"I would have absolutely done that [given up some of my pay to support women's sport] because that's the world that I want to live in." – Ben Brown

Ex-AFL premiership player and current Essendon AFLW Development Coach Ben Brown is the gold standard for male allyship in women's sport. Ben shares his journey from an injury-riddled AFL career, including nine surgeries, to becoming a champion for gender equality in football. This episode is a must-listen on athlete resilience, strengths-based coaching, and why investing in women’s sport benefits everyone.

Key Takeaways You'll Learn:

• Mindset is the Untapped Edge: Ben believes mindset and resilience separate good players from great ones.
  
• The Power of Simplification: Writing down one or two daily goals helped Ben manage anxiety and perform at his best.
  
• Strength-Based Coaching: Play to your strengths – a philosophy Ben applies in AFLW to help players excel.
  
• More Than a Product: Supporting AFLW fosters a safer, more equitable society, not just sports growth.
  
• Inspiring Dedication: AFLW players juggle elite sport and full-time jobs yet show incredible passion.
  
• Male Allyship's Ripple Effect: Men in sport can drive change by sharing updates, discussing equity, and communicating openly.
  

Episode Breakdown:

01:03 – From AFL Goal-Kicker to AFLW Champion: Ben’s inspiring shift.
05:17 – Injury as an Accelerator: How an ACL tear shaped his non-traditional path.
08:18 – Overcoming the Knackered Knee: Mindset and resilience after nine surgeries.
12:12 – Focus on One Thing: Ben's actionable method for managing pressure.
27:28 – Stepping into AFLW Coaching: Becoming Essendon's Development Coach.
31:25 – The Key Difference: Why AFLW players deserve more support.
40:13 – The World We Want: Gender equality in sport is about sharing opportunities.
47:53 – A Girl Dad's Vision: The sporting world Ben wants for his daughters.

Fuel your game the right way – 4TG listeners get 10% off Younify Active supplements designed for athletes. Grab yours here 👉 Younify Active

Connect & Subscribe:
Follow 4TG on Instagram @4TG_podcast and share your takeaways. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and send it to a friend who believes in the power of women’s sport.

Produced by The 32 Collective. Thinking about starting your own podcast or need support managing one? Say hi on Instagram @the32collective_