Mitch Brown says he feels 'guilty' after becoming first AFL player to come out as bisexual

Mitch Brown said he has an unexpected sense of guilt after his announcement two weeks ago that made him the first player in Australian Football League history to come out as bisexual.

The 36-year-old former West Coast Eagle, who played 96 games across a 10-year AFL career, told Triple J’s Hack he does not regret the decision but has been surprised by his own feelings since revealing his sexuality. "I played in the AFL for 10 years for the West Coast Eagles and I'm a bisexual man," Brown said when he first went public.

"It's a bit of an extreme sort of way to explain it, but it honestly feels like that," Brown said in the interview, describing impressions of unworthiness after the widespread attention. He said part of that feeling comes from his current family circumstances. "I have a beautiful partner who is a woman, and I can walk down the street and not have that casting eye or that sense of homophobic behaviour. Am I worthy of this and is this my place to be able to hold this position that I've had over the last two weeks?" he asked.

Brown said he has received broad praise across the footy community for the announcement, but some clubs initially remained silent. He publicly criticised those clubs, and said that prompted "a small amount of hate" aimed at him. "As soon as I called out those clubs … that's when I started to get the hate," Brown said. "People who were maybe uncomfortable with me in the first place … they saw an opportunity there to hate on me for another reason, not just my sexuality."

He said the silence from some organisations was a visible reminder that inclusion is not universal in the sport. "Visibility does matter," Brown said. He acknowledged people and institutions may need time to respond. "I would be a hypocrite if I didn't allow people to take time for this to sink in. For me, to connect with my own identity and sense of self, it's taken years."

Brown also reflected on the possible sources of discomfort among some in the football community, questioning whether it stems from a fear of association or perceived damage to commercial partnerships. "Is it a fear of being associated with a queer person or a bisexual man? Or is it a fear of people thinking that you are gay or bisexual yourself? It is fear … of what that might mean for your community that you're selling videos to or marketing a football shoe to," he said.

His partner, Louisa Keck, wrote on her Substack about the couple's decision to go public. Keck said they were frustrated with what they described as a "hyper-masculine culture" in and around the AFL that told men "they could only look or think or love a certain way," and cited a desire to challenge homophobia in the sport. She said they hoped Brown's perspective as an insider who had concealed aspects of his identity might help shift the conversation and make the environment safer for children who want to play sport.

Brown's announcement is notable in the nearly 130-year history of the AFL and the VFL predecessor, which had not previously had a player publicly identify as bisexual. Since going public, Brown has received both public praise and criticism, and has used interviews to discuss the personal complexity of coming out, the responses from clubs and fans, and the need for increased visibility and inclusion within the sport.

Brown said his decision grew out of years of personal reflection rather than a single moment, and that he does not regret speaking openly about his sexuality despite the mixed reactions. The disclosures have prompted public discussion within Australian football about culture, inclusion and the experiences of players and families who confront entrenched attitudes in and around the game.