Exciting Family News for Former Eagles Player
Former West Coast Eagles star Mitch Brown and his partner Lou Keck share joyful news of their first child on the way. The couple revealed the pregnancy through an Instagram video on Monday evening, capturing a tender moment of Brown kissing Keck’s baby bump while she displayed the positive test. Brown, a premiership winner with the Eagles, captioned the post: ‘Something exciting coming October 2026,’ accompanied by a white heart emoji.
Fans flooded the comments with congratulations, including model Olivia Molly Rogers, who exclaimed, ‘Omg yay! Congratulations!’
Background on Brown’s Historic Announcement
Brown, 37, etched his name in AFL history last August as the league’s first openly bisexual player. The former defender, who appeared in 96 games for West Coast from 2007 to 2016, declared: ‘I played in the AFL for 10 years for the West Coast Eagles and I’m a bisexual man.’
His revelation came amid criticism of the AFL’s response to a homophobic slur incident, which resulted in Adelaide’s Izak Rankine receiving a four-week suspension. Brown highlighted the ‘hypermasculinity’ within AFL teams as a barrier to openness. ‘In the locker room and in the spas, the chats were all geared around “Who did everyone pick up on the weekend?” Or, you know, “she’s pretty hot,”‘ he explained. ‘It was never once an opportunity to speak openly or explore your feelings or questions in a safe way.’
Family Life and Support
Brown shares two sons with his ex-wife, former professional netballer Shae Bolton-Brown. The pair, who met as teenage athletes, ended their 16-year marriage amicably and maintain a close relationship. Following Brown’s announcement, Bolton-Brown expressed strong support on Instagram: ‘I for one couldn’t be prouder of Mitch and will celebrate his vulnerability loudly so hopefully those baby athletes currently playing in the AFL feel seen and safe and can be every little bit of their weird… and so our kids can too.’
Another Milestone in AFL Inclusivity
Brown’s courage paves the way for further openness in the sport. Last week, former Brisbane Lions player Leigh Ryswyk publicly identified as gay on Melbourne’s Joy 94.9 radio program GayFL. ‘To people who know me, my closest friends, this is not new. I’ve been out for five years now,’ Ryswyk shared. The private individual noted that while some listeners might learn of it for the first time, the support of those closest to him matters most. When asked about his timing, he simply replied, ‘Why not?’
