Gay former AFL player reveals ‘harassment’ during his career
In the wake of Izak Rankine’s suspension over a homophobic slur, a gay former AFL player has detailed the harassment he faced in his career.
A gay former AFL player has slammed the homophobia that exists in the sport and the reasons footy is still yet to have an openly gay player.
While an increasing number of professional competitions in Australia and around the world have welcomed homosexual players, including the NRL, the NBA, soccer and American football, it is still yet to happen in the AFL.
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That scenario has been back in the spotlight over the past week after Adelaide star Izak Rankine’s four-game ban for using a homophobic slur against Collingwood.
Rankine reportedly used the word “f****t”, becoming the sixth footy player in the last two years to be sanctioned over a homophobic slur, proving education and punishments are still not having the desired effect.
While Rankine apologised for the slur, and his actions were slammed by both the AFL and Crows hierarchy, it demonstrates some level of homophobia is still prevalent in the competition.
That’s exactly what an ex-AFL player outlined in a chat with former Bulldogs star Bob Murphy and journalist Sharnelle Vella after calling into ABC Radio Melbourne (see below).
The man, who was referred to only as “Jason”, slammed the culture that he claims still exists in the AFL today and detailed some of the abuse he was subjected to in his career.
“There’s a reason why we don’t have a top level AFL player that’s out, where every other code in the world, every other football code has, and that’s because of the culture surrounding this,” Jason said.
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“I had that word that he supposedly said written on my team photo in the club rooms.
“Once I did finish playing, they would sit around on the Sunday and have a barrel and call me while I was milking, I’m a dairy farmer, and have derogatory, homophobic calls, which was just harassment basically.
“And we just need to stop it, at any cost. And if (Rankine) misses out on the grand final, so be it. Homophobia has no place anywhere.”
The Crows managed to get Rankine’s ban reduced from five weeks to four with the use of “compelling medical submissions”, which were believed to revolve around the star forward’s mental health issues.
While a five-game sanction would have definitively ended Rankine’s season, a four-game ban leaves open the slim possibly he could play in this year’s grand final if the Crows lose their qualifying final and still make the decider.
Adelaide finished first on the AFL ladder and receives a second chance if it loses in the first week of the finals, with that qualifying final coincidentally against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on September 4.
While former NRL star Ian Roberts, Aussie basketballer Isaac Humphries and former A-League player Josh Cavallo are among those that have come out as gay during their careers, it has remained a taboo subject in the AFL.
The AFLW competition celebrates a Pride Round each season and has a number of openly gay players.
The Sydney Swans have contested an annual Pride Game for the past 10 seasons, although there is not a dedicated round in the men’s competition.
Geelong great Jimmy Bartel recently discussed the issue on the A Life of Greatness with Sarah Grynberg podcast.
The Brownlow medallist and three-time premiership winner was asked if he was surprised the AFL still didn’t have an openly gay player in 2025.
“Yes and no,” he said. “I’ve thought about it, one of the factors that may be holding back a male player from coming out is that will be all they are referenced as for the rest of their life.
“They may be the most incredible player, four-time Brownlow Medal winner, five-time premiership player, won every award in the game, 300 games, a legend.
“But if they were the first player, that would be how they’d describe them.”
Rankine has been granted leave from the Crows, copping some flak after opting to head to Europe for a holiday rather than face his mistake head-on.
Crows chief executive Tim Silvers said Rankine would address both the club’s AFL and AFLW players in the wake of his suspension, but it’s understood that is yet to take place.
It appears in the current climate we are still some time away from an AFL player being prepared – or comfortable enough – to admit they are gay.
