St Kilda's Lance Collard has been handed a nine-week ban (two of those suspended until 2027) for the use of a homophobic slur in a VFL clash with Frankston, late last month.
Collard was found guilty of violating AFL Rule 2.3(a) which pertains to "conduct unbecoming".
The suspension will be served cumulatively, and will be on top of the two-game rough conduct charge.
The Tribunal provided the following reasons for its verdict:
- Collard's homophobic slur was serious
- It's a second offence
- Collard did not plead guilty - he received no discount as a result
- The range of sanctions for homophobic slurs sit between 3-6 weeks. He received six weeks in 2024 for his first offence, which was accepted
- Collard used the homophobic slur once on this occasion and "it was uttered in circumstances that strongly suggest it was not pre-meditated
- Collard has a difficult background
- A sanction that is excessive may be crushing and could end Collard's AFL/VFL career
- The sanction serves not only as clear condemnation of a homophobic slur but it addresses general deterrence
- the effect of an excessive sanction for words uttered may have the consequence of inhibiting a player who is accused of using a slur from making admissions
- we consider that a partially suspended sentence is appropriate from a specific deterrence perspective
- we do not consider that a concurrent sanction is appropriate
The AFL requested a 10-week suspension, and served cumulatively on top of the two-game ban he received for rough conduct during the same match. The league would've considered a lesser punishment if Collard pleaded guilty.
Collard's counsel believed 10 weeks is excessive: "Unfairly punitive and, as the AFLPA describes it, disproportionate."
"This is one of those sliding door moments that could sense Lance Collard back on the wrong path and ruin his life," Collard's counself said.
They also argued that the suspension should be served concurrently, on top of the two-game ban for rough conduct.
Collard also argued that his punishment should be a fine or a four-week suspension, with two of those suspended.
The Saints can still choose to appeal the nine-week suspension.
"St Kilda Football Club is disappointed with the sanction imposed by the AFL Tribunal at (Tuesday's) hearing," the club statement read.
"The club is currently reviewing the Tribunal's reasons, together with the original judgement, and will consider potential avenues of appeal. Under the AFL rules the club has five days to assess its appeal options.
"The matter has had a significant impact on Lance and the club will continue to support him through this process."
It is the 21-year-old's second offence of this nature. The West Australian was suspended for six weeks in 2024 for the same violation, with that incident occurring against Williamstown.
On that occasion, Collard took accountability for the hurt caused, and owned his mistake. That has not occurred this time around, with the forward taking a voluntary oath before his Tribunal appearance last week. So strong is his conviction that he did not say what he is accused of saying, that he risked perjury to clear his name.
"I admitted it last time when I said it, but I never said it this time," Collard told the Tribunal.
"I stood up and admitted it. I was remorseful. I've learned from it. I wouldn't make that mistake again."
Collard also signed a statutory declaration on the 2nd of April.
The Tribunal found him guilty regardless, with the weight of the witness recounts provided by opposing players ultimately too heavy for the independent decision makers to ignore.
In communicating the guilty verdict the AFL released the following statement:
The AFL has no tolerance for the use of homophobic language in our game and its expectations have been made extremely clear to all of our players, including by education that all AFL and VFL players receive.
