Former AFL Player Leigh Ryswyk Comes Out as Gay at 41

When Leigh Ryswyk shared his truth on a Melbourne radio station this week, he didn't expect what happened next.

The 41-year-old former Brisbane Lions player became the first AFL player to come out as gay during an interview with Joy 94.9. Within hours, messages of support flooded in from everywhere.

"It has been amazing to be honest, overwhelming support, love, messages from people from everywhere," Ryswyk told ABC Radio Adelaide. "I can't lie, it's blown me away."

Ryswyk played one AFL match for the Brisbane Lions in 2005 before building an impressive career with North Adelaide in the SANFL, racking up more than 200 matches. His friends have known about his sexuality for years, but he waited until he felt ready to share publicly.

When asked if he could have come out while still playing in the AFL, Ryswyk kept it simple. "When I was ready, I was ready and that's now."

The response from the football community has been exactly what inclusion looks like in action. Brisbane Lions CEO Sam Graham released a statement celebrating Ryswyk's courage and expressing hope that his story would help make the sport more welcoming for everyone.

North Adelaide, where Ryswyk is a life member, threw its full support behind their former player. The club said it prides itself on fostering an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves.

Why This Inspires

Ryswyk's honesty about the challenges facing LGBTQ+ athletes cuts through to what really matters. He noted that while clubs and the AFL community would support gay players, crowd behavior and social media trolling could still create fear.

But he's not dwelling on the obstacles. Instead, he's focused on education and starting conversations at younger levels so the next generation grows up in a truly inclusive environment.

"Football clubs literally are your family and you feel like you can be you," Ryswyk said at a press conference. "I've never, ever felt at any football club I've ever been to that I couldn't be me."

Ryswyk still plays local football for the Barossa Districts Football Club, where his teammates already knew his story. He posted the interview link in the team chat with a casual invite to listen if anyone had time.

His message to other athletes struggling with their identity is powerful in its simplicity: be yourself when you're ready. He hopes for a future where announcing your sexuality isn't necessary at all, where it's just another part of who someone is.

The path Ryswyk has walked is opening doors for others to follow.