AFLW star Darcy Vescio has become the league’s second athlete to come out as non-binary, sharing the news on social media.
A marquee player for Carlton, Vescio is a two-time all Australian and was the AFLW’s top goalkicker both this year and in 2017.
The Gold Coast Suns’ Tori Groves-Little came out last week as the first non-binary athlete in the AFLW.
Vescio posted the news on social media on Wednesday evening alongside a smiling photo.
“Just popping in to let you know that I am non-binary,” the 28-year-old wrote.
“Sharing this feels a bit daunting but brings me a lot of warmth and happiness.”
Vescio said they felt most comfortable using they/them pronouns.
Darcy Vescio in action earlier this year against the Fremantle Dockers.Credit: Dylan Burns
The post attracted hundreds of comments of support across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, including from Carlton’s official Facebook page, Suns AFLW forward Sarah Perkins, and Olympic gold medallist and GWS AFLW player Chloe Dalton.
Carlton women’s team coach Daniel Harford also shared the post on Twitter with the caption: “Meet one of the most amazing people on the planet.”
The star forward and AFLW foundation player has played in every Carlton game since the AFLW competition began in 2017 and kicked multiple goals in five of their last six games, including five goals against Gold Coast in round eight.
Their performance earned them a selection in the 2021 All-Australian team and a title of Carlton’s best and fairest at this year’s awards night.
“Darcy has pulled on the No. 3 guernsey with pride and determination, and each week she gives [their] absolute best,” Harford said at the time.
Vescio’s four-goal debut for Carlton in the first ever AFLW match against Collingwood in February 2017 was soured by a cyber attack on Twitter that plastered graphic pornography on their account and triggered an investigation by the club.
The AFL updated its gender diversity policy last year to allow transgender men and women to play in community footy competitions of their transitioned gender, and non-binary athletes to play in the competition of their choice.
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