The AFL has never had an openly gay player – but Eddie McGuire is adamant the league has plenty of homosexual stars. 

Daily Mail Australia quizzed the former Collingwood president on one of footy’s hot-button issues as he attended the premiere of Dani Laidley’s new Stan documentary on Monday night – and he also had a surprising take on the reason no footballer has ever publicly come out while they were still playing.

Asked whether he hoped the documentary – which covers Laidley’s struggle with her gender identity – would help players break through that barrier, McGuire said: ‘I don’t think anyone in football cares.

‘I don’t think anyone thinks that there are no gay footballers or that there has never been.

‘We have homosexual players all over the clubs these days, particularly in the women’s league. 

McGuire (pictured with Dani Laidley at the launch of her new documentary) says the AFL has plenty of gay stars - and 'nobody in football' is making a big deal about their sexuality

McGuire (pictured with Dani Laidley at the launch of her new documentary) says the AFL has plenty of gay stars – and ‘nobody in football’ is making a big deal about their sexuality

The former Collingwood president (pictured with a Magpies player after a finals win in 2018) told Daily Mail Australia, 'We have homosexual players all over the clubs these days'

The former Collingwood president (pictured with a Magpies player after a finals win in 2018) told Daily Mail Australia, ‘We have homosexual players all over the clubs these days’

‘No one is that interested.’

The lack of an openly gay AFL star was tackled by the ABC’s Four Corners program in August, with Western Bulldogs great Bob Murphy lashing out at ex-player Jason Akermanis, who wrote a column in 2010 urging footy players to ‘stay in the closet’ over fears they wouldn’t be accepted by the league.

Murphy said he was ‘disgusted’, ’embarrassed’ and ‘hurt’ by Akermanis’s controversial comments.

At the time, Akermanis doubled down on the comments made in the column, telling Channel Nine that he felt gay players would be targeted if they did come out.

The show’s contention that the AFL was anti-gay angered Laidley.

‘I was livid at the Four Corners episode where they labelled the AFL homophobic. Absolutely not the case,’ she told the Herald Sun.

'Eddie Everywhere' (pictured with Collingwood players after a 2018 game) doesn't think the AFL is in any way homophobic - and believes real change in how gay players are treated will be driven by forces outside the league

‘Eddie Everywhere’ (pictured with Collingwood players after a 2018 game) doesn’t think the AFL is in any way homophobic – and believes real change in how gay players are treated will be driven by forces outside the league

McGuire also believes the league’s attitude to gay and lesbian players – which he describes as ‘very welcoming’ – isn’t the reason the league has been devoid of openly gay players.

‘This needs to not be in the AFL so much, it’s the junior leagues that we need to get this through,’ he said of what needs to happen to pave the way for the AFL’s first out and proud star.

‘I think as schools, private schools in particular, that have been hyper masculine in the past, they’ve now got gay-straight alliances in some of the big religious private schools, that’s where the changes are made. 

‘I think the knock-on effect of same-sex marriage [becoming legal in Australia] means that we’ll have a lot more gay couples turning up at Auskick and being at junior football and it just becomes something that’s not seen as a big story anymore.’ 

At the time of his controversial column, Akermanis doubled down on his comments, telling Channel Nine he felt gay players would be targeted if they revealed all about their sexuality.

Brisbane Lions great Jason Akermanis (pictured) was sacked by the Western Bulldogs in 2010 after urging gay players to stay in the closet. The ABC revisited the episode in a recent episode of Four Corners that left Laidley 'livid'

Brisbane Lions great Jason Akermanis (pictured) was sacked by the Western Bulldogs in 2010 after urging gay players to stay in the closet. The ABC revisited the episode in a recent episode of Four Corners that left Laidley ‘livid’ 

‘There’s been a little bit of a gay hunting going on where we’re trying to get people to come out,’ he said.

‘I’m not sure that’s very safe and healthy for the competition. What you do in your private life is your business.’

He was sacked by the Western Bulldogs two months after the column was published. 

Laidley has had a very different reception from footy stars past and present since revealing her struggle with her gender identity as she transitioned.

‘I can’t put into words how grateful I am they’ve accepted me,’ she said. 

‘Through my journey I perhaps always thought maybe one day football would kill me, but invariably it saved my life. No question.’

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Post source: Daily mail

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