ANDREW Demetriou says the AFL is ready to embrace its first openly gay player.

The league chief executive today welcomed news of American NBA player Jason Collins revealing that he is homesexual and becoming the first active American team sportsman to announce he is gay.

Collins made the announcement on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, which was released this morning in the US.

Demetriou said Collins' was a landmark moment and backed any AFL player who wanted to 'come out' publicly.

"It's a strong step forward for acceptance," he said.

"I would hope that that any Australian sportsman or woman, and particularly an AFL player, would feel equally comfortable and we would strongly support them, as would the wider football public."

While Ian Roberts became the first Australian rugby league player to confirm his homosexuality in 1995, no AFL player has ever come forward and said they are gay.