Leigh Ryswyk Becomes First Openly Gay Former AFL Player in Historic Coming Out
Photo Credit: AFL
Leigh Ryswyk, a former player for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League , publicly came out as gay on March 25, 2026, becoming the first current or former AFL player to identify openly as gay.
Ryswyk made the announcement during an interview on GayFL, a radio show on Australia's LGBTQIA+ broadcaster JOY 94.9. He revealed that he has been out to close friends for the past five years.
His AFL career was brief, consisting of a single game for the Brisbane Lions in 2005 against Fremantle, during which he suffered a quad strain injury. Ryswyk was delisted after that match but went on to have a distinguished career in the South Australian National Football League with North Adelaide, where he played 226 games between 2006 and 2018.
Ryswyk is the second former AFL player to come out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, following West Coast Eagles defender Mitch Brown, who revealed he is bisexual in August 2025. No active AFL player has publicly come out as LGBTQ+ to date.
In the GayFL interview, Ryswyk expressed confidence in the AFL community's response to any future coming out by an active player. "I think the AFL, and the community, will wrap their arms around that player," he said.
This milestone comes amid growing visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals in Australian sports, particularly in AFL, a sport deeply embedded in the nation's culture. JOY 94.9, the platform hosting the interview, is recognized as Australia's leading LGBTQIA+ broadcaster, providing a supportive space for such personal disclosures.
Ryswyk's announcement has been widely covered by mainstream and LGBTQ+ media, highlighting its significance for gay men and broader LGBTQ+ communities in sports. For transgender people and other LGBTQ+ identities, such visibility in male-dominated team sports like AFL underscores ongoing progress toward inclusion, though challenges persist for active players.
The event aligns with broader conversations in Australian sports about diversity, where AFL has implemented inclusion initiatives, yet personal stories like Ryswyk's remain rare. Community responses, as reflected in media coverage, emphasize support and the potential for Ryswyk's step to inspire others.
Ryswyk's SANFL achievements, including his extensive games record, add weight to his voice within football circles. His coming out on a dedicated LGBTQIA+ platform like GayFL on JOY 94.9 signals a welcoming environment for gay athletes.
This development is particularly resonant for LGBTQ+ sports enthusiasts globally, as AFL's international fanbase grows, potentially paving the way for more openness in similar codes. Ryswyk's optimism about community embrace reflects perspectives from LGBTQ+ advocates who note increasing allyship in Australian football.
His AFL career was brief, consisting of a single game for the Brisbane Lions in 2005 against Fremantle, during which he suffered a quad strain injury. Ryswyk was delisted after that match but went on to have a distinguished career in the South Australian National Football League with North Adelaide, where he played 226 games between 2006 and 2018.
Ryswyk is the second former AFL player to come out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, following West Coast Eagles defender Mitch Brown, who revealed he is bisexual in August 2025. No active AFL player has publicly come out as LGBTQ+ to date.
In the GayFL interview, Ryswyk expressed confidence in the AFL community's response to any future coming out by an active player. "I think the AFL, and the community, will wrap their arms around that player," he said.
This milestone comes amid growing visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals in Australian sports, particularly in AFL, a sport deeply embedded in the nation's culture. JOY 94.9, the platform hosting the interview, is recognized as Australia's leading LGBTQIA+ broadcaster, providing a supportive space for such personal disclosures.
Ryswyk's announcement has been widely covered by mainstream and LGBTQ+ media, highlighting its significance for gay men and broader LGBTQ+ communities in sports. For transgender people and other LGBTQ+ identities, such visibility in male-dominated team sports like AFL underscores ongoing progress toward inclusion, though challenges persist for active players.
The event aligns with broader conversations in Australian sports about diversity, where AFL has implemented inclusion initiatives, yet personal stories like Ryswyk's remain rare. Community responses, as reflected in media coverage, emphasize support and the potential for Ryswyk's step to inspire others.
Ryswyk's SANFL achievements, including his extensive games record, add weight to his voice within football circles. His coming out on a dedicated LGBTQIA+ platform like GayFL on JOY 94.9 signals a welcoming environment for gay athletes.
This development is particularly resonant for LGBTQ+ sports enthusiasts globally, as AFL's international fanbase grows, potentially paving the way for more openness in similar codes. Ryswyk's optimism about community embrace reflects perspectives from LGBTQ+ advocates who note increasing allyship in Australian football.
