Page 13: AFL to back gay marriage yes vote

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan says the league will be officially backing the “yes” vote on marriage equality. Sam Newman won’t be impressed ... like he wasn’t at an Albert Park cafe recently.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Media/Getty Images

THE AFL will come out next week on marriage equality.

League chief Gillon McLachlan did not mince his words when he told Page 13 the AFL would stand tall and be officially backing the “yes” vote.

McLachlan has been reported as avoiding taking a public position on legalising same-sex marriage. But he told Page 13 that’s a load of bollocks and he has long made his position clear on the hot topic, adding he is “unambiguously” for it.

“It’s not even up for debate,” McLachlan said as the Sherrin lands at the end of the marriage equality rainbow.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan says the league will stand tall and officially back the marriage equality “yes” vote. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty

By going public next week with an official announcement, the AFL will join Cricket Australia, Football Federation Australia and the Australian Rugby Union in giving their support to the yes campaign.

McLachlan defied the naysayers who lulled themselves into thinking the AFL would shirk tackling the issue. But there is no doubt where the AFL stands.

“The AFL is unambiguously against discrimination in any form,” the boss of Australia’s premier football code told Page 13 exclusively.

“Our position will be clear. It is also about motivating people to vote, have their voice heard and making a statement about what sort of country they want to live in.”

Sam Newman has been against the AFL taking a stand and says the league should keep its nose out of the political arena. “The AFL has set themselves up as the arbitrators of everything that’s righteous and proper in the world” thundered Sam.

“They think they reflect public attitudes,” Newman told Mark Latham’s Outsiders this week, where Newman ranted to a more than willing ear. But enough with such fossilised views.

SAM NEWMAN SLAMS AFL OVER GAY MARRIAGE SUPPORT

Since being appointed AFL chief executive in 2014, McLachlan has made no secret of being a progressive boss. The appointment of Tanya Hosch as AFL general manager of social inclusion and diversity (try kicking that title around) was all about moving forward.

The AFL wants the players to have their own voice and wants every Australian to vote.

“You can’t lecture people” says McLachlan.

“People have got to be able to have a vote. At the very least go and have a vote, our position will be clear, but have a voice.”

Yes please.

The AFL boss’s voice is loud and clear.

SPITE ON THE MENU

WAYNE Carey, Ricky Nixon and Sam Newman walk into a cafe. Sounds like the start of a bad joke.

But Albert Park’s Dundas and Faussett is a mecca for footy types and when Newman took one look at Nixon’s plus-one, Tony Sheahan, he snarled, “You’re a f---wit”.

We assume Newman might still be prickly about Sheahan leaking Sam’s C-bomb phone message this year after Tony videoed a secret meeting between the Fossil and underworld fixer Mick Gatto over his involvement in the Essendon drugs saga.

Lo and behold, who was Newman meeting? None other than former Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan — and Tony’s dad.

You can’t make this stuff up.

SUSIE O’BRIEN: SAM NEWMAN MADE SENSE, THEN RUINED IT

Sam Newman wasn’t impressed when bumping into Tony Sheahan at an Albert Park cafe recently. Picture: Channel 9

HODGEY, ROO MAKE MARK

FORGET trade talks, it’s retired champions Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) and Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) who are so hot right now.

Seven and Fox Footy are said to be actively seeking out the former skippers.

It’s understood Seven’s Lewis Martin is keen to lock down the out-of-contract boys to join next year’s footy commentary team.

Nick Riewoldt with AFL chief Gillon McLachlan.

But with Seven’s current crop still under contract, and Hamish McLachlan understood to have this week signed on until 2020, it is unlikely there is budget for both.

Riewoldt was front and centre at Etihad Stadium’s Medallion Club merger with the AFL Premiership Club on Thursday night, while Hodge was a late scratching for that event. Watch this space.

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