Mitch Brown exposes four AFL clubs after revealing he is bisexual
Mitch Brown received widespread support after revealing his sexuality, but he has now lashed out at a number of AFL clubs.
Mitch Brown has lashed out at a number of AFL clubs that are yet to make public statements after his groundbreaking announcement earlier this week.
Prior to Wednesday, no past or present player in the history of the VFL or AFL had ever admitted they were gay or bisexual.
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Brown made the brave decision to finally break that extraordinary record and reveal that he is bisexual, earning widespread praise from the footy community.
A number of AFL clubs – the GWS Giants, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs and Brown’s former side West Coast pledged messages of support on social media that same day.
Hawthorn reposted a message from the AFL on Wednesday, while Carlton and St Kilda published messages of support online on Thursday.
Brown was clearly taking notice of the reaction, as he subsequently published some messages of his own, taking shots at clubs that had yet to make any public comments.
Perhaps in reaction to Brown’s call-outs, Melbourne, Essendon, and the Tigers belatedly posted social media messages of support on Friday, with the Swans following suit on Saturday afternoon.
“It is wonderful to see so much conversation after an incredibly significant moment for our industry and Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community,” the Swans’ statement read.
“It goes without saying we have so much respect for Mitch Brown for being his authentic self.
“He is courageous. We can only hope our industry continues to work together to create environments for our athletes, staff and fans to do the same.
“We have long been advocates of this – but we still have much to improve.
“Mitch will forever be a role model for the industry.
“He has opened the door – let’s walk through it together.”
Collingwood and the Cats have also published statements late on Saturday.
“Former West Coast player Mitch Brown courageously shared his story this week – an important step forward for Australian football,” read Collingwood’s statement on X.
“While we believe everyone in our game – on and off the field – should feel safe and supported in being their authentic self, we recognise this is not always the reality.
“Collingwood remains committed to fostering a truly inclusive environment and stands alongside every current and former athlete, staff member, (club) member and supporter in the LGBTQIA+ community – today and always.”
Both the Swans and Pies had the commenting function turned off their social posts.
The Cats also published a very similar statement to their Instagram page around 7.30pm AEST on Saturday.
“We applaud former West Coast Eagles player Mitch Brown for the courage and leadership he has shown in sharing his story this week,” they said.
“By speaking his truth, he is inspiring others to have confidence to be their authentic selves.
“Geelong Cats is committed to building an inclusive environment for everyone to feel safe, welcome and part of the great game we all love.”
As far as news.com.au can determine as of Saturday evening, there are now two clubs that have yet to post online about the announcement in a sport that has long been accused of a culture of homophobia.
They are Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions.
The Crows’ chief executive Tim Silvers posted an extensive ‘CEO note’ on the club’s official website on Friday evening, which included details on finals tickets, Taylor Walker’s 300th game and Izak Rankine’s holiday, but no mention of Brown.
Rankine was banned for four matches for a homophobic slur in a round 23 match against Collingwood – an incident which reignited the topic of homophobia in football and may have prompted Brown’s decision to go public.
It comes after Brown fired shots at the other clubs in an Instagram story on Friday.
He seemed particularly surprised that the Cats, where Mitch’s twin brother Nathan Brown is a coach for their AFLW side, had yet to make a statement.
“Collingwood, might not pay my membership next year at this rate,” the lifelong Magpies supporter wrote.
“Geelong, you know my bro works with you right?
“Hey Adelaide... nah I won’t even bother.
“Brisbane Lions you’re off the hook. The Taylor Swift engagement is so much bigger than this.
“Who’s next?”
That last comment was a dig at the Lions’ admin team, who posted a photo of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement on Instagram on Wednesday, but no mention of Brown.
In a separate post, Brown thanked the six clubs that had posted messages of support to that point.
“To the 6 clubs who stood up with me, thank you,” he wrote.
“It means so much, not only to me but also to your incredible supporters, particularly those for whom it matters most. Love you.”
At that time, he tagged the Giants, Eagles, Dockers, Power, Blues and Saints.
Brown originally revealed his sexuality in a chat with The Daily Aus.
The news outlet followed up with the former defender and asked him how he felt about the clubs that had not made a public statement.
It’s not about me, it’s about sharing and celebrating diverse stories to show people who might not fit the traditional stereotype, that there is a place for them in the sport they love and that it’s OK to be their authentic selves,” he said.
“I don’t see why a club wouldn’t want to stand for that,” he said.
“I can’t help but think about how my younger self would have felt if my club didn’t show their support for something like this back when I was playing.
“It would have been yet another reason to keep pretending to be someone I’m not.”
Brown currently has a female partner and was also previously married to former professional netballer Shae Bolton-Brown, who shares two young boys with the ex-footy player.
The Daily Aus released part two of its interview with Brown on Friday and asked him if he had any worries about stereotypes that exist around bisexuals and the fact he is in a relationship with a woman.
“It worries me to a point. But at the end of the day, I’m strong enough, I know who I am,” he said.
“I know the people that I love and that’s all that matters to me.”
Brown was also asked about comments from former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan from 2023 that the sport was yet to have a gay player at that time due to the “pressure and the weight” of being the first one.
While he said those comments were damaging, Brown also said he understands why a current player is yet to come out.
“I remember those comments and the conversation in the locker room just exacerbated that fear even more,” he said.
“If you’re a gay man and a bisexual man sitting in that locker room, the players were like ‘oh can you imagine this’.
“I even heard (a player say) ‘I’d even pretend so I can get some money out of it’.
“It’s absurd, but I remember those comments and it’s really easy for me, as a past player, I don’t have to run out there at the MCG in front of 80,000 fans next week.
“I don’t have to fly out to a hostile Adelaide Oval and play and fear the comments being thrown at me.
“But for a player, this is their livelihood, this is a job that provides income for their family and future, maybe it’s worth not saying anything and having a successful football career.
“Because if you don’t say anything, (they might think) ‘I’m still playing good football, I can finish, retire and sail off to the sunset and go find my community’.”
Brown added he does hope his announcement will make it easier for footy players to come out in the future.
“There are currently gay and bisexual men playing in the AFL at the moment and in the past,” he said.
“I only feel OK to ‘take this title’, this is not about me, it’s not about Mitch Brown being the first at all. For me it’s about sharing my experience so others can feel seen. Others can have a role model.
“I’m not famous, previously. Many people wouldn’t know that I played footy for 10 years.
“But maybe there’ll be that second person and then the third. Maybe it’ll be a current player and as that community grows, the empathy grows.
“If this has an impact on one person, it’s worth it, it matters.”
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