It started as a conversation. And now St Kilda veteran Sam Gilbert wants to spread the message even further ahead of the AFL’s second Pride Game this Saturday night.
The 30-year-old defender, who was nursing a heavily bandaged hand at Wednesday’s launch after an incident in last Friday night’s loss to Essendon, is proud of what his beloved Saints achieved last year but wants the conversation to continue.
“It’s the second year for the Saints and for Sydney and I’m absolutely proud of the club,” Gilbert told reporters at the Melbourne Pride Game launch on Wednesday afternoon.
“Last year we took many steps forward in building awareness around equality in sport and hopefully we can continue that conversation this year.
“It’s a conversation and as soon as the club came on board it has been a continual conversation that all the boys have had and I think it’s the awareness we’ve got as a group now.
“I think everyone that’s part of the club is incredibly proud and we’re looking forward to the game this weekend.”
Along with St Kilda Captain Jarryn Geary and CEO Matt Finnis, Gilbert has been of the faces of the Pride Game, in a movement that aims to ensure everyone feels not only
“It’s just about making people feel comfortable at the football no matter who you are, where you come from or your background or sexual orientation,” Gilbert said.
“It’s about being able to go to the football and be yourself and be able to enjoy the game.”
And as for that hand, the Queenslander revealed having his knuckles pierce through his skin was one of the most painful injuries he has endured in his 12-year career.
Gilbert is expected to miss at least the next three or four weeks but should return for the final fortnight of the season, on the eve of what St Kilda is hoping to be a return to September.
“It wasn’t great, a couple of my knuckles came back through the front of my hand. It’s fine now, I got patched back up on Saturday pretty quickly and hopefully I’ll only miss three to four weeks,” he said.
“Initially it was (one of the more painful things to happen), especially when the docs kept opening up my hand to have a look. You get some pain killers pretty quick and once the knuckles were popped back in it was OK.”
