An Aussie Rules footballer has announced that he is gay, arguing that gay players in sport should not be a big deal, saying “I don’t know if footie is ready for an openly gay player, but events over recent weeks have helped me decide that it’s time to find out”.

In an article published in The Age, 23 year-old Rhyian Anderson-Morley told how he decided to be open about his sexuality in order to fight homophobia. His decision was made after he heard “homophobic language” being thrown around in the locker rooms after training, and “no one seeming to care”.

The footballer, who recently made an appearance on The Voice Australia where he had his chest signed by coach Kylie Minogue, wrote, “I knew that some people might not like the idea of playing with a gay bloke, and I didn’t want to upset the team atmosphere, especially when I was just trying to learn the ropes, and it makes me ask, should I have walked into this club waving a rainbow flag. Perhaps knowing a gay bloke was at the club would get them to have a look at themselves and what they say”.

Anderson-Morley plays for the Yarraville Seddon Eagles Football Club, part of the Western Region Football League, and follows fellow Aussie Rules player Jason Bell, who came out two years ago.

“I’m still not sure whether I made the right decision, but I am sure the more you talk about it and the bigger deal you make about there being gay football players, the harder it becomes to make that bold move”, the young sportsman concluded.