The AFL is set to clash with its own judiciary after an explosive appeals board ruling downgraded a nine-week ban suspension for a homophobic slur – and justified the decision by claiming such language is ‘commonplace’ in football.
St Kilda forward Lance Collard will now serve just a two-match ban after the AFL appeals board reduced his original sanction, despite upholding a guilty finding for conduct unbecoming.
Collard had initially been handed a lengthy suspension after being found guilty of directing a homophobic slur at an opponent during a VFL match.
But the appeals panel ruled the punishment was ‘manifestly excessive’ and instead imposed a reduced penalty, with additional weeks suspended.
In its written reasoning, the board delivered a statement that has since triggered widespread backlash across the football community.
‘We observe that football is a hard game. It is highly competitive, particularly at its higher levels,’ the panel said.
St Kilda rising star Lance Collard was initially suspended for nine matches after being found to have used a homophobic slur
The AFL appeals board reduced that sanction to just two matches on appeal, stating that homophobic language on the football field was ‘commonplace’
‘It is commonplace that players can employ language from time to time which is racist, sexist or homophobic whilst on the field.’
The comments have stunned players, commentators and officials, with many arguing the language directly contradicts the AFL’s long-standing zero-tolerance stance on discrimination.
The AFL itself reiterated that position in a statement following the ruling.
‘The AFL reiterates that it 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,’ the league said.
The governing body is now expected to formally rebuke the appeals board over the tone and content of its explanation, with the remarks described internally as undermining years of work to eliminate discrimination from the sport.
The appeals board, chaired by King’s Counsel Will Houghton, upheld the tribunal’s original finding of guilt but determined the length of the suspension would have had a ‘crippling’ effect on Collard’s career.
‘We describe it as crippling because there was evidence before the Tribunal … that a penalty of this extent would finish him off as a player of professional football,’ the board said.
In reaching its decision, the panel pointed to a number of mitigating factors, including Collard’s age, background and the fact the targeted player was not personally offended by the remark.
Collard had previously been banned for six weeks for using a homophobic slur on another occasion
The board also referenced Collard’s previous offence in 2024, noting that incident was ‘probably far more serious than the present offence’.
Despite those considerations, the ruling has drawn fierce criticism from within the game.
Former AFLW player and commentator Kate McCarthy said she was stunned by the wording used in the decision.
‘I am genuinely speechless that this is in print … absolutely baffled,’ she wrote.
‘So much for every policy in the AFL saying there’s zero tolerance.
‘This decision and this explanation of this decision go against everything that the AFL has claimed to stand for.
‘This is disgusting.’
Ex-St Kilda midfielder Luke Ball also questioned the reasoning, suggesting it was out of step with the modern game.
Former AFLW player and current presenter Kate McCarthy was stunned by the decision
‘To say that these things happen on a footy field from time to time … I thought we’d well and truly moved past that,’ he said.
‘I can’t get my head around the language that the appeals board have used.’
Collard’s suspension will be served alongside a separate two-match ban for striking during the same VFL fixture, meaning he will miss a total of four weeks before being eligible to return.
The incident stemmed from a confrontation with Frankston player Darby Hipwell, with the tribunal siding with witness accounts that the slur was used. Collard had denied the allegation, claiming he instead said ‘Come here, maggot’.
The drawn-out case is the second time in three seasons Collard has been sanctioned for homophobic language, having previously served a six-game ban in 2024.
The controversy adds to growing scrutiny around the AFL’s tribunal system, following a separate appeals process involving Zak Butters that was overturned due to an ‘error of law’.
St Kilda, while welcoming the reduced sanction, also raised concerns about the process.
‘Despite the reduction in sanction, St Kilda remains disappointed with how the matter was assessed and believes greater consistency and clarity in the AFL’s tribunal process is important moving forward,’ the club said.
