'Pressure and weight' the reason behind no openly gay male players, AFL CEO says
AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan has revealed his belief "there are gay male players" in the competition despite none yet coming out publicly due to the "pressure and weight" of being the first to do so.
McLachlan discussed the public burden behind the topic of sexuality at a Leadership Matters lunch in Perth on Monday.
"The first thing I'd say is, I am very comfortable there are gay male players and I am very comfortable (in saying) they are known to their teammates," he said.
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The CEO went on to compare the situation with the AFLW, where numerous players have come out publicly as gay.
McLachlan believes the stark difference between the competitions is down to "safety in numbers".
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"What they are choosing is to not be the first person," he said of the men.
"The female cohort (in the AFLW) came out at once, they had safety in numbers, there was no first.
"So the pressure and the weight on that person being the first AFL player who comes out and plays as an out gay man ... that weight, frankly I can understand why they would choose not to have to carry that burden around forever.
"And I don't think they need to, and I think people should live their lives how they want to live (them)."
St Kilda and Sydney Swans are the only two clubs that play in an annual pride game in the men's competition, while the AFL does not have a pride round - in comparison the AFLW does.
