EXCLUSIVE: Eddie McGuire says gay AFL players are ‘all over’ the league as he offers a surprising explanation for why no star has ever openly come out

The AFL has never had an openly gay player, but Eddie McGuire is convinced the league has many gay stars.

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

Asked whether he hoped the documentary – which highlights Laidley’s struggles with her gender identity – would help players break that barrier, McGuire said: ‘I don’t think anyone in football is concerned about that.

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

‘We have gay players everywhere in clubs these days, especially in the women’s league.

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

“No one is that interested.”

The lack of an openly gay AFL star was addressed by 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 football players to ‘ to stay in the closet’. for fear that they would not be accepted by the league.

Murphy said he was “disgusted,” “embarrassed” and “hurt” by Akermanis’ controversial comments.

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

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

“I was furious about the Four Corners episode where they branded the AFL as homophobic. Absolutely not the case,” she told the newspaper Herald Sun.

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

McGuire also believes the league’s attitude toward gay and lesbian players — which he describes as “very welcoming” — is not the reason the league is devoid of openly gay players.

“This doesn’t really need to happen in the AFL, 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 and proud star.

“I think schools, especially private schools, which in the past have been hyper-masculine, now have gay-straight alliances in some of the big religious private schools, and that’s where the changes are happening.

“I think the knock-on effect of same-sex marriage (becoming legal in Australia) means there will be a lot more gay couples appearing on Auskick and in junior football, and it just becomes something that isn’t seen as a big event. story no more.’

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

Brisbane Lions chief executive Jason Akermanis (pictured) was sacked by the Western Bulldogs in 2010 after calling for gay players to remain in the closet. The ABC revisited the episode in a recent episode of Four Corners, leaving Laidley ‘furious’

“There’s a kind of gay hunt going on where we’re trying to get people out of the closet,” he said.

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

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

Laidley has received a very different reception from football stars past and present since she revealed her struggles with her gender identity during her transition.

“I can’t put into words how grateful I am that they accepted me,” she said.

“Throughout my journey I may have always thought that football might kill me one day, but it has invariably saved my life. No question.’