On March 26, 2026, former AFL footballer Leigh Ryswyk publicly announced that he is gay during an interview on the GayFL radio programme broadcast on Joy 94.9. The revelation marks a milestone: Ryswyk is the first past or present male player associated with the AFL to make such a public declaration. His appearance on the programme combined personal recollection with reflections about how sporting institutions and fans respond when players choose to share their sexual identity.
Ryswyk made clear that his close circle had known about his sexuality for some years, and that he values privacy in public life. He acknowledged that announcing this publicly would come as new information for many acquaintances and fans. The disclosure also followed a wave of earlier steps in the game’s culture, notably when former player Mitch Brown came out as bisexual in August last year, an event that began to shift what many expected from a traditionally conservative sporting space.
Family talks and personal courage
In the interview, Ryswyk described the emotional process of telling his parents and the relief that followed. He said it took him considerable time to feel ready and that the conversations were intimate and heartfelt: his mother responded with tears and reassurance, and his father expressed love and support. Those private moments, Ryswyk explained, were central to his decision to speak publicly. For him the reaction from immediate family underscored why individuals consider the risks and rewards of coming out in a public-facing career.
Playing career and sporting record
Ryswyk’s football journey began in Victoria before his family relocated to the Gold Coast when he was a child. He joined the Brisbane Lions as a rookie for the 2004 season and made a single senior appearance in 2005, a match in which he sustained a quad injury and was subsequently delisted. After leaving the AFL environment he built a long and successful career in the SANFL with North Adelaide, playing over 200 games and earning recognition that included induction into the Queensland Football Hall of Fame. His post-AFL achievements illustrate how players can have significant regional careers outside the national spotlight.
Club, league and player-body reactions
Responses from the football community were publicly supportive. AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon commended Ryswyk for sharing his story, and the Brisbane Lions’ leadership signalled they wanted their club to be an inclusive environment. The AFL Players’ Association and its president, Darcy Moore, reiterated ongoing work to make clubs safer and more welcoming. Voices from community initiatives, including the Pride Cup, framed the moment as a step forward while reminding audiences that cultural change is incremental and requires sustained attention.
Broader significance for the game
When placed in context, Ryswyk’s announcement matters because the AFL had been one of the last major men’s professional sports arenas with no openly gay or bisexual past or present players widely known. Each public story contributes to the normalisation of diverse identities within sport. Advocates stress that visibility changes expectations, it encourages policy and education work within clubs, and it offers encouragement for current athletes who might be weighing whether to be open about their private lives.
Looking ahead
Ryswyk said he is optimistic that the game and its supporters will embrace players who choose to be open about their sexuality, while also acknowledging the online negativity that can follow any public disclosure. He emphasised his own preference for privacy and noted that some circles already knew his story. The broader conversation his statement has prompted — about inclusivity, player wellbeing and cultural standards in sport — is likely to continue, and many in the community see this moment as another step toward a more open and supportive AFL.