GayFL
GayFL is a radio show and podcast hosted by Brendan and Chris that showcases AFL and AFLW news, culture, events and social media from a uniquely queer perspective. The show mixes deep love for the game with fun, topical and sometimes irreverent commentary, including interviews, match highlights, season and ladder discussion. It promotes a pro-inclusion message for the whole LGBTQIA+ community, aiming to include those who feel mainstream footy commentary doesn't represent them.
Episodes
S3E17: Path to the Finals
On this week’s GayFL, it’s all about the AFLW path to the finals!
We take a look at the current ladder, break down the teams fighting for a spot and preview all the matchups for Finals Week 1.
We reflect on an incredible night at the 2026 CBAA Community Broadcasting Awards, celebrating alongside some amazing peers and bringing home The Troy Garner Award for Best Program: Sports.
We also chat about
S3E16: Chicks Talking Footy
On this week’s GayFL, we’re joined by two very special guests: Fiona and Bec from Chicks Talking Footy!
Fellow CBAA Award winners, we celebrate what it means to represent JOY Media and our wonderful queer community through our shared love of footy.
We chat about the origins of CTF, career highlights, inclusion in the AFL, and the importance of creating space for our community in the game.
We also
S3E15: Round 9 (Pride Round Week 1)
On this week’s GayFL, we’re celebrating Week 1 of AFLW Pride Round!
We recap our live broadcast from Mission Whitten Oval as Essendon took on the Western Bulldogs, teaming up with Chicks Talking Footy for a special Pride Round broadcast.
We revisit our live interviews with Laura Kane, the AFL’s Executive General Manager of AFLW, Health and Football Operations, and Essendon AFLW player Zoe Prowse.
S3E14: Pride Round Launch
On this week’s GayFL, it’s ALL about the 2026 Pride Round launch!
We take you behind the scenes of the Pride Round Launch Media Event at the Victorian Pride Centre, check out the 2026 Pride Guernseys up close and chat with some amazing people from across the AFL world.
Plus, we look ahead to Friday’s live broadcast from Mission Whitten Oval for the Pride Round clash between Essendon and the Wester
S3E13: Grand Final
On this week’s GayFL, it’s ALL about the Grand Final!
We’re coming off a huge weekend as we recap Footy Fest 2026, the Grand Final Parade, the never-ending Kylie merch line and the all-important question of who let go of the Premiership Cup first!
We hit the Brownlow red carpet, break down the count, celebrate some big wins and finally see Daicos claim his much-deserved Brownlow Medal.
Then it’s G
S3E12: Preliminary Finals
On this week’s GayFL, we’re talking preliminary finals.
We’re covering all the excitement and drama from both prelims, recapping the games, the aftermath, fans behaving badly and that call.
We preview Footy Fest 2026 and Grand Final week in Melbourne.
We also preview our upcoming “Making Sport a Place for Everyone: A Panel Discussion”, as well as our Grand Final screening at the Victorian Pride Ce
S3E11: Finals Week 3 / Round 5
On this week’s GayFL, we’re talking Finals Week 3 and AFLW Round 5.
We discuss some notable delistings and trades, including what to do with Lachie Neale, speculate on Toby Greene’s future and unpack the trade no one saw coming: Zak Butters to the Western Bulldogs.
We preview the Preliminary Finals and chat more about the Grand Final pre-game entertainment.
We finish the show with some of our late
S3E10: Finals Week 2 / Round 4
On this week’s GayFL, we chat about attending the Yarraville Seddon Eagles Senior Women’s Grand Final and celebrate their incredible 2026 season.
We preview the 2026 NFL Melbourne Game, recap AFL Finals Week 2 and AFLW Round 4.
We look ahead to Kylie Minogue’s AFL Grand Final performance and discuss some notable retirements, including Tom Liberatore.
We also celebrate Erin Phillips and Bruce McAva
S3E9: Wildcard / Round 3
On this week’s GayFL, we preview the Yarraville Seddon Eagles’ Grand Final, celebrate AFLW Indigenous Round, recap Round 3 and look back at Wildcard Round.
Plus, in honour of the one-year anniversary of Mitch Brown’s historic coming out, we look back on the moment and celebrate an incredible year of achievements, advocacy and impact.
The post S3E9: Wildcard / Round 3 appeared first on GayFL.
S3E8: Round 24 / Round 2
On this week’s GayFL, we chat AFLW Round 2, preview the Wildcard Round and unpack the latest developments in the Sydney Swans scandal.
We talk Richmond’s Mad Monday and the reaction around the footy world, celebrate the 2026 All Australian squad and discuss some notable departures, including Jake Melksham, Jesse Hogan, Kieren Briggs and Jake Stringer.
