Footy’s grown up. Time for politicians to do the same
It was the kiss that simultaneously meant everything, and was no big deal. Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson says footy is leading the pack on equality.
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IT was the kiss that travelled around Australia.
It encapsulated happiness, love, appreciation, understanding and, let’s be honest, it was probably a touch sensual for a number of men.
Some women will hate that last comment because it detracts from the message. But that’s life.
When Erin Phillips was named the best player at the AFLW awards night on Tuesday and leaned towards her wife, Tracy, the celebratory kiss was commanding for its, well, normality.
It was a beautiful photo. Perhaps on its way to becoming an iconic photo.
An international sportswoman doing what comes naturally, kissing the person who has helped her achieve her greatest dream.
Politicians shouldn’t ignore it, nor should Australians who have little time for gay people and less so for gay marriage.
Those people are ignorant.
Those politicians who have put the slows on the inevitable — marriage equality — are the real bigots. These supposedly intelligent men and women are playing politics with the subject and it’s self-centred rubbish.
It’s an embarrassment that we don’t have same-sex marriage and adds to the popular belief around the world that Australia is a backwater of convicts and hoodlums.
Erin and Tracy were married in America, but aren’t recognised as such in Australia. It’s ludicrous.
Phillips has become a powerful figure in Australian sport, as has the AFLW competition.
AFLW began as an inaugural women’s competition and ended being a legitimate football competition played with passion and intensity and, in doing so, became a community leader for role models.
Role models not only for the thousands of girls who adored their new footy heroes, but also role models in the greater acceptance of gay people by straight people.
You know what, most of the women playing footy in the AFL women’s league are gay and people don’t care anymore if you’re gay or straight.
The fact the Erin-Tracy photograph drew wide applause and not condemnation tells us the world has grown up plenty.
The AFLW has made the football world grow up even quicker.
The Phillips story is wonderful. The daughter of famous South Australian footballer Greg Phillips, she is an NBA star who returned home to become the star of the women’s competition.
Scenes of Erin and Greg embracing after the Grand Final at the weekend, with one of his daughter’s twins in his arms, won’t be soon forgotten.
The competition itself is a work in progress.
The games can be crappy with skill. Marks are dropped, kicks miss targets and one player can miss another player with a handball from two metres away. But so what?
Among the poor skills are moments of brilliance.
Season one was the start and it will only get better.
The more important point is this competition has opened minds and opened pathways and Erin Phillips has become a champion of the sport and a champion of gay marriage.
Not for the first time, football has improved and enriched lives away from the field on play.
Mark Robinson is the Herald Sun chief football writer.
Originally published as Footy’s grown up. Time for politicians to do the same
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