COMMENT
How many gay people are there in the AFL?
I don’t know and I don’t care – but, of course, the ABC does.
When I heard Four Corners was going to run an expose on one of the biggest scandals in the league, I tuned in hoping to see an investigation into how the Adelaide Crows were robbed of entering the finals when an umpire failed to pay a legitimate goal.
Instead, it was a weak hit job on the AFL for the fact there are no publicly gay players.
One interviewee went so far as to call it a “human rights issue”.
And fair enough. When you think of human rights abuses, you think of Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia – and the AFL.
The crux of the argument from reporter Louise Milligan was that the AFL must have an ingrained anti-gay culture for there to be no out-and-proud players.
What business is it of Ms Milligan’s, or any of us, whether AFL players want to publicly discuss their sexual proclivities?
The first openly gay AFL player would make a killing in sponsorship deals and the vast majority of fans wouldn’t give two hoots.
By Ms Milligan’s own admission, there are gay players in the league who are open with their teammates about it. There is no accusation these players are maligned or discriminated against within the league – which ought to prove there is no broad issue with homophobia.
Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs great Jason Akermanis – himself erroneously accused of homophobia – revealed on Wednesday that he played with a man at Brisbane who was open about his homosexuality with his teammates and that no one cared.
That was nearly two decades ago.
The AFL publicly supported same sex marriage during the plebiscite and in 2017 was awarded Organisation of the Year by LGBTIQ activist group Pride in Sport.
It holds a designated pride round in the AFLW and is open to holding one in the men’s league.
It is a left-leaning organisation that endorses all manner of progressive social causes, including the Voice to Parliament, and yet we are meant to believe it is some haven of hate for gay people – one of the least controversial identifiers this decade.
The league is so inclusive that ex-North Melbourne coach Danielle Laidley – formerly Dean – was openly embraced after coming out as a transgender woman.
So you can be transgender and a celebrated member of the sport, but being gay is a step too far?
I know it’s a strange concept, but perhaps gay AFL players, much like their supporters, are preoccupied with winning games and performing for their members instead of making a song and dance about their personal lives.
Many AFL insiders and journalists – myself included – are aware of AFL players who are believed to be gay.
But we haven’t pressured them to come out or expose their stories because they’re not ours to tell.
The number, or public status, of gay players in the AFL is of no consequence.
A team is only as strong as its weakest link. And in the modern game, the teammate who refuses to stand by a gay colleague would be the weakest link. They wouldn’t last a minute.
We don’t need identity politics injected into the game – and clearly those within it agree.
Caleb Bond is co-host of The Late Debate on Sky News Australia and a News Corp columnist.