Play With Pride 2026

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PLAY WITH PRIDE

Dedicated to Diversity & Inclusion in Sport

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Our annual event dedicated to diversity and inclusion in sports brings together athletes, industry, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies.

Join us for an afternoon of canapés, wine, and inspiring speakers hosted by Ali Clarke.

🗓️ Friday 26th June 2026
⏰ 2:30pm-4:30pm (Doors 2:00pm)
📍 SkyCity Ballroom

Tickets include canapés, wine, inspiring speakers such as Australian Diamonds netballer Ash Brazill, and panellists including former AFL player Leigh Ryswyk, and MAFS star Sam Stanton
Hear from a diverse line-up of Australian sporting identities about sport and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Be part of the conversation – Engage and ask your questions in our audience Q+A with our panellists.
Meet exhibitors, network, and make valuable connections.
Enjoy exclusive perks from sponsors and exhibitors in our take-home goodie bag.

tickets ON SALE NOW

🎓 Students: $55 + $2.76 booking fee
🏅 AUSF Members: $65 + $2.96 booking fee
🎟 General Public: $85 + $3.37 booking fee
👥 Tables of 10: $765 + $17.24 booking fee

Ash Brazill is an elite Australian athlete renowned for her success in both netball and AFLW. A Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Netball World Cup champion with the Australian Diamonds, Brazill has also built an impressive AFLW career with Collingwood and Fremantle. Known for her leadership, competitiveness and versatility, she is widely respected as one of Australia’s premier dual-sport athletes.

Outside of sport, Ash has a key interest in coaching and media. Ash is a proud mother of Louis & Frankie with her wife, Brooke.

PRIDE IN SPORT - BEN CORK

Ben has been involved in Gymnastics for over thirty years as an athlete, coach and administrator. With over a decade of experience as a coach and committee member at a national level, Ben was a foundation Chair for Oceania Gymnastics Union and served two terms as a Commission Member for the International Gymnastics Federation. Ben has authored several Sporting Schools programs and has worked extensively in the development of participation and inclusion programs in NSW and Australia. In his role leading Pride in Sport, Ben provides advocacy and inclusion guidance to over 80 Australian sporting organisations at a national, state, and community level.

Panellist - Leigh Ryswyk

Leigh Ryswyk is a former AFL and SANFL footballer, community advocate, and passionate supporter of inclusive sport. In March 2026, Leigh made history when he publicly came out as gay, becoming the first past or present male AFL player to do so. He shared his story on LGBTQIA+ radio station JOY 94.9, sparking national conversation and widespread support across sport and the broader community.

After being drafted by the Brisbane Lions and making his AFL debut in 2005, Leigh went on to enjoy a long and successful career in South Australian football, playing 232 games with North Adelaide in the SANFL. Despite his on‑field success, Leigh spent much of his playing career keeping his sexuality private, reflecting the culture and pressures that have historically existed within men’s sport.

Leigh has spoken openly about coming out later in life, not as a sudden decision, but as the result of years of personal reflection, growth and the support of close family and friends. In sharing his story publicly, Leigh has emphasised the importance of education, visibility and creating sporting environments where people feel safe to be their authentic selves, regardless of their sexuality.

Since coming out, Leigh has become a strong and thoughtful voice for inclusion, particularly in grassroots and community sport. He continues to advocate for cultural change that starts at the local level, so future generations of athletes do not feel the need to hide who they are in order to belong. Play With Pride is excited to add Leigh’s unique perspective to the panel.

Panellist - sam stanton

Sam Stanton is the owner of Studio360 Sports in Adelaide, a fitness coach, DJ, podcast host and participant on Married at First Sight Australia. A proud member of the LGBTQI+ community, Sam is passionate about creating inclusive spaces where people feel comfortable being themselves.

Through fitness, media and public speaking, he shares his experiences navigating identity, confidence and belonging, while advocating for greater representation and acceptance in sport and fitness. His work focuses on building community, encouraging authentic self expression and helping people find connection through movement, health and shared experiences.

Panellist - ALEX WATSON

Alex Watson (they/them) is a Senior Educator and Digital Marketing & Merchandise Manager at Pride Cup, and Vice President of the Flying Bats Inclusive Football Club in NSW. Originally from New York and now based in Sydney, Alex is a passionate advocate for inclusion and safety in sport, particularly at the grassroots level.

Panellist - RUSTY ECKERT

Russell “Rusty” Eckert joined the Adelaide University Rugby Sharks in their founding year in 2019, stepping into team sport for the first time. Since then, he has played across multiple grades and represented the club at Purchas Cup tournaments in Perth and Auckland, with Brisbane’s Bingham Cup next on the horizon in August. Rusty currently serves as Sharks President and sits on the AU Rugby Committee, championing inclusive rugby and community connection. Off the field, he’s passionate about cooking - mostly because he loves to eat - which naturally led to his proud life as a front‑row Prop.