AFL player Jeremy Finlayson has been paired with a new coach to guide him through the process of a Frownlow nomination.
Finlayson will team up with Australia’s greatest homophobe and former AFL player Israel Folau in order to learn how to do homophobia properly and stand a real chance of winning The Frownlow Medal.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes; the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Talatau Amone is the most recent recipient.
Finlayson is currently the subject of an AFL investigation into a homophobic comment during an AFL game against Essendon. He admitted to making the comment and has apologised publicly, which is why he has been put under the guidance of Folau, who once played (badly) for GWS.
Folau is famous for being one of the most talented multi-code footballers of his generation, and for severely homophobic comments made on social media. Folau didn’t win the Frownlow, but did lose a very lucrative contract with Rugby Australia because he repeated his social media faux pas despite a strong warning from his employer.
“Jeremy is a nice guy, but he needs to learn,” said Folau.
“If you do homophobia, you have to do it properly. First, don’t apologise because then you’ll never win the Frownlow. Second, if you’re gonna do it, make it count, like saying gay people go to hell or something like that.
Look, I don’t know exactly what Jeremy said because we haven’t done any coaching sessions yet, but it couldn’t have been as bold as my statements so we need to work on that. I think with the right training, and some visits to my family church, he can learn how to be a better homophobe,” Folau continued, before adding,
“At least he did it close to the microphone so the umpires and stuff heard it.”
It is not clear who was the subject of the slur from the Port Adelaide player, nor is it known whether the player is actually homosexual or whether Finlayson was simply implying that he is gay. It is not known because there are currently no openly gay players within the AFL.
Which begs the question, is the slur hurtful? Is it useful? Is it necessary?
Implying homosexuality used to be a severe insult in Australia, but is it still powerful in 2024? Is it still enough to put someone off their game in the heat of the battle?
Maybe it is.
Maybe the AFL is still homophobic enough to give power to homophobic remarks, despite the AFL’s Pride Round and rainbow motifs.
This is something Finlayson will no doubt learn from his new mentor.
Image: NuNa
The Frownlow Medal 