Brown’s decision to come out follows weeks of spotlight on homophobia in the AFL after Adelaide player Izak Rankine was banned for four matches for directing a homophobic slur at a Collingwood opponent.

Drafted to the AFL in 2006, Brown played for the Eagles from 2007 to 2016. He said he’d experienced “countless” homophobic comments directed at him on the field — not because teammates suspected his sexuality, but because calling someone gay was considered the ultimate insult.

“When I was growing up at school, the word ‘gay’ was thrown around constantly … For a man in Australia, [it was seen as] probably the weakest thing you could be,” he told the Daily Aus.

Throughout his career, Brown was plagued by several injuries, including an ACL tear that required a knee reconstruction. While injuries played a part in his decision to retire, Brown said his sexuality was another factor.

“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to finish up playing AFL was to meet new people, to meet a diverse range of people, men and women, different cultural backgrounds, and I craved new conversations,” he said.

Loading

“I craved talking to someone and not being judged. I craved the ability to choose who I wanted to be around rather than to fit into a team.”

In the interview, Brown reflected on the 2023 comments made by then AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan, who said the first male player from the AFL to come out would carry a “burden”.

“I remember those comments, and the conversation in the locker room just exacerbated that fear even more if you’re a gay man or a bisexual man sitting in that locker room,” Brown said.

Brown said he believed there were gay and bisexual players in the AFL who remain closeted.

“There are currently gay and bisexual men playing in the AFL at the moment and in the past,” he said.

In the interview, Brown said he’d received support from his former wife and netball player Shae Bolton and his current female partner to share his story.

He hoped coming forward with his story would create a space “for that second person”.

“The reactions that I hope for are the ones I won’t hear. They’re the ones of those young men around Australia going, I feel seen, I feel a little bit safer, and I have a role model, albeit just ordinary old Mitch, a role model I can now look to.”

This masthead has contacted Brown for comment. West Coast have also been contacted for comment.