Plus, the Hirdle is finally over! Mark McVeigh
S3E7: Round 23 / Round 1
On this week’s GayFL, we’re talking Round 23 and celebrating AFLW Round 1.
We unpack the evolving Sydney Swans sexual assault allegations, and discuss the importance of speaking up, listening, and being a good ally.
We run through the latest footy news, including the 2027 Gather Round date announcement, the Essendon VFL squad qualifying for the elimination final, Josh Fraser appointed as Carlton’s
S3E6: Mitch Brown and Mitchell Withers
On this week’s GayFL, we’re joined by very special guests Mitch Brown and Mitchell Withers to discuss their documentary short, “For the Boys”. Premiering and currently screening at the 2026 Melbourne International Film Festival, we discuss the film’s conception, core themes and the poignancy of Mitch Brown’s journey as the first openly queer male AFL player, his relationship with Australian Rules
S3E5: Round 21
In this week’s GayFL, we recap our chat with Yarraville Seddon Eagles’ Layna and KK, celebrating women’s footy, inclusion and community, before diving headfirst into all the biggest AFL stories.
We unpack the Isaac Quaynor booing controversy and why it has no place in our game, the Collingwood vs Geelong pre-game ritual changes, the Round 24 resting debate, Lachie Neale’s visit to Collingwood HQ,
S3E4: WFNL Pride Games
This week on GayFL, Layna and KK from the Yarraville Seddon Eagles join us to talk club culture, community, and the rise of women’s footy. They share what makes YSE a place where women stay, grow, and support one another through milestones, tough games, and injuries, while celebrating Layna’s incredible 250-game milestone.
We look back at the sold-out Pride Round fundraiser, delivered in partnersh
S3E3: Round 19
In this week’s show, we ride the chaos of Flagdons 2026 as Essendon finally snap their losing streak, spark the internet, and lock in Nate Caddy until 2031.
We discuss Winmar’s statue removal and Hall of Fame withdrawal, Hinkley heading to Tasmania, Buckley’s next move, and the memes lighting up Tassie socials.
We also cover Bobby Hill leaving Collingwood, Melbourne parting ways
S3E2: Tilly Lucas-Rodd
In this week’s show, we’re joined by a very special guest, AFLW superstar Tilly Lucas-Rodd.
Join us as we chat about AFLW, Tilly’s journey and career so far, their move to GWS, life in Sydney, and what gender euphoria means to them.
The post S3E2: Tilly Lucas-Rodd appeared first on GayFL.
S3E1: Reese Leigh “The Last Closet”
In this week’s show, we’re joined by filmmaker Reese Leigh to discuss his powerful debut documentary, “The Last Closet”.
We unpack the story behind the film, the silence it challenges around LGBTQIA+ inclusion in men’s AFL, and why this conversation matters for the future of our game.
The post S3E1: Reese Leigh “The Last Closet” appeared first on GayFL.
S2E21: Mid-Season Recap
In this week’s show, we’re joined by special guest, friend of the show, and fellow Joyster, Steven.
We recap JOY Radiothon 2026, and Steven tells us what he’s been up to.
Join us as we dive into a mid-season recap of all things AFL. We chat about the news, the drama, the marquee games, and the upsets.
We also reflect on GayFL so far and the wonderful support we’ve received from JOY and the wider c
S2E20: Leigh Ryswyk – Find Your Tribe with JOY
In this week’s show, we’re joined by a very special guest co-host, Leigh Ryswyk, for JOY Radiothon 2026.
Join us as we discuss Leigh’s life since sharing his story with us on GayFL. We talk about the highs, the reception to his story, and the global reach it achieved.
We celebrate finding our tribes and our chosen family within the community.
We celebrate JOY Radiothon 2026 and discuss advocacy an
S2E19: Round 13
In this week’s show, we celebrate Pride Month and kick things off with a mad rant about the usual‑suspect keyboard warriors coming after some of our favourite people.
We unpack Big Freeze 2026 and the moving tributes to Neale Daniher — honouring his legacy, his impact, and the community spirit he continues to inspire.
We celebrate NRL’s Kane Evans and his historic coming out, along with the wave o
S2E18: Round 12
In this week’s show, we celebrate community and culture at the Pride Month Launch at the Victorian Pride Centre, and reflect on the joy, vulnerability, and love of footy in Will Hanley’s “Playing to Win”. We honour Jonathan Brown’s return to the media and unpack the latest developments with James Hird and the “Hirdle”.
We dive into the growing problem of fake club social media pages sp
S2E17: Round 10 and 11
In this week’s show, we dive into the latest footy stories. We pay our respects to the late champion Neale Daniher, celebrating his career, his achievements, and his extraordinary philanthropy.
