shower next to a gay man,’” Brown said.

“There’s been so many times in my life that I’ve seen things or heard things and not said anything, in fear of people thinking that I was gay or bisexual.”

In his social media post, he said: “If this helps even one person it will have been worth it”.

This masthead contacted Brown for comment.

His decision to come out follows weeks of attention on homophobia in the AFL after Adelaide player Izak Rankine was banned for four matches for directing a slur at a Collingwood opponent.

On Wednesday afternoon, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said Brown had shown “great courage” in sharing his story.

“This is an important moment for him and for our entire game,” Dillon said.

“Today is a step forward, and building on Mitch’s story we hope that others feel encouraged to be their authentic selves and share their own journeys, and that these stories are met with support from teammates, clubs and the wider football community.

“The AFL will continue to partner with our clubs, our pride and allies groups and the LGBTQI+ community to drive and celebrate inclusion across both our AFL and AFLW competitions.

“Together, our commitment is to keep making football an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone to thrive – and that work never stops.”

Triple M commentator and former AFLW star Kate McCarthy, who is openly gay, said she “couldn’t believe it” when she heard Brown had come out.

“To be honest… given the events we saw last with Izak Rankine and everything that played out, I thought we were miles away from anyone in the men’s program [feeling] comfortable – whether they were a previous player or a current player – to come out and identify as part of the queer community,” she told The Rush Hour with JB & Billy.

“I didn’t really believe it, to be completely honest, when I first saw it. It shouldn’t take courage for someone to tell people who you really are … it shouldn’t, but it does. It takes immense courage and immense bravery, nothing but [pride] and so much love to Mitch Brown for taking this step.”

Drafted to the AFL in 2006, Brown played for the Eagles from 2007 to 2016. He said he’d experienced “countless” homophobic comments directed at him on the field — not because teammates suspected his sexuality, but because calling someone gay was considered the ultimate insult.

“When I was growing up at school, the word ‘gay’ was thrown around constantly … For a man in Australia, [it was seen as] probably the weakest thing you could be,” he said.

Throughout his football career, Brown was plagued by several injuries, including an ACL tear that required a knee reconstruction. While injuries played a part in his decision to retire, Brown said his sexuality was another factor.

“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to finish up playing AFL was to meet new people, to meet a diverse range of people, men and women, different cultural backgrounds, and I craved new conversations,” 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.”

In the interview, Brown reflected on the 2023 comments made by then-AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan, who said the first male player from the AFL to come out would carry a “burden”.

“I remember those comments, and the conversation in the locker room just exacerbated that fear even more if you’re a gay man or a bisexual man sitting in that locker room,” Brown said.

His former club, West Coast, posted to social media, voicing support for him. They later released a statement saying: “His decision to speak openly about his identity demonstrates the same courage and integrity he showed throughout his playing career.

“We are moved by Mitch’s bravery in speaking his truth.

“His honesty about his experiences reminds us that we all have work to do in creating truly inclusive and welcoming spaces within our game across the country.

“His voice will undoubtedly provide comfort, representation and hope to many across our community.

“The West Coast Eagles remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every person – past, present and future – feels valued and supported to be their authentic self.”

Australian LGBTQ organisation Health Equity Matters heralded Brown’s decision to come out as a historic moment not just for the AFL, but for the entire nation.

“This is a powerful statement about visibility and inclusion,” chief executive officer Dash Heath-Paynter said.

“For LGBTIQA+ young people watching today, Mitch is showing them that they belong in every space, including in the nation’s most followed sporting code.”

Brown said he believed there were gay and bisexual players in the AFL who remained closeted.

In the interview, Brown said he’d received support from his former wife and netball player Shae Bolton-Brown and his current female partner to share his story.

Bolton-Brown later posted to Instagram: “Our boys will be proud. I am.”

Brown hoped coming forward with his story would create a space “for that second person”.

“The reactions that I hope for are the ones I won’t hear,” he said. “They’re the ones of those young men around Australia going, I feel seen, I feel a little bit safer, and I have a role model, albeit just ordinary old Mitch, a role model I can now look to.”

Late on Wednesday afternoon, Brown took to Instagram to say: “Big thanks to everyone for your love and support today, I am completely overwhelmed and so grateful”.

He said his podcast with The Daily Aus would be published on Thursday morning.

Mitch Brown’s twin brother Nathan played 183 games across stints at Collingwood and St Kilda, and was part of the Magpies’ 2010 premiership side.

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