#13 From AFL Star to AFLW Champion: Ben Brown on Lessons, Daughters & Driving Change in Women’s Sport

"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 BrownEx-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 ActiveP3 Recovery Port Melbourne are helping our 4TG community recover smarter and feel their best 💪 Use code 4TG20 for 20% off casual visits. Remember, recovery is a non-negotiable for peak performance and health.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_Support the showABOUT THE HOSTKylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.Connect with Kylie:Instagram: @kylie__lynchLinkedIn: Kylie LynchWebsite: www.4tg.com.auEmail: [email protected] THE 4TG COMMUNITY4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.Instagram: @4tg_podcastTikTok: ...