Mitch Brown, the AFL’s pioneering bisexual player, has faced backlash online after voicing his concerns about the sport’s ties with alcohol.
In a recent interview, the former West Coast Eagles player, who made history by publicly identifying as bisexual, shed light on the pervasive influence of alcohol within the AFL community.
Brown pointed out that alcohol has become deeply ingrained in the culture of football clubs, with post-match beer drinking being seen as a routine part of the experience.
“You often hear coaches emphasize the importance of winning, and that message gets intertwined with the tradition of gathering in the locker room to sing the team song around a case of beer,” Brown explained. “For many, including myself, this ritual became not just normal but the ultimate goal—to drink alcohol.”
Having played 96 games with West Coast from 2007 to 2016, Brown highlighted the significant role of alcohol sponsorships in the league, citing the example of the Fremantle vs. West Coast derby being branded as the “Carlton Draught Derby.”
Former West Coast star Mitch Brown, the first AFL player to come out as bisexual, highlighted the presence of alcohol around the game
Ex-Aussie Rules player turned influencer Thomas ‘Primetrain’ Baulch hit back at Brown and said having a beer post-game is a great thing to do
Brown, who played 96 games for West Coast from 2007 to 2016, said the enormous presence of alcohol was illustrated in the fact that the Fremantle vs West Coast derby was called the ‘Carlton Draught Derby’.
‘The trophy literally had the Carlton Draught sign on it, so it was embedded into us,’ he said.
‘We are the role models of so many young men so you can see how easily that gets passed on.
‘It became more than advertising. It became cultural wallpaper.’
Brown called for a reduction in alcohol advertising, particularly during sports broadcasts.
‘I drink alcohol myself and believe most things are OK in moderation,’ he said.
But Brown’s comments didn’t go down well with ex-Aussie Rules player Thomas Baulch.
Baulch, who goes by PrimeTrain to his huge online following, said Brown was focusing ‘too much on the negatives’ and said having a beer after a match was a positive thing.
West Coast players are pictured drinking beer from the premiership trophy after winning the 2018 grand final
Beer is often a fixture in the dressing rooms after AFL games, especially for the winning side
‘Gee whiz, getting on the p**s with the boys after a game is one of the greatest things you could ever do,’ he claimed.
‘I wouldn’t change for a minute, all of those times after a game of football, getting on it with the boys.’
Baulch, who created controversy earlier this year when he urged his male followers to unfollow female influencers, equating the practice to pornography usage, claims he hasn’t had a drink in more than 16 months.
He defended the use of alcohol around footy clubs from the top level right down to the grassroots.
He said bonding over a beer post-game was a positive thing for players.
‘Sometimes you forget how important that community and that feeling is. What football does is it brings people together, especially in these country towns, which I don’t think Mitch has been to,’ he said.
‘If you’re going to have a few beers with the boys after a game, so be it. It’s a lot better than sitting at home and doing nothing with your life.
‘It gives you an outlet, it gives you a way to let off a bit of steam.’
Brown hit out at the amount of alcohol-related advertising in football
Many fans hit out at Brown’s take and said there’s ‘nothing better’ than having a cold lager after a game (pictured, Brisbane stars have a beer after winning last year’s grand final)
Some online commenters supported Brown with one person saying: ‘Great observations. Very important. That and gambling which is addictive and creates dysfunction.’
Many more supported Baulch’s thoughts.
‘There’s nothing better than a beer in the shed with the lads after a game,’ one commenter said.
‘Not a truer word spoken. Nothing better than beer after playing a team sport. Great for the mental health for most blokes,’ another said.
Alcohol advertising is widespread in the AFL, with the majority of the 18 clubs having ties to alcohol brands, often appearing on kits and merchandise.
Studies on televised AFL matches showed an average of 244 incidents of alcohol marketing per match.
