AFL 2026: Former Lion and SANFL legend Leigh Ryswyk becomes first AFL player to come out as gay
Rob Sharp
Former Brisbane Lion and SANFL champion Leigh Ryswyk has created history by becoming the first past or present openly gay male AFL player.
Ryswyk played one game for the Lions in 2005 but was delisted at the end of the season after suffering a quad strain during his debut against Fremantle. He went on to complete a magnificent career in the SANFL, where he played 226 games for North Adelaide and was later inducted into the Queensland Football Hall of Fame.
Ryswyk, who was born in Victoria, came out as gay during an interview on Wednesday with GayFL on LGBTQI broadcaster, JOY 94.9.
“To people who know me, my closest friends, this is not new,” the 41-year-old told the station.
“I’ve been out for five years now. There will be people though, if they do listen to this, it will be the first time they know about this; I’m a very private person, so it’s not all over my social media, and things like that, and that’s fine.”
His decision follows that of former West Coast player Mitch Brown, who revealed he was bisexual in late 2025, becoming the league’s first openly bisexual player.
“It can be a bit of a shock to some people, they might not know … but that’s life, right?” Ryswyk said.
He was asked by JOY what the AFL could do to support other players who might come out in the future.
“I think the AFL, and the community, will wrap their arms around that player,” Ryswyk said.
“I think the community itself, obviously the queer community, the fan base, I think in the whole they will celebrate that when the time comes.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
Rob Sharp is an online editor for The AgeConnect via X or email.