It’s taken three-and-a-half years for Emma Kearney to feel comfortable about going public with her relationship with Kate Shierlaw.

On Sunday the pair will compete on the field as opposing captains of their respective AFLW sides, North Melbourne and St Kilda, while celebrating Pride Round.

“I’m still not 100 per cent comfortable being out,’’ Emma told The Herald Sun. 

“That’s partly my own thing, but it’s also about society and the homophobia which still exists. Doing this interview is huge.

“I don’t generally talk about my sexuality. There will still be people I meet for the first time, where I still refer to Kate as ‘my friend’.

“I’m still not comfortable with people I don’t know to say ‘my partner’. I’ve gotten better and maybe this article will help me with that.”

Kearney, 31, grew up in Cavendish, near Hamilton, on the 660-acre family farm. She first acknowledged she was gay when she was about 15.

“Even then I was in massive denial,’’ she said.

“It’s funny because my mum’s two sisters are gay, my older brother is gay, but for me, there was part of me saying, ‘Oh no, no I don’t think that’s me.

“I always felt different growing up. I never felt I was amongst people who were similar to me. I had friends who were really into sport but not to the level I loved it. I was the only girl growing up who loved my footy and loved my cricket.’’

It wasn’t until she was 20, she told her mum she was gay.

“I knew mum would be, yeah, whatever, which she was. I had just ended a relationship at this stage and it was real. Yes, I am actually gay. So, I had to tell her. I said I’ve got something to tell you and I was quiet emotional. I said: ‘I’m gay.’’ And mum said: ‘’I already knew that.’’ I got really emotional saying those words. There was a bit of relief because I knew I could be myself around my parents. There was part of me hiding myself from them.

“I still look at men and have that attraction and I probably have that attraction to men more than I would have for women, but that emotional connection, I just don’t have.’’

“I was going through a break up when Kate arrived. I relied on Kate a little bit, to have someone to talk to about it, and I guess that’s when we got that connection between us and one thing led to another.”

The pair hope their story will inspire others.

“There needs to be more good news stories. There’s so much hate in the world and if we can share our stories, and that can open the conversation for other young people who are not sure who their true identity is, then hopefully we can help them. It’s not going to be easy, but it does get better with time.’’

But come the first bounce of the ball at Arden St on Sunday, there’ll be no room for sentimentality – just like Pride Round in 2018 when Kate was at Carlton and Emma at the Bulldogs.

“She [Emma] was sitting under the ball, I led out from the square, I got there a little late, we both fell on the ground, she got up, came over and pointed in my face and said” ‘You’re a f…ing dog’,’’ Kate recalled.

“She didn’t speak to me for a week,” Emma added.

Kate continued: “It was quite upsetting and then people were speaking about it. I remember Darcy Vescio was on the mark, Sarah Hosking was around and everyone I think was in shock because no one got into her. Darce couldn’t believe the reaction.’’

“If you don’t know her [Emma] and you were playing against her, you would hate her,’’ Kate said. 

“Then they meet her and they realise she is so quiet. I’m quite strong on verbal too, but I tell her she doesn’t need it in her game.”

Photo: Herald Sun