Sam Newman has labelled the AFLW a ‘lesbian league’ while the ex-footballer appeared to question why there was a need for the AFL to continue to ‘ram’ events including Pride celebrations and Welcome to Country ‘down our throats’.
The 79-year-old is well known for voicing strong opinions on subjects from footy to politics. And, during an episode of his podcast ‘You Cannot Be Serious’, he stated that he didn’t mind what sexual preference footy players had but appeared to question why the AFLW will be hosting a two-week Pride Round during the 2025 season.
The former Geelong player also mixed up the letters in the acronym AFLW, appearing to call the women’s football league the ‘AWFL’ and the ‘awful’ multiple times.
‘Are the AFL responsible for the “awful”, the “AWFL”?’ Newman began, referring to the AFLW, while speaking with former North Melbourne player Wayne Carey.
‘Are they responsible for the women’s league?’ he pressed. Carey subsequently replied: ‘Of course they are…’
Newman again proceeded to swap the letters around for the acronym AFLW: ‘Well here we go again, did you know the “AWFL”, the “awful”, that’s the women’s league…’
Sam Newman (left) appeared to call the AFLW a ‘lesbian league’ during an episode of his podcast ‘You Cannot Be Serious’
The former Geelong player claimed that the AFL were shoving Pride Celebrations and Welcome to Country events ‘down our throats’
Carey quickly interrupted, noting Newman had flipped the letters around: ‘Hang on, hang on, I just saw what you did there. You went AFLW and then you said “the awful”, so that was a deliberate…’
Newman responded: ‘How do you reckon the “AWFL” is going? Do you reckon a lot of people are watching it?’
Carey then corrected him, emphasising the phrase: ‘AFLW,’ to which Newman replied: ‘The women’s league.’
‘That doesn’t spell “awful”,’ Carey said.
But Newman appeared to admit he had swapped the “W” around on purpose: ‘I had the “W” around the wrong way… just to make it appropriate.’
Carey, flatly responded to Newman’s comment by saying: ‘No,’ before claiming he has a lot of admiration for the AFLW and it’s players.
‘Unlike you, and I’m going to tell you this, my mate Crock [Darren Crocker] coaches the North Melbourne women’s side who won the Grand Final last year.
‘I think it is an improving league. I know you don’t watch it but I do. I do watch it. It’s a game that, I tell you what you’ve got to admire. You’ve got to admire how the girls and women go about…’
Wayne Carey (pictured) said he had a lot of admiration for the AFLW and its players
The AFLW announced last week that the league would be holding it’s Pride Round across two weeks this year
Newman interjected: ‘Girls? Females.’
Carey then attempted to pick up his sentence again but he was cut off by Newman who interjected saying: ‘It’s basically a lesbian league… Isn’t it?’
The former North Melbourne player then said: ‘But, who cares what sexual preference they are?’
Newman agreed with Carey, stating: ‘Very well said.’
‘You drove around with a number plate that had “hetero” written on it just so that people knew you were heterosexual,’ Carey said.
But Newman agreed with his co-hosts’ previous comment: ‘You make a very good point, who cares if you’re a lesbian, a d**e or what you are and you play in that competition.
‘You’re spot on, this is why it is insulting again. Once again, the AWFL are having…’
Carey again cut in to correct the former Geelong player: ‘Stop saying “AWFL”… AFL Womens‘.’
League bosses have made the call to extend the round in order to allow each team to wear their Pride guernseys for one match at home
Newman continued and appeared to also incorrectly phrase the term LGBTQIA+: ‘The women’s league are having a celebration of Pride Round, where they’re acknowledging the contributions of the “LGBTPQIPQL” community.’
Last week, the AFL confirmed the full fixture list for the 2025 NAB AFLW season, which is due to commence in mid-August.
The league is due to extend its Pride Round celebrations across two weeks in Rounds nine and ten.
League bosses have made the call to extend the round in order to allow each team to wear their Pride guernseys for one match at home.
All teams are due to play with specially designed Pride guernseys over the fortnight and will play with Sherrins that will feature a rainbow design.
AFLW fixtures chief Josh Bowler said following the release of the 2025 schedule that the league was hoping to celebrate iconic moments and create new traditions.
‘It is important to recognise the moments and match-ups in the game that have helped shape the league so far, while also nurturing the emerging rivalries and making it easy and accessible for fans to attend,’ Bowler said.
