WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade believes the AFL and its clubs are ready to accept a player should he openly admit homosexuality.

Eade refuted Jason Akermanis's claims the League was not prepared for a player to come out, after the star Bulldog said the publicity surrounding such a move could "break the fabric of a club" in the Herald Sun on Thursday.

Eade said he had no doubt a player would be accepted among the league if he came out, and denied he worked in a homophobic environment.

"I think we've come a long way and I think the AFL leads the way in that aspect," Eade said on Thursday.

"Certainly, at the Bulldogs, we think we've got a terrific culture and environment. We select players on what they can do on and off the field as individuals; for their football talent, and certainly the character they bring to the club."

Eade agreed with Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos, who questioned Akermanis' comments and suggested his belief was dated.

"There's some comments there we don't agree with, no doubt," Eade said.

"I think maybe Jason was trying to put a point across in a different way. It's certainly created some discussion, which has probably got it on the table a bit and we can debate and talk about it and maybe get some positive outcomes."

Eade was talking at the launch of the 'Come Out to Play' report findings, which was a study conducted by Victoria University, VicHealth and the Asia Pacific Outgames Legacy Fund into the experience of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people in community sport.

The study found that from the 307 GLBT sportspeople surveyed, about half of the participants in a mainstream sporting club were not "out".

Eade said the finding that Australian Rules was the most common sport homosexual males would like to play but don't for fear of abuse was something that needed to be rectified.

"A central mission of the Western Bulldogs is the respect diversity within our community," he said, during the launch.

"The Bulldogs have a strong record in seeking to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of gender, race and religion. It's now time to bring sexual orientation under that protective umbrella.

"Let's become known as the most inclusive sporting code in the country. The AFL has a proud record of being socially responsible.

"The Bulldogs support the AFL and the AFLPA in highlighting the issue of homophobia. All we want is a level playing field."

Eade said Akermanis' comments had not been discussed as a whole by the playing group but did not reflect the thoughts of the club as a whole.

"Jason has made his comments on the basis they're his thoughts", he said. "People have got some different interpretations on that. Certainly the comments aren't reflective of what we think as a club."

He also said it would be up to the Bulldogs' hierarchy if Akermanis was to continue with his media commitments outside the club.