We’re talking Brad Scott’s firing from Essendon, the magic of Dreamtime at the ‘G, Scott Pendlebury reaching 433 games, and we look ahead to the Sydney vs Bulldogs Pride Game.
We wra
S2E16: Will Hanley
In this week’s show, we’re joined by cabaret extraordinaire Will Hanley. We chat about his upcoming one-man cabaret blending tap dancing, nostalgia, and a love letter to AFL – especially Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott. We dive into “Playing to Win”, queer footy fandom, cabaret, musical theatre, and, of course, Jamie Elliott. We wrap the show with some Stars Around
S2E15: Tanya Hosch AM
This week, we’re joined by a very special guest: Tanya Hosch AM — activist, advocate, leader, changemaker and all‑round icon. Tanya is recognised as one of Australia’s most influential voices on social justice, inclusion and First Nations advocacy. Her career spans senior leadership roles across sport, the arts, public policy and national campaigns for constitutional recognition. She’s been named
S2E14: Round 8
In this week’s show, join us as we recap Round 8 and discuss all the latest AFL news.
From yet another homophobic incident (seriously?), to Slap-gate, Whiteboard-gate, Cornes Sportsbet-gate, and Caddy-gate — we’re covering all the -gates.
We chat about the Brisbane vs Essendon Pride Game, the AFL fining Carlton $75,000 in the wake of Elijah Hollands’ incident against Collingwood, and the club’s re
S2E13: Round 7 (Anzac Appeal Round)
This week, we dive into Round 7 (ANZAC Appeal Round).
We break down Lance Collard’s suspension reversal, what the AFL Appeals Board said, how fans reacted, and why the whole saga has sparked serious queer rage.
Plus, the latest ARC controversy.
Then we wrap it up with some Stars Around and UHC.
The post S2E13: Round 7 (Anzac Appeal Round) appeared first on GayFL.
S2E11: Gather Round and Round 6
In this week’s show, we discuss the highs and lows of Round 5 (Gather Round) and Round 6.
Join us as we celebrate Gather Round 2026’s record-breaking attendance of 270,018, Essendon’s win over Melbourne ending an equal club-record 17-match losing streak, and all the events Adelaide had to offer.
We cover the latest news and preview Anzac Appeal Round.
We finish the show with Stars Around and UHC.
S2E11: Ian Roberts, Mitch Brown, Leigh Ryswyk
Three guests. Three icons. One powerful conversation.
This week, we’re joined by NRL trailblazer, actor and activist Ian Roberts, alongside AFL and GayFL icons Mitch Brown and Leigh Ryswyk.
Together, they dive into the realities of homophobia in the AFL—sharing raw personal stories, unpacking the culture of men’s sport today, and exploring what real change, allyship, and inclusion look like from t
S2E10: Round 4
In this week’s show, we reflect on Round 4 and share our experiences attending the Purple Bombers and Bulldog Pride pre-game meet-up, along with all the excitement from the Good Friday SuperClash and some of the standout games of the round.
We then turn our attention to Gather Round 2026, offering a preview of what’s to come and sharing some non-commercial recommendations for things to do while in
S2E9: Round 2 and 3
In this week’s show, we reflect on Rounds 2 and 3.
We dive into our latest footy hijinks, including attending the Essendon vs North game, meeting Dyson Heppell and Haych, and being invited into the Essendon rooms post-match.
We also reflect on our historic interview with Leigh Ryswyk, the AFL’s first past or present openly gay male player. We discuss the lead-up to the interview, reflect on the co
S2E8: Leigh Ryswyk
In this week’s show, we’re joined by a very special guest. In a GayFL exclusive, we’re proud and excited to introduce Leigh Ryswyk — former Brisbane Lions AFL player, North Adelaide SANFL great, and a 2023 inductee into the Queensland Football Hall of Fame.
Leigh chats with us about his time in the AFL, his remarkable post-AFL career, and what it means to him to come out as the first openly gay ma
S2E7: Round 1
In this week’s show, join us as we chat about Round 1 of the 2026 AFL season.
We also cover the latest footy news, including the revelation of new commentator Jess Webster, North Melbourne breaking into the top four for the first time since Round 2, 2020, Scott Pendlebury avoiding suspension throughout his AFL career, Zach Merrett’s latest contract offer, Rum’un’s first birthday celebrations, and
S2E6: Opening Round
Footy’s back! In this week’s show, we dive into the opening round of the 2026 AFL season.
Join us as we talk about Sydney’s record-setting blitz — a fiery opener where their third-quarter surge rewrote the history books — plus Petracca in red and all the other major highlights from Opening Round.
