
Sam Newman brands the AFLW 'a lesbian league' in disgraceful outburst as he and Wayne Carey clash over women in footy
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...'
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...'
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'.'
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.
'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.'
'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.
'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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Guardian
9 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Australia v Wales: women's rugby union international
Update: Date: 2025-07-26T03:32:55.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Hello and welcome to live coverage of the women's rugby international between Australia and Wales at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane. The Wallaroos and Wales meet for the first time on Australian soil with both sides out to build momentum ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup in England next month. The Wallaroos are also searching for winning form as they continue to find it tough to break through the glass ceiling and challenge the leading World Cup contenders. But they have a strong record over today's opponents – the world No 10 – with seven wins in their past eight matches including a 37-5 thumping last year. Emily Chancellor will captain the Wallaroos for the first time, while veteran Ash Marsters becomes the first woman to reach 40 caps for Australia. Wales are also looking to turnaround a run of poor results after failing to find a win and finishing bottom in the Six Nations. Prop Sisi Tuipulotu's return will give the tourists a huge boost as they look to emulate their victory over Australia last year rather than the crushing defeat to the same that followed just a week later on neutral ground in South Africa. This is the first leg of a rugby double-header feast with a certain touring side taking on the Wallabies in Melbourne later today, while the Wallaroos and Wales will also meet again next week in Sydney. The forecast in Brisbane is for wet and wild conditions surely perfect for an entertaining clash. Kick-off is at 2pm local, or 5am for those following along on BST. I'll be back shortly with the line-up. In the meantime, get in touch with any questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @ Let's get into it! About that time 😤🗓️ Today | 2:00pm AEST🏟️ Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane🎟️ @StanSportAU#Wallaroos


Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
How Anthony 'The Man' Mundine will bring 'purest form' of fighting to Australia with bare-knuckle boxing
Former world super-middleweight champion Anthony Mundine has urged the Australian public to embrace what he dubbed the 'purest form of fighting', bare-knuckle boxing. Mundine, 50, launched his venture this week ahead of the World Bare Knuckle Fighting card in Brisbane this September. 'I just want to put on the best shows, the best fights, and have the best entertainment and bring something different. There's something new. That's why I got involved,' he said. 'I'm a pioneer of a lot of things, and this is another thing that I'm pioneering. 'The fans are going to go crazy…it will sell out pretty fast. 'We are looking to bring an amazing show. An exciting, explosive show. And we can't wait.' Also speaking on Channel 9's Today with Karl Stefanovic, 'The Man' stated bare-knuckle boxing is the 'purest form of fighting' in his eyes - and actually safer than entering the ring with gloves on due to less head trauma. 'Look at the statistics,' he said. 'We will also have paramedics and doctors ringside.' Meanwhile, Mundine remains adamant his close friend Sonny Bill Williams won his recent bout against NRL legend Paul Gallen. Mundine, 50, launched the venture this week ahead of the World Bare Knuckle Fighting card in Brisbane this September (pictured, fighting Garth Wood in 2011) 'I thought he (Williams) outpointed him easily,' he said. 'And look at Gallen's face compared to Sonny's once the bout was over.' In May, Mundine attended his first official rugby league function in 25 years following his shock retirement in 2000 to boldly pursue a boxing career. Mundine burst onto the footy scene in the mid 1990s, signing with the Dragons at just 18 and making his first grade debut the following year. By the end of the decade he was a State of Origin representative with the NSW Blues, and his electrifying ability suggested he might go on to become one of the all-time greats. However, he walked away from the game in 2000 after growing disillusioned and bitter.


The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Tim David smashes Australia's fastest T20 century in victory against West Indies
Tim David has blasted Australia's fastest T20I hundred from 37 balls as the tourists chased down a 215-run target with six wickets in hand to seal a series-winning victory over the West Indies in St Kitts. The middle-order powerhouse smashed 11 sixes and six boundaries to reach a century off 37 balls, while Mitch Owen joined David for an unbroken 128-run stand to guide Australia home. David etched his name in the record books with a brutal hitting display as he first posted Australia's quickest T20 fifty from 16 balls, then hit a boundary to both reach 102 not out and seal the win with 23 balls remaining. Shai Hope had earlier helped lift the West Indies to 214-4 with his maiden T20 century after setting up the competitive total with Brandon King in a 125-run opening stand. Australia slumped to 87 for 4 in the ninth over of the chase before David's fireworks quickly took the game away from the hosts. More to follow …