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The AFL Women’s (AFLW) Pride Round has once again delivered a vibrant celebration of inclusivity, with all 18 elite women’s Aussie rules football teams donning rainbow kits and participating in events supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

While the AFLW continues to set a standard for diversity and acceptance, some fans of the men’s game remain at odds with these efforts, highlighting the stark contrast between the two leagues regarding inclusion.

2024 marks the ninth season of the AFLW, and it’s the fifth consecutive year that the league has held an official Pride Round, each year expanding and becoming more impactful. Throughout this round, teams sported special-edition guernseys, rainbow-striped yellow Sherrin match balls were used, umpires waved Pride flags, and even the boundary lines featured rainbow colours.

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The Pride Round is more than just symbolic, as there is significant LGBTQ+ representation within the league itself. A 2020 report by the women’s sports website Siren estimated that 70-80% of AFLW players identify as same-sex attracted. This year’s Pride Round launch at Melbourne’s Whitten Oval saw ten athletes from clubs across the league in attendance.

The highlight of the round will be the marquee Week 7 match between the Western Bulldogs and Essendon at the 10,000-capacity Whitten Oval, where fans can look forward to vibrant performances from the “Poof Doof Pride Patrol” queer disco truck and drag queens such as Bettie Rose, who also appeared at the launch event.

One of the players present was Issy Grant, a defender for the Bulldogs, who were among the first AFLW clubs to establish a dedicated Pride Game. “Something that we value — not just as a club, but as a playing group too — is bravery. Being one of the first clubs to put their hand up and support something like a Pride Game, that’s brave,” Grant shared on the Bulldogs’ website. “It’s a similar link to the LGBTQIA+ community, in that being yourself and being your true identity — that’s hard, that’s brave.”

Despite the apparent progress in women’s sport, Tanya Hosch, the AFL’s inclusion manager, believes Pride events remain crucial. “Young LGBTQI+ people are half as likely to be part of a sporting club than non-LGBTQI+ youth,” Hosch pointed out at the launch, underscoring the ongoing need for such initiatives.

In contrast, the men’s AFL has struggled with inclusivity. This season has been marred by several incidents involving anti-gay language, with four players and coaches, including St Kilda’s Lance Collard, facing sanctions. While the Sydney Swans have held individual Pride Games since 2015, the AFL has yet to commit to a full Pride Round.

When asked about the possibility of a men’s Pride Round, Hosch said, “We’re often criticised for having too many rounds… it can feel quite crowded. But I definitely wouldn’t rule it out and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day we do have a round.”

The reaction from parts of the AFL’s fanbase suggests lingering resistance. A glance at comments on the AFL’s social media posts reveals hostility toward the Pride Round, with some fans expressing negativity and questioning its need. However, this backlash doesn’t deter AFLW players, who are united in their support for the cause.

Adelaide’s Anne Hatchard, a three-time premiership winner, exemplified this courage. In an interview on the Crows’ website, Hatchard reflected on her own journey: “I hid it because I wasn’t sure how people were going to react, and I cared so much about what others thought of me that I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t for such a long time. It was such a scary feeling.” Today, she’s openly married to her wife Georgie.

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