Sometimes you don't realise how repressed you've been until the cloaks of denial and guilt are lifted from you and you can finally admit to yourself and to others the truth.
It was probably the winter of 2008 that I first started to realise there was something different about me. But who could I talk about it to? How would people react? It could have consequences both person and professional. I tried to ignore the feelings I was having, hoping it was just a phase I was going though but as time passed the feelings only grew stronger. Eventually I realised that there was nothing wrong with me, it was society that was messed up, but I still wasn't brave enough to come out and admit it to the world.
But recently things changed and for the first time, I can stand proud and shout to the rooftops -
Chris Mayne, you're a bum. A no good, ball fumbling, goal shanking, momentum killing bum.
Now bugger off back to Victoria, you Collingwood bastard.