We also unpack the latest AFL headlines, including Tom Hanks at ENGIE Stadium, Hawthorn’s Dylan
S2E5
In this week’s show, we dive into the AFL pre-season and unpack the biggest stories from around the league — from statistics being provided to Brownlow voters, to the Sydney Swans marching proudly in Mardi Gras 2026. We also look ahead to the Saints taking on the Swans in the 2026 AFL Pride Game and explore the AFL’s growing push to feature at the Olympics.
We wrap things up with Stars Around and
S2E4
In this week’s show, we do a mini “Where Are They Now?” segment, looking back at some of our past guests. We introduce our upcoming tipping comp, take a deep dive into the new rules that have been introduced, reflect on Izak Rankine’s recent podcast appearance, and discuss that letter that went out to Collingwood members.
We wrap it all up with some practice match takeaways and a fresh edition of
S2E3: 2026 AFL Origin
In this week’s show, we unpack the AFL 2026 State of Origin. We break down the game itself — the key highlights, the standout MVP performances, the injuries, and the overall reception.
We also dive into the latest AFL news, including the outcome for the Kyneton Women’s Football Club, and take a look at Kane Cornes’ Top 50 AFL players.
To wrap things up, we finish with Stars Around and State of Ori
S2E2: Kyneton Women’s Football Club
In this week’s show, we’re joined by a club making history — not just on the field, but off it too — the Kyneton Women’s Football Club, nicknamed the Wedge-Tailed Eagles.
Born in late 2024 after more than 30 players and staff took a stand against inequity, disrespect and unsafe conditions, this group didn’t just walk away — they built something better.
A club grounded in safety, respect, inclusion
S2E1
In this week’s show in our brand-new timeslot, we hit the streets with JOY at the Pride March 2026, marching alongside an incredible mix of groups and communities.
We preview State of Origin and dive into the hottest talking points — from pre-game fashion drama to the latest headlines out of the Tasmanian Devils.
We wrap things up with Stars Around and some fast-paced quickfire questions you won’t
S1E8: Courtney Jonson
In our final episode of Season 1, we’re joined by special guest Courtney Jonson!
We sit down with Courtney to chat about her journey as a dual premiership player and leading goal kicker at her Adelaide Footy League club, and how those experiences have shaped her approach to coaching.
Now four seasons into her coaching journey, Courtney is the Head Coach of the U18 Central Districts Women’s team in
S1E7
In our penultimate episode of season 1, join us as we celebrate Midsumma and talk about on-stage interviewing courtesy of Proud 2 Play, featuring the Glamourheads, Melbourne Wranglers, some amazing AFL Queer squads such as the Purple Bombers and Bulldog Pride, and the man of the year himself, Mitch Brown.
We also discuss the highly anticipated 2026 AFL State of Origin match, pre-season injuries, p
S1E6: Samuel Roberts
In this week’s show, we’re joined by special guest Samuel Roberts — former local footy player turned comedian, songwriter, and cabaret star.
Join us as we dive into Samuel’s footy career and explore how he reflects on the intersection of his love of the game and his queer identity, and whether the two can truly co‑exist.
We also chat about Samuel’s upcoming Midsumma and Melbourne International Com
S1E5
Welcome to 2026!
In this week’s show, we reflect on the holidays and discuss some AFL team resolutions.
We chat about some notable captain turnovers, revisit some 2025 predictions, and make a few of our own predictions for the 2026 season.
We finish this episode with some Stars Around and some UHC.
The post S1E5 appeared first on GayFL.
S1E4
In our final episode of GayFL for 2025, we’re joined by guest and friend of the show, Steven.
Join us for New Year’s Eve as we recap the AFL and ALFW 2025 season that was.
The post S1E4 appeared first on GayFL.
S1E3: Libby Birch
In this episode of GayFL, we’re joined by a very special guest: AFLW superstar and the league’s first ever four‑time premiership player, Libby Birch.
We chat all things footy with Libby, including her journey through the game, her 2025 season recap, and the release of her first official AFLW picture book, “Libby’s Footy Adventures.”
We also talk Christmas food and try our hand at baking a recipe f
S1E2: Darcy Green
In this episode, we’re joined by special guest Darcy Green. Darcy is a queer romance author based in Melbourne/Naarm, as well as a lifelong footy fan. We discuss AFL, AFLW, inclusivity, and Darcy’s queer AFL‑romance debut novel, “After the Siren”.
The post S1E2: Darcy Green appeared first on GayFL.
S1E1: Mitch Brown
Welcome to GayFL: A Queer Footy Show.
In our debut episode, we chat with DNA Magazine’s (and our) 2025 Man of the Year himself, Mitch Brown.
Join us as Mitch discusses his AFL career, what led him to come out publicly as bisexual, and his historic moment becoming the first ever past or present AFL male player in 129 years to openly identify as LGBTQIA+.
Listen as Mitch candidly shares his journey,