However, after reading out the new schedule on his podcast, Newman, who made 300 appearances for Geelong, criticised the AFL.
Teams will wear specially designed Pride guernseys while they will play with footballs with a specially designed rainbow flag imprinted on them
‘The AFL are going to donate the proceeds to the LGBTQ community, so why do we keep being told we accept people, why do the AFL keep ramming this s*** down our throats, so to speak,’ Newman said.
‘Why do they, like Welcome to Country – which is a complete and utter hoax and a fraud – why do they keep doing it? If you’re gay and you’re a lesbian and a d**ke, good on you.’
Carey asked Newman, whether we should have a ‘heterosexual round’, to which the former Geelong player responded: ‘If we had a heterosexual round for straight people who live in this community and don’t want to be bludgeoned by the AFL… we would have 90 per cent of the community agree with us.’
Newman then went on to read out a note that he claimed had been sent into the podcast.
‘Here’s a gay man who has written in: “As a gay man I don’t need an entire month of narcissism to celebrate my sexuality, my gay friends feel the same. The only people wanting Pride Month are militant male trans activists who want access to their lesbian and women’s spaces”.
‘How refreshing from a gay person,’ Newman added.
‘It’s straight white males who keep pushing it at the AFL and at every level.’
He then wrapped up his point stating: ‘Who cares what you are. Stop celebrating it. We’re all one people.’
The AFL is committed to ensuring a fair an inclusive culture throughout all levels of football, from the AFLW right down to grassroots footy
The AFL is dedicated to ensuring a fair an inclusive culture throughout all levels of football, from the AFLW right down to grassroots footy.
In the history of the men’s elite competition, no AFL player has ever come out as openly gay.
The AFL states on it’s participation website that it is ‘committed to embracing diversity and ensuring the sport is welcoming and safe for everyone who wants to participate, including people within the LGBTQI+ community.’
The league has also partnered with Pride in Sport, a not-for-profit organisation that dedicates their work to ensuring inclusion within sport at all levels from athletes to volunteers.
Earlier this year, the AFL was recognised for its work promoting diversity and inclusion at the annual Australian Pride in Sport Awards.
The footy league was awarded Gold Status for its work contributing and campaigning for LGBTQI+ initiatives. The organisation was also awarded the Most Improved Sporting Organisation Award and LGBTQI+ Inclusive Innovation Award for the Jara Corporate AFL Queensland Pride Round.
AFL executive general manager for inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch said during the event: ‘The AFL’s vision is for everyone to love and connect with Australia’s game. Achieving this goal is only possible when all people feel safe and have a sense of belonging, including LGBTQI+ communities.’
Hosch added: ‘There is no place for homophobia, transphobia, or biphobia in our community, or in our game. As a sport, we need to play our role in raising awareness of the importance of inclusion and educating others on what it means to be a sport for all.’
The league has also clamped down on homophobic abuse, issuing hefty bans to multiple players last season for using homophobic comments
‘This is important work, and one that we need to continue to work together on to ensure fans and athletes alike can be part of our sport, just the way they are,’ AFL CEO Andrew Dillon added.
Over the past 10 years, the AFL has worked to become more inclusive, through the introduction of several initiatives and education programmes.
Some of those include the AFLW Pride Round and the AFL Pride and Allies Network.
The league has in recent years taken a robust stance on clamping down on homophobic behaviour.
In 2024, Port Adelaide player Jeremy Finlayson was found guilty of breaching the AFL’s rules on conduct unbecoming in relation to a offensive homophobic slur against an Essendon opponent.
He was banned for three games and required to attend appropriate Pride in Sport training.
In handing down the sanction, the AFL stated: ‘The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in society.
‘We want all people in LGBTQI+ communities to feel safe playing or attending our games and we know the incident that happened on the weekend does not assist this goal.
The AFL has also been commended for its work improving inclusivity at the 2025 Australian Pride in Sport Awards
‘As a code we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all.’
AFL players and AFLW players also receive yearly inclusion training, as part of the AFL’s LGBTQI+ Action Plan.
‘The establishment of our inaugural Pride Plan last year will be instrumental in delivering our ongoing commitment to foster a culture of belonging in which all LGBTQI+ people within the AFL can thrive, safely and proudly as their authentic selves.
‘We have made great progress and are committed to continuing to lead ongoing change to ensure our organisation is truly safe, inclusive and welcoming for everyone,’ AFL executive general manager for people, Sarah Fair, said.
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