The Daily Aus Part 1: The AFL’s first openly bisexual player
Aug 27, 2025
Mitch Brown, the first openly bisexual player in AFL history and a former West Coast Eagles athlete, shares his groundbreaking journey. He discusses the courage it took to embrace his identity in a hyper-masculine sport and the societal pressures surrounding it. Mitch reflects on the historical significance of his revelation, the pervasive homophobia in sports culture, and the critical need for change. His personal anecdotes highlight the transformative power of self-acceptance and the importance of representation for future athletes.
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DM That Changed Everything
- Mitch Brown sent a DM to The Daily Aus saying he played in the AFL for 10 years and is a bisexual man.
- He described that moment as bringing immediate peace, comfort and confidence.
Generations Explain The Delay
- Mitch reflects that societal change across generations explains why no AFL player had come out earlier.
- He links greater education and empathy to the slow shift in acceptance.
Raised In Hyper-Masculine Spaces
- Mitch describes growing up in Ballarat, playing juniors only with boys and attending an all-boys Catholic school.
- He says those hyper-masculine environments shaped expectations and suppressed exploration of sexuality.