This weekend, there was supposed to be a special game played between the Sydney Swans and St Kilda. It was the teams' annual Pride match, in which the players would wear rainbow jerseys and celebrate diversity, the aim being to boost inclusivity for LGBTQ fans.

But for the first time in a decade, because of a far-reaching scandal involving Saints player Lance Collard, the Pride match was scrapped. Sydney opted to play the game against a different side, at a different time.

Today special correspondent Stephen Brook discusses the role that homophobic slurs play in footy and why the code’s attempts at cracking down on hate may be backfiring.
And just a heads-up, this episode contains offensive language.

Background reading
The question that exposed a massive flaw in the AFL’s fight against homophobia.
Not much pride in the AFL’s LGBTQI+ efforts.

This weekend, there was supposed to be a special game played between the Sydney Swans and St Kilda. It was the teams' annual Pride match, in which the players would wear rainbow jerseys and celebrate diversity, the aim being to boost inclusivity for LGBTQ fans.
But for the first time in a decade, because of a far-reaching&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-question-that-exposed-a-massive-flaw-in-the-afl-s-fight-against-homophobia-20260506-p5zugb.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">scandal involving Saints player Lance Collard</a>, the Pride match was scrapped. Sydney opted to play the game against a different side, at a different time.
Today special correspondent Stephen Brook discusses the role that homophobic slurs play in footy and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/not-much-pride-in-the-afl-s-lgbtqi-efforts-20260520-p5zz4u.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">why the code&rsquo;s attempts at cracking down on hate may be backfiring</a>. And just a heads-up, this episode contains offensive language. Background reading
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-question-that-exposed-a-massive-flaw-in-the-afl-s-fight-against-homophobia-20260506-p5zugb.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">The question that exposed a massive flaw in the AFL&rsquo;s fight against homophobia</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/not-much-pride-in-the-afl-s-lgbtqi-efforts-20260520-p5zz4u.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Not much pride in the AFL&rsquo;s LGBTQI+ efforts</a>.</li>
</ul>

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

A player suspended, a Pride match bumped: Is the AFL doing more harm than good?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/8b84508b-b8cf-4745-a07f-b45d00618d7f/transcript