Growing up, Sydney Swans co-captain Chloe Molloy always felt safe to be her true, authentic self.

Speaking to Sydney Swans Media, ahead of Sydney's AFLW Pride game against Carlton at Henson Park, Molloy credits the environment she grew up in for the confidence to be herself and succeed in elite sport.

"I've been around people who have always been supportive and also identified as gay, I think it was normalised around me," Molloy said.

"I also think the one factor I put it down to is the way I was raised by my parents to just be who you wanted to be, even being the only girl in an all boys football team, that was okay, they were always like, you do you, I'll always be in your corner, whatever you want to do.

"I've actually never shared this, I have an older half-brother who has Asperger's.

"Growing up, I never watched my parents, my mum or dad, treat him differently, so like, to me, why would I not accept someone for being different? Because I've never experienced someone being scrutinised or ostracised because they were different.

"So yeah, you are a product of your environment, I think the environment I grew up in was one that was very, very nurturing and very loving of whoever you were."

The Swans forward lives her life authentically as herself and is in a happy relationship with Brisbane Lions AFLW star Jade Ellenger.

But it's not lost on her that not everyone in the LGBTIQA+ community has grown up in the same supportive environment.

"I identify as me, I am unapologetically just Chloe," Molloy said.

"I do understand that I'm also in a really privileged position to be able to sit and say I am accepted for me, because it's not lost on me that there are some pretty horrific, traumatic stories of when people have just tried to be them.

"And they probably watch this and they sit here, watch me all joyful, and go "I'm me", and they go, "I wish, I wish I could do that, I didn't get that opportunity" so that's not lost on me that my story is probably niche."

Swans Pride games are a celebration of diversity aimed at ensuring everyone feels welcome and included at the football.

LGBTIQA+ Pride is one of the pillars of the Sydney Swans Diversity Action Plan (DAP) and rainbow communities are part of the fabric of the club.

The game is an opportunity to celebrate and stand united with LGBTIQA+ communities, providing a platform to listen, learn, and highlight stories. 

Molloy said it was important to hold a Pride Round to make everyone feel accepted and safe at the football.

"You get the best out of people when they feel really, really comfortable and having like, one, a physically safe environment, but also the psychological safety," Molloy said.

"You know, it's proven that female athletes need to feel good to play good and I think, even the bigger scale, I want to lean into the role that I have and the voice that I have and the spotlight and the voice for the voiceless.

"So I think doing that, you obviously put yourself in a position to cop criticism, but I think it'd be remiss of me not to use this platform and my voice to be like, an advocate for what I think is right."

Sydney hosts Carlton at Henson Park on Sunday at 1:05pm.

Tickets available here.

The Sydney Swans official Pride Partner is Adora Fertility.