Non-binary footy player becomes first AFLW star to undergo gender-affirming top surgery
Hawthorn AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd has become the first current player in the league to undergo gender-affirming top surgery.
The 29-year-old, who came out as non-binary two years ago, revealed they underwent the procedure during the AFLW off-season, describing the experience not as a dramatic transformation, but more like finally aligning their outward appearance with the person they've always seen in the mirror.
'People often ask me, 'How do I feel now that I've had it?' Lucas-Rodd told ABC Sport.
'A lot of people who've had the operation have really big emotions and really big elation. But for me, it was like, 'This is how I've always looked when I saw myself.'
'This is what I've always thought and always seen internally.'
The operation, which involves the removal of breast tissue in what is essentially a double mastectomy, also included nipple grafts - something some people opt out of, but which Lucas-Rodd chose to include as part of the procedure.
Before surgery, life on and off the field was often a physical and mental struggle. Lucas-Rodd, a former Hawks captain and 2024 All Australian, regularly taped their chest or wore an extremely tight binder - even during games - to flatten their chest and reduce dysphoria.
The compression would often restrict breathing, cause back pain, and make movement difficult, but it felt like the lesser of two evils when compared to feeling exposed while playing professional sport on a national stage.
'In the past, I used to wear a guernsey that was at least two sizes too big,' they said.
'Last year, I wore a size medium or large when I was previously an extra small. I had huge discomfort around my chest, huge dysphoria. It didn't match up with what I felt internally I should look like.'
That mismatch is now gone. Lucas-Rodd says the joy they feel training and preparing for the new season - set to begin in August - is hard to describe.
For the first time in their career, they're stepping out onto the track without a binder, without a sports bra, just wearing their guernsey and feeling completely at ease in their skin.
'I've already felt that during training - being able to just be free, to not wear a sports bra, not wear a binder, just put my jumper on,' they said.
'Going out onto the track in our training guernseys or singlets, I just feel so, so happy and so just like me.'
Lucas-Rodd is now the first current AFLW player to undergo top surgery, following in the footsteps of former players El Chaston and Tori Groves-Little, who both had the procedure after being delisted.
Two years ago, Lucas-Rodd became the third AFLW player to come out publicly as non-binary - after Groves-Little and Carlton's Darcy Vescio.
They told fans in a video shared by Hawthorn: 'I don't really identify strongly as my assigned gender at birth, which is female… I don't feel like I fit into that label, and at the same time I don't feel like I'm a male either. So for me, the label 'non-binary' feels most comfortable.'
Since coming out, Lucas-Rodd has continued exploring how they identify, including engaging with aspects of the transmasculine experience.
'Obviously I'm non-binary, but there's transmasc,' they said.
'It's something I'm still exploring and I think that's awesome. That's the thing about your sexuality and gender - it's constantly evolving and ever changing.'
In preparing for the surgery, Lucas-Rodd drew strength and support from other players who had walked a similar path.
They messaged El Chaston often in the lead-up, asking questions about recovery and the process. But at first, they weren't sure if they'd go public with their decision.
'I was messaging a friend a few weeks ago, and at first I wasn't going to come out publicly,' they said.
'They were just curious and asked, 'Why wouldn't you?' It really made me reflect. What am I scared of? Then I thought, 'They've done it. They were accepted. Why can't I?'
While their close friends at Hawthorn were aware of the surgery ahead of time - including teammate Jenna Richardson, who was with them in hospital - the rest of the playing group found out at preseason camp, when Lucas-Rodd decided it was time to tell the full team.
'I knew we'd be doing water-based activities, and in footy, there's a lot of recovery and you're often in bathing suits together,' they said.
'Now the greatest thing is, I don't have to wear anything on top. So I knew going into camp that I'd kind of have to tell the team.'
They sent a message to the group and were met with nothing but support.
'I saw them the next day at footy, and there were a few questions and lots of interest… but everyone just met me with such love and acceptance.'
Going public with their story, however, brings new challenges - especially as it moves outside the safer spaces of AFLW circles and into the broader AFL community, which can be less welcoming.
'It's nerve-racking,' Lucas-Rodd admitted.
'Whenever I've spoken out on queer issues - whether it be Pride Round or when I came out as non-binary - the comments that were hard to read weren't from the AFLW community.
'They were from the AFL community and the broader Australian public. There was some horrendous stuff online.
'So I've spoken to my family and friends about that - that the broader AFL community will now have comment. It's not just going to be in my safe space of AFLW fans.'
Still, they say the decision to speak out is bigger than them.
'When you're doing it for something that's bigger than yourself, you kind of take that and you accept that that's going to happen.
'And I've got really supportive people in my close circle that will shower me with love, and put their arms around me.'
Lucas-Rodd says one of their biggest motivations for sharing their experience is to help others who might be going through something similar but lack the support or confidence to speak up.
'For people that might not be able to have these conversations, might not be able to start this process of gender affirming care because they can't talk to people in their own lives, I hope this shows them that they're not alone,' they said. 'It's also to show gender-diverse and trans people that there is a place for them in sport.'
They know there will be backlash, but that won't stop them.
'Coming out publicly with top surgery, people will say and do what they want, but I'm trying to show people that no matter what gender you are, no matter how you express that, you belong in sport and you belong at a professional and elite level,' they said.
Lucas-Rodd said the dominant feeling post-surgery is one of joy - unfiltered and overwhelming joy.
'If I see myself, especially shirtless, I'm like, 'This rocks,' they laughed.
'Being on the other side now, it's a huge relief. You build it up in your head, and there's nervousness and anxiety - and that's real. But now that I'm here? Yeah, it's amazing.'
On the field, Lucas-Rodd was a force for Hawthorn in 2024, delivering a standout season after shifting from midfield to defence. They played every game, averaged more than 20 disposals per match, and finished top five in the league for total kicks.
They reached their 75th AFLW game milestone during Hawthorn's first ever finals campaign and capped it all off with a place in the All Australian team.
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