Gay AFL players have been urged to come out in unison to lessen the weight that's commonly thought to have inhibited a lone elite trailblazer from pronouncing his sexuality publicly.

The notion that a group statement from homosexual players would be the best way to alleviate this perceived burden and simultaneously move the AFL into uncharted territory, was put forward at the launch of the code's first pride-themed game.

Hawthorn hall of fame member and triple premiership player Russell Greene, an ardent equality advocate who came to the cause through family experience and admits deep shame about his use of homophobic slurs when he played, presented the scenario.

"We're doing everything proactively that we can possibly do, but until four or five boys get together and say, 'yeah, we are gay', that culture still remains," Greene said at the launch of a landmark round 21 "pride game" between St Kilda and Sydney.