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When former West Coast player Mitch Brown became the first openly bisexual male player in the AFL’s 129-year history, Tara Bohanna felt a mixture of relief and admiration.

The Carlton AFLW player saw the news online in August and recalled feeling grateful for Brown’s candor and courage.

“I feel like there’s a lot of media coverage of when this is going to happen, and I think it was a very brave thing for him to do that,” she said.

“You can’t be what you can’t see, and maybe that will make the conversation happen more. You can start being yourself, and hopefully the men’s side can be a little more tolerant about that, because it feels like it’s something that’s kind of frowned upon.”

“But hopefully we can start to get there.”

Carlton unveiled its new pride guernseys ahead of the AFLW’s annual pride event, which spans two weeks in rounds nine and 10.

Designed by Vietnamese illustrator and graphic designer Zo Lam, Guernsey features the waves of the LGBTQ and transgender flag.

Bohanna, who transferred to Carlton this year after three seasons as captain of the Suns, said the pride lap was an important part of the AFLW and a special moment in the fixture for the LGBTQ community.

“Obviously there’s a long way to go in the men’s field, but from the W side… it’s just participation and how you can just be yourself,” he said.

“As someone in a homosexual relationship, this is not something you think about, it’s very natural.”

The 29-year-old met partner Jade Pregelj while playing for the Gold Coast and described her as “the most supportive, loyal and caring person ever”.

“I think about Mitch Brown coming out and having to struggle with not feeling like himself,” he continued.

“I don’t even have to think about it, it’s just who you are and everyone is so accepting of that.”

To say it’s been a tough few months for the pride community around the football world would be an understatement. In August, Adelaide star Izak Rankine received a four-match reduced suspension for making a homophobic slur at a Collingwood opponent.

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Rankine, who publicly apologized, became the sixth AFL-listed player in the last two seasons to be suspended for a homophobic on-field comment.

Geelong star Bailey Smith also responded to criticism of her Mad Monday social media posts last week, saying: “This is what losing grandma does to you,” referring to Brokeback Mountain.

Brown responded on social media: “Last I checked, losing a grand final doesn’t make you gay, but being homophobic sure does make you a loser.”

Geelong later issued a public apology and canceled future Mad Monday events.

Bohanna, who will miss Carlton’s clash with the Swans on Sunday with a foot injury, wants to see the AFL shine a greater light on inclusivity in the men’s league.

“Obviously we have the pride lap, but maybe that’s something that could be brought into the men’s tournament,” he said.

“I think the hard part, especially in the men’s field… is the social media side of it and the trolls who get pretty brutal to be honest.” he said. “Whereas in the women’s space, we probably don’t see that as much, but that’s also because society is so accepting of it.”

Founder and president of the Carlton Pride group, Dr. David Gould said the Pride Tour was about bringing the community together and reminding everyone that football is a place for everyone.

“People on social media often ask, ‘What does sexuality have to do with football?'” Gould said. “They leave comments like this and my answer is nothing,” he said. “We just want to make the space inclusive.”

“Usually heterosexual men, they are the minority, talk about sexuality because they are the ones making homophobic comments.

“I think the Pride Tour is a real leader in helping change attitudes, and you can see those changing attitudes in young people.”