Ethan Panizza hopes his storyline can help those struggling with their sexuality

ACTOREthan Panizzabel­ieves it is just a matter of time, and sooner rather than later, before a professional AFL player comes out. He added that it was a great honour to be the first actor to tell the story on TV screens.

ACTOREthan Panizzabel­ieves it is just a matter of time, and sooner rather than later, before a professional AFL player comes out.

Playing Aussie rules player Rusty O’Reilly in TV drama Playing For Keeps, Panizza’s storyline is exactly that and he says it was a great honour to be the first actor to tell that story on our screens.

Actor Ethan Panizza believes a professional footballer will come out sooner rather than later. Picture: Brett Costello

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“To have the opportunity to play the first gay Australian rules footballer on TV is a massive privilege, especially having grown up playing the sport and knowing statistically that there would be footballers out there who are gay and ­obviously have not come out yet,” the 27-year-old said.

“You have these men who would run through a brick wall and put their bodies on the line for their club and then when it comes to truly being who they are to the rest of the world, they are worried or scared. I feel like the way the world is changing and with marriage equality, change is starting to happen.

“Creating shows like this with this content is letting Australia know that this is part of the normal world. I really do think that it is not long before we do see the first gay footballer come out and if it did so happen that this show was the cause of that in some way, that would be bloody amazing.”

The Channel 10 drama revolves around the lives of WAGS and AFL. Picture: Supplied

It features a star-studded cast. Picture: Supplied

Panizza grew up in Western Australia playing AFL. His ­father Darrell was a “hall of famer” in the WAFL in the ’80s and ’90s.

“My old man says I basically had a football in my hand ­before I was breastfed,” he told Confidential. “AFL has absolutely been my life.”

Panizza hopes his storyline will help young men and women struggling with their sexuality.

He hopes people he can help people with their sexuality through his story on TV. Picture: Brett Costello

“Statistically from age 16 to 24, Australia has the highest suicide rate in people not being able to come out,” ­Panizza said.

“What a horrible thing that people would rather kill themselves than admit to being who they really are. It is deep but it is something I looked into and it is heartbreaking.

“Imagine being able to be open to who you are, it could increase your game as well ­because it can be tough carrying around that secret.”

Originally published as Ethan Panizza hopes his storyline can help those struggling with their sexuality